At the time I was trying to work out how reduce energy as I have no room in the engine bay for an auxiliary battery. We sleep in the car so had to find somewhere for the battery.

It is easier to move a larger fridge than battery each night & back to the boot in the morning. So in the end I use a fridge cover with Velcro exhaust side & 20 to 30mm of foam which adds very little weight. Replaced fan with a much better quality fan.

For boats they go a lot further, 150mm to 200mm is their aim as they have more room.

We had previously insulated the home hot water system & energy loss scrapes in under 1kWh per 24 hours simply to keep the tank hot. It was about 1.8kWh per 24 hours.

So I thought if I can save energy heating I should be able to save energy cooling.

I have cut out windscreen sun screens to fit every window, mostly for the night but also use them in day on the side the sun is hitting the car. (Double thickness for the windscreen)

As said above, ventilation, leaving windows open a touch with window wind/rain deflectors reduces heat build up in the car substantially.

Insulating the ceiling in the car, this also makes a big difference. I never thought that that much heat came through the ceiling until I insulated it.

When it is really hot we chuck a feather down sleeping bag over the fridge making sure it still has good air flow. It is surprising how much difference this makes.

We sleep in the car so things have to fit in the limited space. We can't get a bigger car as it won't fit in the garage & street parking was already a nightmare a decade ago & we don't want to move house.

The ice in our old custom made esky lasted 10 days but after that we were stuffed & bought ice doesn't work. So improving an off the shelf product was the next easiest solution.

I did look at refrigerator kits & Aerogel insulation, money is not an issue, but wasn't able to get it as compact as hacking a fridge. Now I've done one it's easy to do a replacement when required.

PetenSue wrote:

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Hi Darren, Engel is the only camping fridge I would consider. But I would shop around for pricing and dont rely on camping shops for the lowest prices. I see in your intro post you are from south east QLD. Ive bought several Engel fridges over the years from a truck dealership in Toowoomba. A lot cheaper than camping shops!!!! If you are near Toowoomba at least try Westco truck sales. You can haggle with them a bit more than a purely retail outlet like bcf. You could save a few pennies and buy a cheaper brand but what do you do when your fridge dies in the middle of nowhere?? Its all good to have a fantastic warranty, in the meantime you lose your food on your way back to a city to get a new one !! Regards Pete.

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 IMO the best camping electric fridge on the market is definitely an Engel. As the ad says (not sure about the tax) "unbreakable".

My 'ol mate Roger Browne from ARB donated an Engel for my Simpson Desert crossing in 1981 which was carried in the back of my BJ40 (no tax).

I cannot remember the number of times the old Engel exlted the rear door as I charged the sand dunes in a 4 cyl non turbo 4wd and rolled all the way down the dune...beer included...only to be rescued and firmly replaced in the back of th BJ.

That battered and bruised Engel now keeps my beer cold at my holiday house 38 years later.

Buy an Engel!

T1 Terry wrote:

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Don't try that with a new Engel Monty, you won't have that sort of "never say die" performance from it. The old/early Engel's were worth their weight in silver, they were still heavy so gold was just a tad too much :lol: These days there are better, more reliable and more efficient on the market for less $$ that make less vibration noise and pull the temperature lower much faster. They might have been unbeatable once upon a time, but time has caught up and past them. If the technology remains the same it will be left behind by the innovators who develop better technology to catch and then pass the rivals.
Modern day fridge freezers are the same, once upon a time the 3 way ruled the bush, then the 12v compressor fridge, now the 240vac inverter fridge leaves them for dead in efficiency, ability to operate in extreme heat, long life and price. Times change and the manufacturers that attempt to rely on their former glory are left behind in the dust

T1 Terry

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 I hear what you are saying Terry but I would still look at an engel.

I have a newer model at home as a beer fridge and never had an ounce of trouble with it in 10 years. As you pointed out the compressor is a tad noisy but it's away from the house so that doesn't bother me.

darjak wrote:

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Agree with T1 about the new engel's had the 80/l bought in '06.
Repaired it at 10 mths, broke down 2yrs later, cost $500 then
again 18 mths later thru it in the tip.
Replaced with Techniice 80/l duel zone, 6yrs australia wide part &
labour warranty full stainless and when I bought it was only $1k not $1.9k.
I now never have a cold beer and fridge cycles in 40+C temps doesn't
run 24/7 like the engel did.
Running temps -18 freezer, fridge 1.

Darjak

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 Is that because you can't afford to buy beer now after the $2,000 plus losses from the Engel :lol: Hopefully you mean the beer is always cold and that is the important part, making ice for the honey whiskey is a bonus and if the food can be packed in around the essentials even the boss is happy

T1 Terry 

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:

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My 60L Trailblazer was 22 years old when the power unit failed (bought just after the Brisbane Expo in 1988). The new power unit draws a bit more power but still performs well in all external temperatures. At the time Engels were lacking insulation, the eutectric Autofridge was more expensive & the TB was about the best of the "bunch".

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 Our 80 litre TrailBlaza  is still in use (as a freezer or fridge)  at home .....bought new in 1988 also. Tough unit.  Great "Backup Service " as well.  KB

littledick wrote:

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I have had both an Engel and Waeco. I got rid of the Waeco as it did not compare to the Engel fridge or freezer settings.

Had the Engel about 15 years now and can't fault, however, if it carked it, I would look at the Brass Monkey. Friends have it and quite good plus it fits under the Wildtrak tray+ battery as well.

Dick.

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 Does it have a defrost function ....??? Heard some dripper stories that didnt sound too good 

vik...  

vik351 wrote:

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So who is using a domestic fridge with inverter technology through their inverter these days ...???

Makes ya wonder,, 5 or 6 hundred bucks compared to 3k for a 12 /240 volt under bench job ...

And bold folk bin there done that , lookin at a Haier 198 ltr at the mo , but read a couple reviews ,not real flash ...???

LG's smallest I can find is a 254 ltr ,gettin a bit big for my LWB Sprinter ...???

Any ideas ...???

vik ...

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 Hi Vik, 

Almost 7 years ago I chucked out my 90ltr 3 way and replaced it with a Samsung DI 228ltr domestic fridge.

Fridge cost $290 new, Vicron 350va Inverter new for about $100, 3x100watt solar panel, a Morningstar Solar controller, a 2nd 100ah battery along with meters of 6B&S cable and anderson plugs. I didnt add up the total cost but bit over a grand.

best mod i've done

vik351 wrote:

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So gundog, is that fridge DI 228 job inverter tec, Yes its an Digital Inverter

? seems a bit old for that ??? They had been around for a couple of years before I got mine

So doesnt suck too much juice then it would seem ...I had meter on it for a week mid summer 65amps per 24hrs with solar recharge

Yep, reckon I will go the domestic way , does the door open when ya drive ...??? No 2 child proof locks from the big green shed

not that would be a big deal to cure ...

vik...

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PetenSue wrote:

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Well Im sorry I recommended Engel fridges. Judging by the replies Im just lucky none of my four Engels has ever failed. One of them(in my work ute) rarely ever gets turned off. Cant see myself ever commenting on this type of thing ever again. And cant help but wonder what this Toyota tax bull**** is about. This is a thread about camping fridges. Anyhow you live and learn. Regards Pete.

---

I have had my Engel about 15 years, never let me down. Had the Waeco at the same time got rid of it, couldn't compare to the Engel.

I take no notice of threads that have nothing to do with the listed comment as should you Pete. Always happens.

Dick. 

Hmm , by builder wants me to get a Dometic CRX 110 , 107 Ltr Coolmax 12 ,240 volt job ...

Any news on those from yoy learned folk ...???

Better fit fot the TV ...bla bla , well it is a Sprinter Van ... !!!

Wont be gold mining for 10 wees at a time , so size should be ok

Just the defrost reports from some , or lack there of , is a bit of a worry.

If they melt on their own , but lookin at 400 AH of Litho ,so should be ok ...

vik...