Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Camping and Caravanning Equipment
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Dometic cooler noisy? Post Reply Post New Topic
02/4/2021 at 4:18pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered
View kaymabo's Profile View Profile   Reply to kaymabo Reply   Quote kaymabo Quote  
Joined: 28/7/2020

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   10

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I just picked up my first compressor cooler, the Dometic CFX 28 and have given it a test. Whilst I wasn't expecting it to be silent, plenty of forum comments across the internet had led me to believe it's not noisy enough to disturb you from being able to sleep with many saying they barely notice it when it's on. However having now experienced the motor running and cooling it down I have to say it sounds like it's powered by a swarm of angry mechanical mosquitoes. I can't understand how anyone could not notice it being on. I set mine up in the kitchen and my partner went in and jumped when she heard the noise.

Hard to explain the noise but it essentially sounds like the kind of very cheap noisy fridge I'd have expected in a student flat. Or a loud freezer you'd have in the garage. I really can't see myself having this set up in my tent unless I want to be jolted awake every 15 minutes.

I found this video around the 40s mark which pretty much demonstrated the noise I'm hearing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkCYuFMoY8Q

Does anyone else have a similar Dometic and get this kind of noise? If it's expected then fine, I'll just keep it in the car rather than the tent over night. Just a bit disappointing.


02/4/2021 at 6:06pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Francais's Profile View Profile   Reply to Francais Reply   Quote Francais Quote  
Joined: 29/6/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   12115
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 14
Site Nights 2018: 0

We have the Waeco CF25, and since new it has remained almost silent, every now and again the compressor will kick in, but the sound is more like a gentle purr, and has never caused me to wake from my slumber during the night, and I am a very light sleeper.

Our CF25 is 13 years old, so it’s not as though it is new.

We also have a Mobicool C40 (8 years old) which uses a larger domestic type compressor as it’s mains only, that does make make a little more noise when it shut’s of the compressor, more of a clunk type sound, but when the compressor is running it is still very quiet even in the dead of night, again it has never caused me to wake.


via mobile 02/4/2021 at 7:22pm
 Location: Buckinghamshire
 Outfit: VW Campers and Tents
View Webmaster's Profile View Profile   Reply to Webmaster Reply   Quote Webmaster Quote  
Joined: 09/6/1999

Forum Admin
Forum Moderator

Forum Posts:   7662
Tent Reviews:   3

Site Reviews Total: 84
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 18 
Site Reviews 2020: 13 
Site Reviews 2019: 21 
Site Reviews 2018: 6  
Site Nights 2024: 6
Site Nights 2023: 1
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 33
Site Nights 2020: 24
Site Nights 2019: 44
Site Nights 2018: 9

No that definitely doesn't sound normal! Mine ( different model) is a very gentle hum at most

-------------


via mobile 02/4/2021 at 10:41pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Elddis accordo Motorhome
View fleck2's Profile View Profile   Reply to fleck2 Reply   Quote fleck2 Quote  
Joined: 27/4/2006

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1168

Site Reviews Total: 8
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

That sounds like a variable speed drive. They slow down and quieten down when they get nearer to the set point. Well air conditioners do, they've been variable speed for 20 years. They just tick over quietly when they've been on a while.


03/4/2021 at 7:24am
 Location: North Essex
 Outfit: Caravelair Alba 400
View billy's Profile View Profile   Reply to billy Reply   Quote billy Quote  
Joined: 19/4/2002

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4364

Site Reviews Total: 39
Site Reviews 2024: 9  
Site Reviews 2023: 6  
Site Reviews 2022: 7  
Site Reviews 2021: 10 
Site Reviews 2020: 7  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 121
Site Nights 2023: 45
Site Nights 2022: 91
Site Nights 2021: 112
Site Nights 2020: 84
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

It is possible the fan is slightly out of alignment & the blades are touching the housing. I had this once with a cheap electric coolbox. After a couple of years it started to rattle quite loudly so I took it to pieces pulled the fan along it’s spindle slightly & job was done. If it is new I would take it back for a replacement.

-------------
Every day should be a holiday!


Advertisement



03/4/2021 at 9:19am
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
Joined: 01/7/2012

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9052
Tent Reviews:   5

Site Reviews Total: 40
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 6

We have the Mobicool FR40, and yes, we can hear the motor when it kicks in. But not enough to wake/disturb us once we are asleep.

When it's out in our awning, (One sheet of canvas between us, and about 4m from our heads) we leave it on all night.
When it's in our main tent (no "wall" between us, and about 3m from our heads) more often than not, we turn it off through the night, and even in The South of France in September, it's still the same 4degC when I switch it back on in the morning.
Works for us.

-------------
2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights


03/4/2021 at 1:33pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6272

Site Reviews Total: 18
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 2  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 8
Site Nights 2022: 12
Site Nights 2021: 18
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 21
Site Nights 2018: 18

We had a Waeco compressor fridge on our boat and the wind through the leaves on the trees on the riverbank made much more noise than our fridge. In the caravan we have now someone has previously fitted a normal mains-only household fridge and we don't really notice that running overnight. It certainly doesn't keep us awake.

If your compressor fridge keeps you awake you are either an extremely light sleeper or something is wrong with the fridge. I would get it checked out if it's making that much noise.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


04/4/2021 at 12:17pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered
View kaymabo's Profile View Profile   Reply to kaymabo Reply   Quote kaymabo Quote  
Joined: 28/7/2020

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   10

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thanks for all the feedback. I found an app on my phone that seems to be accurate enough at recording db levels. It's saying my ambient home background noise is around 30db. My boiler (in a cupboard) and home fridge both register 36db. That's a perfectly quiet volume I could sleep with. The Dometic, however, is registering up to 46db. In the handbook it states the CFX 28 should be 34db. Apparently a 10db difference is considered a doubling in audible volume, so that does seem some way off.

I've gotten in touch with Dometic so let's see if they have anything to say.


via mobile 04/4/2021 at 5:48pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Elddis accordo Motorhome
View fleck2's Profile View Profile   Reply to fleck2 Reply   Quote fleck2 Quote  
Joined: 27/4/2006

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1168

Site Reviews Total: 8
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Have you left it on a while to see if it quietens down?


04/4/2021 at 9:43pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered
View kaymabo's Profile View Profile   Reply to kaymabo Reply   Quote kaymabo Quote  
Joined: 28/7/2020

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   10

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

It's been 48 hours now. Not sure if longer would make it quieter. Also wondered if 12V would be quieter than 240V as it does seem to become higher pitched on 240V. But monitoring sound volumes on 12V is at best maybe 1 or 2db quieter.

Best I an find and from some comments here is it could be related to the fan. That does seem to come up a few times across the internet.



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Camping and Caravanning Equipment - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














6143 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder