To: From: "John Birrell" Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2003 21:24:29 +1030 Subject: Re: [pinzgauer] Re: Refrigerators Reply-To: pinzgauer@yahoogroups.com Gooday Peter & Pinzers everywhere, As you probably saw in 2002 I have run an Engel fridge in my old Land Cruiser camper since 1975. It has had the sealed unit replaced once, but is still in regular use despite much abuse. HOWEVER!, last year I went to the Adelaide off-road show to buy a new 40 litre chest fridge/freezer, and I came home with a South African (Johannesburg, in fact) built unit called a National Luna. It uses a German Danfoss compressor unit with intelligent controls, is built like the proverbial brick dunny, and outperforms even the new model Engels by a country mile. Reasons:- it has a full stainless steel liner which is the cooler plate; it has a genuine 40mm of insulation; you can dial up the temperature you want it to maintain, down to -18C. As a guide, to maintain 2 degrees C in an ambient temperature of about 30, it runs for 10 minutes and then is off for 30 to 40 minutes. Run current is a genuine 2.5 amps at 12 volts. If it senses that the battery is charging (ie over 13.3 volts) it runs the compressor at double speed, thus reducing the run time even further. It cost about $200 more than the 40 litre Engel, but this included a well insulated protector bag and a 12volt fluoro light which plugs directly into an outlet socket on the fridge. Check it out if you see one- they had only just started bringing them into Oz about 16 months ago, and I wonder if they have an outlet in the Stares? e-mail address is:- natluna@mweb.co.za Regards from Beetaloo John Birrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Farrer" To: Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2003 5:41 PM Subject: [pinzgauer] Re: Refrigerators > Most 4WDriver in Oz run fridges (I can't think of any people I go > bush with who haven't got a fridge) and I'd have to say that most > are Engels, but more recently Waeco has been making inroads. > > A mate of mine runs a 20 year old Engel, mine is about 7 years and > yet another one has a newer one, but all perform brilliantly.....It > just goes to show you can't kill a good product! > > The one thing that a lot of Aussies buy is the optional "insulation > bag" which really improves the efficiency of the units. > > Peter Farrer > > > > --- In pinzgauer@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Mettler" > wrote: > > These type friges are just that, friges. Not freezers. If the > temp > > gets up there they just can't cope too well. Also the pilot light > > can be prone to going out when run from propane. They add extra > > heat to the refrigerant to drive the heat engine; if it is too hot > > outside they can't get enough heat difference to cool > > substantually. The engel I have can easily keep thing frozen even > > in 90+ degree weather (but has to run 100% of the time to do it). > > Even so, it only draws 36 watts of electricity (vs 80W for that > > frige) when it is running, and does it from 24V to boot. > > > > The saying "you get what you pay for" comes to mind. If you want > a > > FREEZER spend the money for the Engel. If you only need a frige > to > > keep the beer cool this may suffice. > > > > Jim Mettler > > 1976 712W (with an Engel 41 for the past two years, I love it) > > > > > > --- In pinzgauer@yahoogroups.com, Marvin Munster > wrote: > > > Not too interested int the "Lofty Shelters", but was very > > interested in the > > > portable 3 way refrigerator they have. > > > http://www.loftyshelters.com/Fridge%20Pages.htm . Any comments > on > > this one > > > or a better one at a similar price? The Engle freezers are > > getting up > > > around $700. > > > Marvin > > > '73 710k >