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jimricho


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3way absorption cooler
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It is 240v, just checked....just a typo. Don't worry, I have a PhD in typos, myself!

Don't know anything about this one specifically. In general absorption fridges are nowhere near as efficient as compressor types but they do offer the advantage of being able to run on gas when camped away from 240v power. Running one from 12v house battery/solar combo would be a lost cause (and a pointless exercise) due to the amount of current they draw.

They need to be set up level to work properly.

For travelling they should be powered from the car's main (starting battery) as they will soon drain an aux battery (if you have one fitted). You would most likely need to install a circuit for it as it would probably draw too much current to run effectively from a normal cig lighter socket. Some provision would need to be provided (such as a relay) to disconnect the 12v when the engine is not running unless you can trust your memory to switch it off (you'd need a more reliable memory than mine for that!)

Jim

PS: just noted Ron & Shirley's comments above (I was typing my post at the time)  In the conditions they use as an example this would mean that meat and other food could spoil at this temperature. Even more important, the beer would not be cold enough!



-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 18th of March 2012 07:20:56 PM

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justcruisin01


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the rocket wrote:

Hi everyoe, aldi have this week at 3 way absorption cooler. cools up to 25c below ambient temperature. runs on 140v mains 12v car battery or gas bottle. runs for up to 1-2 weeks on standard gas bottle. silent operation. includes gas hose and regulator.53.2l x 46w x 47cm h. Does 1. does anyone have one and what do you think of it 2. do you think it will keep things as cold as a fridge? Thanks for your input as it looks ok. what do you think? rocket n strop

 If you want this for travelling then save you money untill you can buy a compressor fridge.

These 3 way units must be level at all time to work, so no good when travelling, As stated by richo the 12volt draw is way to high, like having the headlights on & special wiring is required. The further north you go the worse they are & will not cope, I started with these fridges years ago & soon gave them the flick, & thats the fridges you are only talking a cooler.

Dont do it to your self. Hot beer & off food, disaster.disbeliefnodisbeliefno

Unless you are going to the south pole. LOL.

 

 



-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Sunday 18th of March 2012 08:47:58 PM

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the rocket


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Hi everyoe, aldi have this week at 3 way absorption cooler. cools up to 25c below ambient temperature. runs on 140v mains 12v car battery or gas bottle. runs for up to 1-2 weeks on standard gas bottle. silent operation. includes gas hose and regulator.53.2l x 46w x 47cm h. Does 1. does anyone have one and what do you think of it 2. do you think it will keep things as cold as a fridge? Thanks for your input as it looks ok. what do you think? rocket n strop



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Happywanderer


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I have never seen one but popping into Aldi tomorrow, will have a look for it. Haven't seen it in their local brochure. Is it a fridge or something similiar but not the same.

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Dougwe


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Hi rocket n strop, I'm not a sparky and have plenty of seniors moments but what good is 140v mains if Australia uses 240v mains? confuseconfuse



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Dougwe


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Not sure what happened above???

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Ron and Shirley


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the rocket wrote:

Hi everyoe, aldi have this week at 3 way absorption cooler. cools up to 25c below ambient temperature. runs on 140v mains 12v car battery or gas bottle. runs for up to 1-2 weeks on standard gas bottle. silent operation. includes gas hose and regulator.53.2l x 46w x 47cm h. Does 1. does anyone have one and what do you think of it 2. do you think it will keep things as cold as a fridge? Thanks for your input as it looks ok. what do you think? rocket n strop

 Rocket

I think you have answered your own question.

It is a cooler, not a fridge.

On a 35 degree day it will cool to around 10 degrees (25 degrees below ambient they claim) which is not good for food, and R/S for beer.

In a vehicle on a 35 degree day it may cool to say 20 degrees as the vehicle temperature will be much higher than the outside temperature.



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gst


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I hade a cool years ago you got to just about freeze things before you put them in to it this to keep it cool.

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the rocket


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thanks everyone, now we know the difference between absorption and compressor and understand it would not meet our needs of bush camping as everything would go off. we understand now we need to buy a compressor one. thanks everyone. we are very grateful to everyone who had an input in this one. without you all, we would have got the wrong unit. rocket n strop



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jimricho


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We haven't exactly encouraged you, have we! nowink



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BobnBev


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Best idea is to put your money towards a real compressor fridge, and it will make you happy . I see them all the time. one word "crap"
Bob....

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the rocket


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jimricho wrote:

We haven't exactly encouraged you, have we! nowink

Hi, You have encouraged me. the last thing we need is to buy something that is rubbish better to put our money to something that works and lasts. thanks everyone. rocket n strop

 



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jimricho


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I think some of the better absorption units (maybe Chescold, distributed by Dometic-Waeco) work better than the Aldi one, subject of course to the inherent limitations of the absorption process. If it weren't for the convenience of operating on gas absorption fridges would have ceased to be available long ago.

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Beth54


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I have the 3 way fridge from Aldi and it's excellant.

It was in a box mounted on the draw bar of my little Camper Trailer. The car was wired through for it, so it ran off the car while driving, then I switched it over to gas when camped.

When it's on gas, I have to turn it right down or it'd freeze everything.

It was recommended by a friend who has one, and I'd also recommend it any day.



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buffy61


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Beth54 wrote:

I have the 3 way fridge from Aldi and it's excellant.

It was in a box mounted on the draw bar of my little Camper Trailer. The car was wired through for it, so it ran off the car while driving, then I switched it over to gas when camped.

When it's on gas, I have to turn it right down or it'd freeze everything.

It was recommended by a friend who has one, and I'd also recommend it any day.

 Hey Beth... a different opinion...yay!!

May still consider one of these. Will go check them out at Aldi tomorrow.

Just want to keep my insulin in it!! Takes up far too much room in the van fridge!!!

Buffy



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jetj


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I have one, used it once and it worked very well on 240v and kept stuff cold, I believe they are great on gas as well but tend to be a bit of a drain on 12volt.

I bought a Waeco because I wanted to run a fridge from solar, but nothing wrong with the Aldi from my experience.



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Janette
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Bit the bullet and bought one. There were another couple looking at them and commenting "Is this the same as the one we bought last year" Apparently it was.
Asked them how it went...said it was excellent!!
So at that price will give it a go!!

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Beth54


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As I now have a Viscount Nipper with a 3 way already in it, I don't use the Aldi one. But I've kept it as a backup in case this 25 year old dies.

It's stored at my sons so they took it to Straddie in January, and they too were impressed with it.



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