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From: Norm of Bandersnatch (no email)
Date: Fri Jun 09 2006 - 11:29:23 EDT
Ahoy all,
I came across a new reefer in Home Power magazine at www.fridgefreeze.com
They have a 1.5 cu/ft unit that is similar in size to the 1.5 Engel units I
had.
The salient features.
The price is $1400, more than twice the price of the Engel.
The thermostat does not have the range of the Engel - the standard unit
only goes down to 20 deg F, not enough to keep ice cream hard. They say
different thermostats are available, one presumes at extra cost. They say
the thermostat has "7 different settings". I would prefer a thermostat
with smoothly adjustable, not stepped, settings.
On one page they point to the lid hinges and say "full length stainless
steel hinges and hardware" while the hinges are obviously not full length
but standard length hinges. One wonders what else is incorrectly described.
They operate on 12/24 VDC and 110/220 vac, from about 2 to 4 amps depending
on ambient temp. They also have a AH chart with words buried in the text
above "as little as" but no other indication about which unit the chart
applies to. One must assume this chart applies to their most efficient
model.
Personally, I am wary of sellers that are not forthright about technical
specs that we can hold them to. They well may be "the most efficient
portable refrigerator/freezer available, it’s also the best performing.",
but before we plunk down our cash we want hard engineering descriptions of
the goods we are buying and the right to return the machines if they don't
meet those specs. After all, performance is what we are paying for, not
gushy descriptions about how wonderful the products are.
On the up side, insulation varies between 2 3/8" to 3". It's about time!
The condenser is heat sinked to the aluminum exterior case. An excellent
move!
I would hope the handles would be removable, as is the Engel's handles.
The biggest drawback at first glance is the price. Perhaps a dealer will
appear that would be able to market these units at a more reasonable price.
Perhaps a price reduction could be made for a unit that operates only on 12
VDC and lacks the external thermometer.
These units, at first glance anyway, seem to have great potential for the
marine livaboard market, the price seems to be the worst feature so far.
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
Lying St Augustine FL
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