12v fridge recomendations

[genescampbell]

Looking for peoples recomendations for a second 12v fridge. I have a big engle in the camper but want a smaller one (<45l)  in the 4x4 for day trips and using as a frezzer at times.

Also want one thats efficient.

Thanks


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[sharkcaver]

Having just ran both my engel and cfx50 as a freezer inside (defrosting the house freezer, needed somewhere to put the product) I was shocked how better the CFX50 performed. The engel couldn't maintain -18 and didn't cycle. So I backed it off a smidge and it had a 4 minute rest between 10 minute run times.

I didn't note the CFX cycling, other than it ran for far, far less time and sat at rest far longer too.

Also, I never realised my engel is so bloody noisy. The CFX quiet as a mouse.

The outer case of the engel is cold and wet (inside its bag), the CFX less cold but dry (been a bit humid)

Just my observations for what its worth.

[Hookie]

I have a CFX and I'm very happy with it. They seem very well built, don't pull a lot of current compared to engels, and I've never seen mine more than a single degree above or below set temp. Speaking of set temp, you can set a CFX, and most fridges, to the exact temp you want, and they'll tell you what temp they are inside, while engels just have a knob with arbitrary numbers on them. If you want to know what's going on inside you have to buy a thermometer. And like sharkcaver said, engels are very noisy. My old man's recently bought 50L engel makes far more noise than my 95 litre dual zone CFX, and draws about the same current.

I also have a 50L sphere that came free with my camper. It's on the cheap end of the scale and it shows, the thing gets a full 5 degrees above set temp before the motor kicks on, and it shuts off right at set temp, so for keeping drinks cold on day trips I set it to -2 and figure it averages out to just above zero. I do like that the lid opens from either end and can be lifted off completely. It would work if a freezer was all you wanted. Set it to -20 and it's not that big a deal if it gets to -15. Worth about $800 new I think.

[petrolburner]

I don’t think you can go too far wrong with the current name brands.

Have had a 60L ARB for around 5 years now that’s travelled heaps in the car and doubled as the beer fridge at home when not in the car. I am completely satisfied with it, it has basically been on that whole 5 years. 

Also have a 95L Waeco CFX in the trailer and while I have only had it 3 months I agree with the above comments on how quiet it is. Also it holds the set temp very well, no frozen drinks or food so far. (ARB is also pretty good in this regard)

Mates also have 50L CFX fridges, I have ran a mates CFX off the batteries in my camper for a long weekend in 40degree temps and was surprised at how little current it drew from my batts. We ran the ARB and the CFX side by side and I rekon the CFX ran less often. (I have since replaced he lid seal in the ARB fridge)

I have heard Engels are the bees knees but don’t have personal experience with them, for the money I think the CFX range is worthy of consideration, ARB has been fine for me so far as well and would be happy with another one.

[archer63]

We bought a new CFX50 a few months ago...love it !!
Agree with previous comments about these CFX's.

[paceman]

+1 on the CFX50...

best fridge i've owned...  excellent power usage and just the right size for me to carry fully-loaded, by myself... handy...

[woolgoolgaoffroad]

Looking for peoples recomendations for a second 12v fridge. I have a big engle in the camper but want a smaller one (<45l)  in the 4x4 for day trips and using as a frezzer at times.

Also want one thats efficient.

Thanks


Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

what do you call efficient ?

[trinityalyce]

Have an Engel, love it. Never had an issue with it. The old one with the dial (now replaced with a digital temp input) used to vary a bit in temp depending on how full it was, what we had it set to, etc. but a fridge thermometer used to help a great deal with that (we could monitor the temp in the front of the car when driving and got pretty good at setting it correctly once we had that!), but haven't had a problem with the upgraded model!

That said, we haven't had it running as a freezer, but wouldn't hesitate to if for some reason we needed to. Just is more convenient for our purposes as a fridge.

[Bird]

Looking for peoples recomendations for a second 12v fridge. I have a big engle in the camper but want a smaller one (<45l)  in the 4x4 for day trips and using as a frezzer at times.

Also want one thats efficient.

I bought a cheapy 30ltr perfect for day trips and stuff... our engel died on day 2 of a 2 week trip in the Flinders and had to use a mates fridge for the trip cost 600 to fix... wish I'd known before I paid up, I'd have bought a Wako 50 instead
The repair bloke had heaps of Engels and wako's around his place being fixed, some new, some off Noahs ark!

[Beachman]

We run 2 x 40L Engels with the oldest being 15 years. Early last year ago the oldest was always cycling so I took it to a guy who specialises in caravan & camping fridges. He’s exact words were that’s strange because we rarely work in Engels (Benches were full of Waeco’s being worked on)

Turns out the Motor/Fan on my fridge was full of dust, so a quick blow with the high pressure hose along with being wiped down with a brush fixed my problem. But agree they aren’t the quietest fridge on the market.

I did make a comment to him about the amount of Waeco’s and he did say the old ones were kept him in business, but the new CFX range were a dramatic improvement and were now as good as any other brand.