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whitey660
Regular Contributor
Topic: FridgeMate fridge-freezer
Posted: 14/April/2007 at 3:40pm
After hearing some favourbale stories about the FridgeMate fridge-freezers I decided to purchase the 55L model recently.
This is my first car fridge: to say I was excited to get rid of the esky and all the disadvantages of using ice would be a mild understatement
Add to that a promised endless supply of cold beers, and I just couldn't wait to get away and test it
Positives for me were:
- Lengthwise, it fits nicely in the back of my NJ. Some of the other brands 60L models would have been too long.
- It has a removable divider, which splits it into 50% freezer and 50% fridge. The element covers the 3 sides of the freezer section only, with a few holes in the divider to spread the cold into the fridge section.
Can't wait to see the looks on my mate's face's at camp when I pull out the ice cream
- nice square shape, easy to pack and use all of the available space. I looked at the Waeco 50L which appears to be much taller and narrower. To my eye the FridgeMate looks like it would hold considerably more, and be more accessible.
- twin baskets included
- rugged polyethylene cabinet. Until I build a slide and storage system, I can throw all the camping gear in the back with it and not worry about damaging it.
- it uses the same Danfoss compressor as most of the other brands (except Engel)
- Australian owned company, with good reputation for warranty support.
- Reportedly low power consumption
We've only been away twice with it so far, a weekend trip and at Easter - and already I've got a complaint! The things just too damn cold!
Running it at 4/10 on the dial and as 100% fridge, placing a litre of milk against the element, it froze solid after 2 days (this was while running it inside at home before we left).
Of course it also popped the cap and I had some milk spill into the cabinet, which made for a nice smelling fridge for the weekend. However that removable bung in the bottom which I'd thought unnecessary, came in very handy when returning home - just a spray with the garden hose to clean it out!
Lesson learn't, and the dial stays on 3 or lower now.
Needless to say, very happy with the 'cold power' of the FridgeMate.
While I didn't measure power consumption, it ran for 48 hours last weekend without starting the car, and my Traxide SC-40 dual battery controller had still not isolated the starting battery. I was a little worried as I had just fitted the system myself, but the car did start easily when we left
Based on this, and with a 100Ah deep cycle battery, I don't expect any problems with power for my usage (mainly weekend trips).
A big thumbs up to the FridgeMate so far.
Their website can be found here:
http://www.icemate.com.au/Fridgemate...gefreezers.htm
I paid $970 at BCF, with 2 free camp chairs thrown in (RRP $25 each).
For a 55L capacity and all the benefits stated above , I think this is great value.
It would be nice if a fridge slide was available, however given the prices of some of these, I am quite happy to build my own for what I hope will be a lot less.
We've just returned from the Sydney 4wd, camping & caravan show, and the FridgeMate can be had there for $970 - however you get a bunch of freebies thrown in, worth $320.
This includes a 240v converter ($170 rrp or so) digital temperature guage, 12v worklight, and a 10L cooler.
I think that's a fantastic deal - it's always the way, isn't it....
Regular Contributor
Topic: FridgeMate fridge-freezer
Posted: 14/April/2007 at 3:40pm
After hearing some favourbale stories about the FridgeMate fridge-freezers I decided to purchase the 55L model recently.
This is my first car fridge: to say I was excited to get rid of the esky and all the disadvantages of using ice would be a mild understatement
Add to that a promised endless supply of cold beers, and I just couldn't wait to get away and test it
Positives for me were:
- Lengthwise, it fits nicely in the back of my NJ. Some of the other brands 60L models would have been too long.
- It has a removable divider, which splits it into 50% freezer and 50% fridge. The element covers the 3 sides of the freezer section only, with a few holes in the divider to spread the cold into the fridge section.
Can't wait to see the looks on my mate's face's at camp when I pull out the ice cream
- nice square shape, easy to pack and use all of the available space. I looked at the Waeco 50L which appears to be much taller and narrower. To my eye the FridgeMate looks like it would hold considerably more, and be more accessible.
- twin baskets included
- rugged polyethylene cabinet. Until I build a slide and storage system, I can throw all the camping gear in the back with it and not worry about damaging it.
- it uses the same Danfoss compressor as most of the other brands (except Engel)
- Australian owned company, with good reputation for warranty support.
- Reportedly low power consumption
We've only been away twice with it so far, a weekend trip and at Easter - and already I've got a complaint! The things just too damn cold!
Running it at 4/10 on the dial and as 100% fridge, placing a litre of milk against the element, it froze solid after 2 days (this was while running it inside at home before we left).
Of course it also popped the cap and I had some milk spill into the cabinet, which made for a nice smelling fridge for the weekend. However that removable bung in the bottom which I'd thought unnecessary, came in very handy when returning home - just a spray with the garden hose to clean it out!
Lesson learn't, and the dial stays on 3 or lower now.
Needless to say, very happy with the 'cold power' of the FridgeMate.
While I didn't measure power consumption, it ran for 48 hours last weekend without starting the car, and my Traxide SC-40 dual battery controller had still not isolated the starting battery. I was a little worried as I had just fitted the system myself, but the car did start easily when we left
Based on this, and with a 100Ah deep cycle battery, I don't expect any problems with power for my usage (mainly weekend trips).
A big thumbs up to the FridgeMate so far.
Their website can be found here:
http://www.icemate.com.au/Fridgemate...gefreezers.htm
I paid $970 at BCF, with 2 free camp chairs thrown in (RRP $25 each).
For a 55L capacity and all the benefits stated above , I think this is great value.
It would be nice if a fridge slide was available, however given the prices of some of these, I am quite happy to build my own for what I hope will be a lot less.
We've just returned from the Sydney 4wd, camping & caravan show, and the FridgeMate can be had there for $970 - however you get a bunch of freebies thrown in, worth $320.
This includes a 240v converter ($170 rrp or so) digital temperature guage, 12v worklight, and a 10L cooler.
I think that's a fantastic deal - it's always the way, isn't it....
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