Cheaper fridge alternatives

Avittery · Post by **Avittery** » Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:41 am

Hi everyone,
I'm new to posting here after spending way too much time reading.
Currently gutted my 96 L400 and rebuilding it back together as a camper, while being somewhat conscious on my budget.

That being said,does anyone have some advice for buying a delicafridge that doesn't cost $1000 ish like Waeco,Engel etc. Is there anything wrong with just using a regular mini fridge from cad. Tire ? I have a dual battery setup with isolator
Thanks!

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Thu Dec 01, 2016 10:59 pm

We've just been through this with our caravan. It's a tricky one.

Do you mean a 110V fridge (like this http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/maste ... 0289p.html) or a thermoelectric 12V cooler (like this onehttp://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mobic ... p.html#srp)?

Either option is going to use a lot of power. Your average small fridge draws 150W when it's running and runs 33% of the time (a low estimate on a warm day). The inverter that powers it is about 85% efficient so you'd need: 150W x 33% x 85% x 24hours = about 1400WattHours per day. A 116 AmpHour battery will do that, but draining it completely every day will kill it really quickly. To run a 150W fridge you're also going to need a 500W inverter (at least!), because the startup current on those small fridges is huge.

The thermoelectric coolers aren't much better. A 40L cooler will draw 4 Amps continuously, which works out to 1152Wh per day. A 96Ah battery will do, but again it'll be dead in no time.

An Engel or Waeco 12V compressor fridge draws between 300Wh and 500Wh per day (depending on how hot it is outside), basically a third to a half as much as the other options. Your single 100Ah battery would last two or three days, and would stand a better chance of surviving for longer.

poochike · Post by **poochike** » Fri Dec 02, 2016 9:40 pm

These have gotten some decent reviews and are $500 US, about half of an ARB or Engle

http://truckfridge.com/tf49.html.

They use the sam compressor if I remember correctly. I have an ARB I purchased used of of Expedition Portal and love it.

Good luck

Post by **thelazygreenfox** » Sun Dec 04, 2016 9:12 pm

Are you travelling single or as a pair? If single remove the front passenger seat and install a propane RV fridge, approx $100 for the fridge. Two problems.
1- vent the exhaust to the passenger window. Make up a wooden window of thin plywood and bend conduit to the hole in the plywood.
2- vent the summertime heat the same way. The cooler seasons heat is a blessing.

I never said it was perfect but other than in day time temps in excess of 30 degs it works well. I'm a gas fitter so I made it work. I'll submit pics if you like.
MD

ChuckBlack · Post by **ChuckBlack** » Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:47 pm

Buy a tipical mini fridge 110v. Then go online and buy a 12v mini fridge compressor from somewhere in Japan. Remove the 110v compressor and install the 12v one. Then Call some plumber that you know and get him to weld te new lines or get some fittings couplers. Bring it so some HVAC mobile or gorilla store and get them to flush and refill your system! Sould cost less than $500!

ChuckBlack · Post by **ChuckBlack** » Mon Dec 05, 2016 1:48 pm

Or if you don't want to mess around for a week message me I know some
Crazy French dude in Montreal who makes them for about $730

Avittery · Post by **Avittery** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 3:12 pm

Thanks everyone for the advice, I ended up finding a Dometic CF-040 fridge/ freezer for very cheap on Amazon. They run on DC current which is nice, I plan on hooking it up directly to my second battery and do some trial and error to see how long the battery lasts. Maybe get a solar panel to help it out!

definingdigital · Post by **definingdigital** » Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:01 pm

Anyone have any experience with this one? It's from Costco...The price seems a little better than some other fridge/freezer combos... Plus costco has a great return policy for if there's something I don't like..

https://www.costco.ca/Unique-2.8-cu.ft- ... 70876.html

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lrp374 · Post by **lrp374** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:31 pm

I ran across this today while looking for other things on Banggood. They are quite small but priced right. Has anyone had any experience with them? They look similar to other units But---

https://www.banggood.com/20L-1224V-Port ... rehouse=CN

lrp374 · Post by **lrp374** » Thu Jan 17, 2019 12:11 pm

I did some more surfing and these are available on EBay and Amazon for about the same price or almost double if you choose the wrong supplier. They appear to draw about twice the current for half the size of an ARB unit but if your only using it for short periods of time who cares! I doubt they are anywhere near as rugged but that is one of the reasons they are cheap.