Engel Fridge

Anyone got one for sale? Are they really light on power consumption? Could I boost battery performance with a solar panel and if so what specification?

Hi Julian - I have a 45litre version f/s. It consumes about 1-1.5 amps, and I've run it on a 90A/H battery for 36hrs without draining it significantly. The Land Rover restarted no problems. No idea about the solar panel.

Suggest you email me.

Julian Pollard wrote:

Hi Julian - I have a 45litre version f/s. It consumes about 1-1.5 amps, and I've run it on a 90A/H battery for 36hrs without draining it significantly. The Land Rover restarted no problems. No idea about the solar panel.

Suggest you email me.

Julian Pollard wrote:

Hi there, We consider the ENGELs to be (probably) the best fridge in the world...Thats why we only sell the ENGEL's, but not used ones.

If you are in two minds as to whether or not to splash out the cash on one... Do it. You'll not regret it and it will provide excellent service for years to come and just about all the abuse you could care to throw at it.

As for size... The MT-35 (32L) fridges are cheaper than the MT-45 (perhaps obviously) but you can't get 2L bottles stood up inside them. The MT-45 (40L) on the other hand allows this and is the same footprint as the 32L.

We sell many more MT-45's than MT-35's for this very reason.

Regards, Jon VentureOverland

Jon VentureOverland

Excellent information - thank you.

except ... where are the prices? (don't be shy )

I've run an Engel 40L for the last 7 years, 5 of which were in Africa inc 18 months Trans-Africa. A compressor fridge is the only choice and they come from Engel, Minus 40, National Luna and Waeco. Minus 40 have a stainless steel enclosure which is attractive, Waeco have a plastic outside which is not as durable. Otherwise there is not much between them. I retrofitted a 24V cooling fan from a PC into mine to assist with air movement across the heat sink, the more modern, for the last 3 years have them as standard.

Our 45 kg Rottweiler lay on ours for 18 months, coolest place in a FC101 Radio Body in the desert! It is still going strong and is used occasionally as an extra cold party fridge at home and then the occasional trip. I made an insulated jacket with 15mm closed cell foam and canvass cover. This protects the fridge surface and increases the marginal insulation.

Depending on the amount of time you intend to be stopped without driving and the ambient, you need to think about a second deep cycle battery and split charger. In the UK ambient are low so it doesn't work very hard. In Africa, ambient inside the vehicle were 60 deg.C and it still managed to make ice but ran most of the time. Peak current is about 3.5 Amp, but it switches on and off. If you want to park up for more than a day look into at least a 75W solar panel. I used to turn mine off a night when stocked full with frozen stuff at the bottom and cold drinks on top. Running a fridge on a trip becomes an art.

Again, let us know what your intended use is and I can give some applicable advice.

Check internet prices in Africa and Oz, the UK importer used to be incredibly greedy and offered one to me at 'cost', until I pointed out that his price was the same as retail in Oz and Africa. A friend shipped one over from SA and it was still cheaper than the UK.

Neil

We keep prices off the website intentionally:- For two reasons, firstly, due to constantly changing buy prices (they do often come down as well as go up). We then pass any benefits available onto the customer.

Secondly, given the volatility of the price its hard enough to keep track of prices without having one other place to update also!

Thirdly... Some of the ENGEL products are not always available! Prime example is the 27L fridge... Last time a customer wanted one I couldn't source one (competitively) from anywhere in Europe, he bought an MT-35 instead which is (from experience) always readily available.

Currently: ENGEL MT-35 £395.00 inc VAT ENGEL MT-45 £499.38 inc VAT ENGEL Fridge Cover (Thermal) £125.00 inc VAT ENGEL Slide-Lok £115.00 inc VAT

Hope this helps...

Regards, Jon VentureOverland

Jon VentureOverland

VentureOverland uttered summat worrerz funny about:

I'm sure they are good but I'd be revising my plans to encompass an Artic expo at those prices.

;-)

Don't rule out making your own fridge. A few have done it on the Self Build motor caravan Forum

Lee D

Jon VentureOverland

On Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:52:00 +0100, "Julian Pollard" scribbled the following nonsense:

Martyn has one, swears by it, runs all weekend no probs normally!

||| ||| except ... where are the prices? (don't be shy ) || || We keep prices off the website intentionally:- || For two reasons, firstly, due to constantly changing buy prices (they || do often come down as well as go up). We then pass any benefits || available onto the customer. || || Secondly, given the volatility of the price its hard enough to keep || track of prices without having one other place to update also! || || Thirdly... Some of the ENGEL products are not always available! || Prime example is the 27L fridge... Last time a customer wanted one I || couldn't source one (competitively) from anywhere in Europe, he || bought an MT-35 instead which is (from experience) always readily || available.

And fourthly, you don't frighten the punters away before they can get hooked on the product.

I've just priced an MT45 ex the Oz distributor - the recommended retail works out a whole £14 cheaper than the price Jon has quoted.

I've had an MT45 for 5 odd years and wouldn't be without it. Very low (~2.5A) power drain - easily powered by a large solar panel. Best prices tend to be from marine suppliers - for both fridge and solar equipment. I'm actually thinking of getting another, larger model to use a a freezer on my boat (All the larger Engel models can also act as a three star freezer).

Yeah, and if I could only stop Charlotte filling full of foodie stuff, it'd be much more popular ;-)

Crikey (as Boris Johnson would say!)!

I didn't realise what sort of string I would start!1

Actually I have more in mind the 15 litre one to keep beers cool in summer - not touring the world outside this Sceptic Isle!!!

On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:43:57 +0100, Mother scribbled the following nonsense:

its you who wants the belly pork to BBQ.......

Julian, If your after a 15L, drop me a mail and I'll see what I can do for you.

Regards, Jon VentureOverland

Jon VentureOverland

On or around Tue, 17 Oct 2006 21:30:07 +0100, Simon Isaacs enlightened us thusly:

a fair point, and well made.

Yeah, alright, apart from the bellypork, what did the Romans ever do for us?