Advertisement
Message Forums |
|
 Topic: Suggestions for fridge/ coolbox
|
  |
08/6/2021 at 4:10am
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 29/6/2008 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 a Waeco CF25 compressor fridge which we got back in 2008, superb small portable fridge, we have run it in the car for months, no fear of it draining the car battery as the fridge has has built in battery protection.
The Waeco will run of my 120Ah SLA battery for five days straight, before the battery reaches 50% capacity, my battery is in a portable battery box, that has Anderson powerpole panel mounted output, so I simply plug the fridge into the battery box using a Anderson to cigarette type socket adapter.
We got lucky with the Waeco, it was brand new in the box and cost £150 plus £20 shipping from Portsmouth to Manchester.
I know that they are expensive to buy new now, Waeco are a brand of the Dometic group who also have the Mobicool brand, so the Mobicool MCF-40 is also a very good compressor fridge.
As ever decent kit costs, and portable compressor fridges are right up there, I can only speak from experience and would have no other type of fridge for camping.
|
08/6/2021 at 11:08am
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2328
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| 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: | 6 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
People tend to think of fridges and coolboxes as pretty much the same thing, but they are not really. A fridge should be able to maintain a temp of 0-4C to keep perishable foods safe, a coolbox with ice (including the electric variety) will just be cooler than the ambient temp, and may not be at a safe temp for perishable food storage!
The electric coolboxes will only cool (unaided by additional ice/ice packs) to something like 18C below ambient (ie. 28C ambient = 10-15C in box) at best, they are very slow to cool, very inefficient and power hungry, you can't run them off a battery alone (not all have a battery discharge protection cut out to stop battery damage and they'll all kill a car/leisure battery in a few hours), they need a 240v mains adaptor or running engine in a vehicle. Best think of them as a way of extending the life of ice packs for a few more hours if running from sustainable power source.
A 12v camping compressor fridge will run for days off a car/leisure battery, most if not all have battery protection cut outs.
3-way (Absorption type) fridges are power hungry on electric, so again on 12v will kill a (off charge) battery in hours. They are fine on 240v mains and 12v with car engine running, and great on gas (either Calor type cylinder or a model available that takes disposable cartridges). They are slower to chill down than compressor fridges. You also need to use in a ventilated space (tent porch OK, not main enclosed space!) if running on gas as potentially lethal Carbon Monoxide from gas exhaust.
The high end passive coolboxes will keep ice/ice packs frozen for couple of days if you only put pre-chilled items in box and don't open too often. They work pretty well if you can keep them supplied with ice/ice packs as needed.
I've got/used all types and perhaps ought to mention that if you want to use them as 'beer fridges' with frequent opening and replenishing with 'warm' stock, then you compromise their safe food storage capabilities considerably. The compressor fridges are the most capable in that scenario as they have quickest cooling capability.
I've used a huge Igloo as a beer fridge (in France), we freeze a load of 1l/2l ice cream tubs of water at home (in England), and the box lid has a hatch so you don't let all the cold out every time you open lid, that copes for a couple of days with a LOT of opening and warm beer going in!  
IMHO, for 2 - 3 day stint's, a high end passive coolbox with lots of ice and pre-chilled items should suffice, otherwise if budget will stretch then a compressor fridge or 3-way fridge on gas. Forget the 'electric coolbox'.
The 12v capable fridges usually have a lead with a 'cigarette lighter' plug on, you need a flying lead with 'cigarette lighter' socket on one end and crocodile clips on other. Like this https://www.caravanaccessoryshop.co.uk/product/crocodile-clips-to-cigar-lighter-ad........
|
|
|
9156 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
|
|
|
via mobile 07/6/2021 at 10:08pm
