Secol(Danfoss) vs Sawafuji

[dfunkt]

I was completely prepared to buy a fridge with a Sawafuji compressor until a poster here advised me that his was noisy and Danfoss compressors were quieter and more reliable. &nbsp;This put me on a mission to learn even more and I have discovered that there is no longer a Danfoss, the company which had almost 60 years experience manufacturing their compressors in Denmark was sold to Secol, a German company, who took over manufacturing and moved the plant to china in 2008. &nbsp;This means that since 2008 there have been no original Danfoss-style compressors manufactured outside china.&nbsp;<br><br>I am looking for feedback from owners of both 12v compressor refrigerators relating to noise. &nbsp;Any help is appreciated since this is a major purchase that I will have to live with for years.<br><br><br>

 

[wrcsixeight]

A shame about the relocation, but everything has gone to Asia.<br><br>Research where the sawafuji compressors used by norcold and engel are manufactured.<br><br>If you are in Canada, look into Novakool fridges.

 

[dfunkt]

After about another hour of research I have discovered a pattern of noise complaints from Engel owners, although most say they are still happy with the unit and it is not bothersome and only a slight nuisance. &nbsp;It may be a larger issue for some people depending on their hearing and sensitivity to noise. &nbsp;The fact that Engels are, in almost every comparison, heavier than other brands may suggest more insulation? &nbsp;I don't know. &nbsp;One can go crazy over-researching a purchase.

 

[Zil]

Go to amazon and read the customer reviews. I find most to be accurate with just a few sour grapes and a few over praise.

 

[dfunkt]

I think I'll just stick to the Engel with the sawafuji compressor. &nbsp;Even though I read a few complaints about 'rattles' from the compressor.. I read far more testimonials in forum after forum regarding their reliability with fridges lasting 15-20 years even after harsh roads and lots of knocking about.

 

[dfunkt]

<span style="line-height: 16px;">Novakool does not appear to make portable refrigerators.</span>

 

[wrcsixeight]

My Norcold with a sawafuji compressor was a front loader that needed to be mounted in a cabinet.<br><br>When I first did so, I could hear it running from 15 feet away from the van. &nbsp;Touching the body of the van was all that was required to verify it was the fridge making the noise/ vibration. &nbsp;I could feel it vibrating when lying on top of a 5 inch thick mattress. &nbsp;While it would not wake me up, it would make falling asleep harder if the compressor kicked on right on the threshold of sleep.<br><br>I was able to isolate and insulate it and the cabinet where it resided it so that vibrations and noise were attenuated, and some of those modifications could certainly have quickened the escaping of refrigerant to a point where the fridge was no good any longer. &nbsp;Recharging it would have cost the same as a new fridge, and apparently 5 years is the expected life from my research when it failed.<br><br>A portable fridge need not be secured to the vehicle and would therefore not vibrate the whole vehicle as much.<br><br>My secop/danfoss powered front loading vitrifrigo refrigerant is rechargeable. &nbsp;It makes less than half the noise of the Norcold, and has no discernable vibration. &nbsp;It is also using slightly less battery power to keep the interior colder than the Norcold.<br><br>The only thing I though superior on the Norcold was that the door seals were wider. &nbsp;According to my battery monitor the Vitrifrigo is using less battery power to hold the interior colder, so apparently the thinner seals are not an issue.<br><br>If I were looking at a portable unit, Waeco would be at the top of the list, followed by ARB. &nbsp;I would choose a Norcold/engel over a Whitner or edgestar though, as those have a dismal copy of the Danfoss bd35, and more bad reviews than good.<br><br>I would pay shipping costs rather than have my choice dictated by what I could drive to pick up.<br><br>But that is me. &nbsp;Best of luck, I was just trying to help you avoid my hassles with a noisy Sawafuji, not stress you out<br><br><a href="http://home.iprimus.com.au/rfh/portablefridges2.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><br><br><br></a>

 

[dfunkt]

<span style="line-height: 16px;">My Norcold with a sawafuji compressor was a front loader that needed to be mounted in a cabinet.</span><br style="line-height: 16px;"><br style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">When I first did so, I could hear it running from 15 feet away from the van. &nbsp;Touching the body of the van was all that was required to verify it was the fridge making the noise/ vibration. &nbsp;I could feel it vibrating when lying on top of a 5 inch thick mattress. &nbsp;While it would not wake me up, it would make falling asleep harder if the compressor kicked on right on the threshold of sleep.</span><br style="line-height: 16px;">

<br>Did you attempt to return it? &nbsp;That sounds like something I would return immediately. &nbsp;That is one reason I don't like to buy sight unseen. &nbsp;I prefer dealing with companies that have a physical location so I can touch and see the item before I buy it. I don't trust a company with an address on a rural fire road like TruckFridge with no showroom or chance to inspect the merchandise. &nbsp;Try before you buy...<br><br>

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Truth be told, you'll probably be happy with either one. ..Willy.

 

[wrcsixeight]

I ran the fridge for 2 months before installing it, on 120vAC in a noisy environment, not the Van.<br><br>When I installed it &nbsp;in the cabinet i designed around it, I became aware how loud it was, and then read reports by many online complaining about the noise and vibration.<br><br>It is not just a loud steady humm, but one which would change tempo, just to cover the full spectrum of annoyingness. &nbsp;waaaaah &nbsp;waaaahhhhhh wahh wahhhhhhhh. &nbsp;If I left and silver ware in the sink it would start buzzing too as the harmonics transmitted through the whole van.<br><br>I called up thetford service line and the only thing they said was contact this licensed repair center 180 miles away. &nbsp;West Marine will tell you to do the same thing if problems develop.<br><br>Others reported they did take it so a service center and were told the noise was normal and the tech said theirs was actually a quiet one, So I just decided to live with it, and modify the cabinet to reduce the noise and vibration. &nbsp;By the end it was basically floating within a foam cushion, inside a cabinet with layers of dense sound dampening. &nbsp;I also had the compressor and condenser isolated from the fridge box itself for extra dampening. &nbsp;I went full Macgyver on the thing and I am talented in that area.<br><br>I heard about TruckFridges the The Samba Forums, for Vanagons, westfalia's and such. &nbsp;Turns out a popular upgrade is removing the Dometic 3 way absorption fridge and installing the TF in its place, with a lot of happy results.<br><br> &nbsp;There were reports of good prompt service from them when there were issues with them covering return shipping and the shipping of a replacement..<br><br>I ordered my Vitrifrigo through some other guy (westyventures) whom I learned about through the Samba, and within a day I had a tracking number as it left the Vitrifrigo distributon in Pompano beach Florida and it arrived 7 days later to California via fedex.<br><br>I hooked up 12 volts to it within 10 minutes of arrival, and couldn't believe how quiet it was, and the evaporator(coldplate) was 12 degrees f within a minute.<br><br>I was able to remove the sound dampening inside the cabinet for install and increased the &nbsp;foamboard insulation, and routed the airflow &nbsp;for the condenser so it could not recycle preheated air, for maximum efficiency.<br><br>Mine uses about 18 A/h per day in 80f daytime highs in normal use. &nbsp;The Norcold was about 19.5 to 20.<br><br><br>

 

[highdesertranger]

I have 2 engel's and yes they make noise/vibration.&nbsp; however it never bothered me.&nbsp; it probably will now because I will be thinking&nbsp;about it, &nbsp;lol.&nbsp; just for the record both of mine were made in Thailand.&nbsp; one is 5 years old other 4.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[dfunkt]

I knew this thread would help me. &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> &nbsp;I am not being argumentative for the sake of it, I am learning from the responses.

 

[dfunkt]

Apparently Dometic is the North American brand for Waeco... maybe I will look at those. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>