Iso Of A Refrigerator
- Thread starter Holly Bee
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In Search Of
Jenn
Ranger
Thanks. A couple years ago at the grocery store I saw: BOGO and had to search out a clerk to decode that!
Fridge. I just got an Iceco GO20. I love it. I've had a domestic that originally came with the teardrop. I loved it but it finally got fussy about being driven around the country. The iceco go20 is smaller and lighter. It will meet my needs.
Fridge. I just got an Iceco GO20. I love it. I've had a domestic that originally came with the teardrop. I loved it but it finally got fussy about being driven around the country. The iceco go20 is smaller and lighter. It will meet my needs.
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Sweeney
Administrator
I have a Dometic CFF35 -- same one CI sells. It works very nicely except the same as all of them it seems. My ARB has had the same problem...when the thermistor gets wet. The CFF35 fits directly in the galley, the ARB I have is HUGE and must travel in the car. BUt the compressors are nearly identical. Dometic is better weather protected.
The thermistor is a 10 minute fix after you do it once.
I think all of them use a remarkably similar compressor....the different is the size and shape of the refrigerator box. Personally -- even if Danfoss is just as problematic as the knockoffs, I prefer knowing that there is SOME recourse, unlike the generic cheap imports...
The thermistor is a 10 minute fix after you do it once.
I think all of them use a remarkably similar compressor....the different is the size and shape of the refrigerator box. Personally -- even if Danfoss is just as problematic as the knockoffs, I prefer knowing that there is SOME recourse, unlike the generic cheap imports...
Sweeney
Administrator
Is the iceco go20 a drop in -- meaning it fits the existing space?
We use this company. Fits perfect in the opening. When we purchased they had a sale.
12V Portable Fridge
12V Portable Fridge
We also have the Dometic CF35. It works fine for two of us. When we first got it I thought it was going to be too small, but the amount of space not taken up by ice really surprised me.
If you go with the Dometic be sure to get a 'hockey stick' from CampInn, to help with eliminating the bit of slop in the footprint when in the galley space.
If you go with the Dometic be sure to get a 'hockey stick' from CampInn, to help with eliminating the bit of slop in the footprint when in the galley space.
Good synopsis of your Dometic use Kevin. If and when the Dometic bites the dust, the Bouge line looks like the best bang for the buck at this point, with options like the dual zones, etc. Probably the way I'd go if in need today. Setting the Dometic kick out voltage really depends on which battery technology you are using. Using lead acid, even using the high 12V cutout setting won't save your battery from some damage, but with LiFePo you might be safe. I wonder how a 12V power cord for the Dometic with dual input connectors would work?, with both an Anderson plug for hooking to the sogen, and cigar plug for the CI, with covers for the unused end.... just thinking.I have the CF35. It works pretty well- I've used it mostly in freezer mode, using 12 oz water bottles frozen to ice, a couple of 4lb yeti freezer blocks, and a couple 1lb freezer blocks in various ways to pack around frozen meat ice cream etc. I rotate one yeti block and two- 3 water bottles out at night to the Coleman that is my cooler, and when the water bottles thaw I have a couple-4 cold drinks, a day.
Cary called this "The Postman" method named after a CI customer who came up with the idea.
This way I dont have to run to the convenience store every 2-3 days to buy ice and deal with draining water to avoid soggy food.
Naturally in very hot outside temps like 90 degrees in desert or worse 90 degrees 100% humidity in June in FL, its working the compressor pretty hard all day and it uses a lot of electricity. At night left running past say 4 hours it will drain the CI house battery. So be careful to disconnect the trailer power from tow vehicle when you stop somewhere and the isolation switch fails and the Dometic drains the car starter battery...
Note also when very warm you cant really cool stuff to real cold when its in the galley with hatch closed, as there is just not enough air flow to cool it off. You are just circulating hot air from exhaust back to the condenser inlet. I've tried putting it in the CI cabin plugged into a cigarrete lighter and it keeps frozen that way- lots more room for cooling air but it can be tricky to strap it down.
You also dont want to leave it in the sun- its better insulated than the Coleman but will warm up fast in desert sun.
Here's a trick- if you are somewhere with low humidity, and a breeze- wet a towel and put in top, draped so its not blocking the intake or exhaust vents- the evaporative cooling helps the cooler stay cold longer, and you can rell the difference in the Coleman especially- ice lasts longer.
At night I'll put it on side table or turn it ninety degrees in galley and prop the hatch open enough with something 3-4" or so that the hatch inside is not resting on the CF35. On mine it seems like the first point of contact is the lens of overhead light and dint wanna crack that!
So next I'm now experimenting with keeping it in the Tow Vehicle in back seat or cargo area strapped down powered by either the cigarrette lighter driving down the road, or a lithium Relion72ah Sogen that feeds the CF35, with a solar panel on roof rack charging the Relion. Mixed results on that.
A lithium sogen lasts longer than a comparable lead acid as it can power all the way down to 20% charge vs the lead acid at 50%, and
The CF35 has settings to turn itself on and off depending on the battery voltage, that you have to experiment to see what works for you.
I've also tried charging the Relion with solar panels at same time as feeding the CF35. Its a bit tricky as the CF35 doesnt seem to restart after shutting down as the Relion recharges, and again...still experimenting dont have a good answer on how to set and forget it.
So far I havent killed it despite almost losing it out a swinging open cabin door while doing a fast u-ey out of a gas station in TX with a semi bearing down on me...need a better strap down method!
so its a testament to some durability, in this extreme use, thats typical of some users in the Aussie Outback, I'm guessing- didnt Dometic get popular there first, back in the day?
Nothing like having chilled icewater or a beer in the hot desert heat.
The point is it saves me from running into town every other day for ice, and as long as I am parked somewhere with good sun and dont mind having to move the two 100w solar panels 3 times a day to point at the sun, the Relion sogen keeps up with the Dometic.
If I were going someplace cloudy or parked in the shade, or wanted to leave the CI for the day going on a long hike, then eventually I'd need a generator to keep up.
But honestly- my use is atypical aimed dispersed camping for several days, and when Dear Wife joins me she likes campgrounds for power, showers, so all in all its been worth the investment, for 95% of a typical average CI user experience.
Naturally, It would use less power and stay cool enough longer if used in cooler mode in more moderate temps like a lot of the shadier campgrounds in the east. And ghen I'd provably just use the Coleman cooler by itself, or the Dometic in cooler mode.
The one weakness is the cigarette lighter plug, which is discussed in a couple threads here. You can modify that to something like Anderson plug connectors that are sturdier and less resistance, saving some power iirc.
All in all, its been well worth it. If you are gonna go glamping off the ground, why not spoil yourself with fresh food, ice cold beverages, steaks and eggs, vs freeze dried backpacking or beans and weenies car camping? Been there done that, too old bones for that now...
I am keeping an eye on the "thermistor" failure issue- not sure what exactly is the symptom-
So question for Sweeney? How to avoid it as long as possible? "Dont leave it out in the rain? Dont leave Overnight on side table if heavy dew?"...
Next upgrade if it dies would be something like the Bouge with cooler and separate freezer combo- saves juggling water bottles and freezer blocks.
If it fits the galley.
Thats all I got.
Torrey & Earl aka The Sz
Novice
TheSongDogHouse
Ranger
Torrey how well does the Bouge fit the CI?
Is there enough room around the exhaust area for circulation while driving down the road and plugged in, cooling?
What max outside temp have you used it that way?
I notice the Dometic in galley storage gets very hot/cant cool as its just sucking in its own exhaust when galley hatch is closed,
when ambient is greater that 90 degrees.
Not a big deal, as I just move it to the TV in temps like that, where there is more cabin volume, and put the AC on.
I have used the Dometic as a freezer making frozen YETI blocks to go in the Coleman for veggies, for extended boondocking so mine is at the edge of typical use.
When time comes the dual zone Bouge will be nice as its easier on the old guys back to slide it off the galley shelf onto the side table, vs wrassle it out of the TV onto table on each setup and takedown.
Thanks for the updates as you go. The Dometic has a long history in hot temps, being from the Aussie Outback iirc and over time more user feedback on the dual zone Bouge will be helpful too.
We have been using the Dometic from CI in freezer mode with a bunch of plastic spring water bottles (and a few frozen items) we rotate the frozen bottles into a conventional cooler, love never buying ice. We plug the freezer into the TV when going down the road, otherwise supplement with solar. Not perfect but kinda works.
Torrey & Earl aka The Sz
Novice
Kevin, we have the Bouge that is the same size as the norcold unit available from CI.
There are several factors to when we stow in the galley or in the TV: outside ambient, current trip duration it will be riding in galley, what are we cooling. 1st year thermodynamics quiz problem about an operational fridge in a sealed room, energy is being expended therefore heat is produced raising the temperature of the space.
1) if the ambient temp is over 60F AND the current trip it would be riding in the galley exceeds 2 hours it will ride in the TV.
2) winter camping we keep it in the galley and sometimes leave it unplugged so it is not generating heat, unless we need the heat to keep it from freezing the contents.
3) if there is fresh meat in the fridge, it will be in the TV unless the it started frozen and it will be eaten first.
4) if we are only doing an overnight or 2 then the fridge may not come with us at all.
we do not intentionally use our fridge as a freezer, we travel with dry and “pickled” goods, and the only dairy we will ever have is cheese. Our step 2’s travel at ambient and stick them in the fridge to chill before enjoying.
I will get a picture to show how the Bouge fits.
TheSongDogHouse
Ranger
TY!
PS: what is Step2? I recall Sweeney alluding to this as creating a challenge navigating the G6 triangular doors...adult beverage?
LOL, you must also watch Steve Wallis.
TheSongDogHouse
Ranger
Lol, I have watched that guy a bit but didnt catch the reference...
Reddit - Dive into anything
I also freeze the 12oz water bottles like Torrey, to fill the available air space (fridges work less if packed full, iirc) and there's nothing like an ice cold drink or frosty adult beverage at the end of a hot high desert day...step2!
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