Basement freezer

Topic: Basement freezer (Read 1176 times) previous topic - next topic

Basement freezer

May 21, 2020, 02:43:49 am

Looking for recommendations for a chest freezer to put in my bay. What's good what's not good, what fits.

Thanks

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #1 – May 21, 2020, 09:13:34 am

Tom, in my opinion the Engel hands down beats any other one out there. Unfortunately they are a bit more expensive. If you're not concerned about power usage then dometic makes one as well that's pretty good but not in the same league as the Engel.
Haven't decided if I needed it yet but I would get the Engel MT80F as my basement freezer. It will run off of 12 volts or 110 volt, and it's highly efficient. It can be made into a fridge or a freezer depending on your needs. But it almost $1,700 currently it is expensive.
You can find cheaper ones that are similar in size but not performance in a company called whitner. They're a little bit less than half price. Personally wouldn't buy one but if you're on a budget and of course we all are they are cheaper.
ARB also makes a really good fridge. The ARB and the Engel are both made in the Phillipines and designed by Australians who used them in the outback year after year with very little failures. The Engel he uses a patented type of compressor that is highly efficient and has going for years without failure.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #2 – May 21, 2020, 09:57:27 am

We bought the Whynter 45 qt refrig/freezer....very good unit.....we used it on our last 8K mile trip to the west coast and back.Decent price also...

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #3 – May 21, 2020, 11:26:35 am

Our oem norcold is still running. 23 years. The Engel appears to be almost visually identical to our norcold

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #4 – May 21, 2020, 11:38:04 am

I have a Dometic CF-35 that works well, 12vdc or 120vac. Usable as freezer or cooler.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #5 – May 21, 2020, 11:45:28 am

Quote from: Caflashbob – May 21, 2020, 11:26:35 am

Our oem norcold is still running. 23 years. The Engel appears to be almost visually identical to our norcold

Bob as far as I know the norcold uses a Danforth compressor while the engel uses a Sawafuji Swing Compressor They may look the same but they're not. Far as I know, Engel has never licensed that compressor to be used outside of their own equipment. With that said, cold is cold. and if it's lasted you that long then it's a good unit.
The wihytner units though tend to last only about 2 years or so and then seem to break down at least according to Amazon and other reviews.
Don't think everyone of them will do that but that's what people are saying. It also uses a Danforth compressor. Those compressors do use more power than it scroll ones. But again if it works for you then great. However if it breaks right after the warranty is over then you're at a lot of money. Three year warranty on the Engel with units lasting well over 20 years.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #6 – May 21, 2020, 11:51:05 am

I have a portable Dometic CF-80-Ac120-U and I have used it without fail in our RV basement and in the back of our SUV for over five years. I have used it on both ac and dc, has never let us down. I had many customers use and rave about this unit that Newmar often had oem in their rvs.

https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-Electric-Powered-Cooler-Freezer/dp/B075J5TL77

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #7 – May 21, 2020, 12:31:24 pm

The norcold physical box is all I was talking about. Versus the Engel. Maybe the same box with new running gear?

Have to measure ours. Be great that a even more efficient identical size unit might exist as a replacement.

My coach with the norcold on at 35 degrees internal runs roughly 50 amp hours in 24 hours use. Nothing else on. Coach battery switch off in doorway.

My 340 watt solar panels mounted flat on the roof in our low sun angle winter parking area will run the chest refer and keep the batteries at 100%.

Best might be what is in our Samsung home three compressor system. Variable speed. As far as I know never off. Idle not off.

But that's 110 volt.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #8 – May 21, 2020, 01:08:53 pm

One more vote for the Norcold , ours is 25 years young and going strong.
Keeps ice cream rock hard which is the first thing to check if you suspect your freezer is underperforming. 12 volt or 110 and switches automatically,, seems to use about 5 amps when in 12 V. Mode. I'd like to find a coach fridge that worked as reliable as our Norcold.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #9 – May 21, 2020, 01:29:18 pm

Robert your lower temp and higher 12 volt power use seems to match my results.

The Engel unit per its published specs seems to maybe consume one half our power.

Need to measure ours as their box looks to be the same.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #10 – May 21, 2020, 03:55:59 pm

We have had Engel Refer/Freezer units in our coaches since 1995 and one in our Jeep and Pick-up for over 20 years. Still going strong. The ones in the Jeep and Pick-up can run at least 2 days before they drain the battery.....

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #11 – May 21, 2020, 04:33:27 pm

Oh, forgot to mention......We have the Whynter unit running 24/7 at home in the garage (dog food) since March and it just cools and cools..Best bang for the buck...IMHO

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #12 – May 21, 2020, 07:19:10 pm

The norcold trek 11 and the Engel dimensions are almost the exact same. Both were and are made in Japan.

The trek ll has an inverted compressor where the Engel has the mentioned magnetic driven motor.

I thank you fir posting this as a replacement to fit the exact mount under the coach would be very helpful,

That it uses less power is even better

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #13 – May 21, 2020, 07:59:27 pm

I believe the Engel is made in the Philippines now.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #14 – May 21, 2020, 08:15:55 pm

After doing a bit more research I found that the engel and that norcold tech are built by the same company using the same type of compressor. The only difference may be in the casing. I don't believe the norcold is made anymore in that configuration.
The reason why the Engel, and the Norcold are such great products is not only do the low amp draw that they require to keep things either below zero or below 40 degrees in the case of refrigeration, but they also operate at high angles which is important in not only a sailboat, but also on a Land cruiser or Jeep going across the outback. Probably not as important on a foretravel where you don't have the higher angles than an off-road vehicle would have. Still you do have the advantage of the lower amp draw. If you're plugging in every night don't even consider it it's not worth the extra cash. But if your boondocking a lot it is worth considering. But there are other options out there for half the price. Unfortunately, never forget the old saying, you get what you pay for. And that is true.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #15 – May 21, 2020, 08:55:40 pm

I bought both whynter and dometic. Added a slide tray in the basement to sit it on and it's to big. Might move the slide to the other side and make another slide just for the freezer. I really like the cooling of the whynter vs the dometic.. it's a very nice unit. But both footprints are large for my coach. Wish I could move some of the electronic boxes in the basement. They should have had there own cabinets or across 1 wall instead of all over down there.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #16 – May 21, 2020, 09:08:42 pm

DavidS where's the Jeep?

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #17 – May 21, 2020, 09:12:32 pm

Engel mentions 40% less power draw than a conventional compressor.

So in my case 20 amp hours a night savings. At 108 amps bulk charge that's not much time versus $$$+

But 20 amp hours is 20 amp hours. Engel for sure if I was buying new

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #18 – May 21, 2020, 09:18:39 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – May 21, 2020, 09:08:42 pm

DavidS where's the Jeep?

Gave it to my son and he has since moved on to about 5 other vehicles.. plus I needed room for the grand baby.. she's more important than the kids lol

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #19 – May 21, 2020, 09:21:37 pm

Jeep was kool

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #20 – June 05, 2020, 08:17:36 am

We have a Norcold basement freezer/refrig that has been stored in our garage for a long time. We are going to put power to it to see if it still works. If it works we will sell it cheap if someone can pick it up in Madeira Beach, Fl.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #21 – June 05, 2020, 10:11:32 am

That's exactly what I need, and I'll be in the area the beginning of July.

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #22 – June 17, 2020, 05:30:18 pm

I personally like the Dometic models, but there are many out of Australia/Other that we saw the past few years at Overland Expo. SnoMaster, National Luna etc.

Best Overlanding Fridge Freezers 2020 — Overland Expo®.

Buyers Guide - Overland Fridge / Freezers | ExpeditionWire.com

If you want a more permanent solution Isotherm makes a few models. We have an Isotherm fridge using a very efficient Secop. compressor in our Campervan, it's expensive but works great.

Happy reading

Re: Basement freezer

Reply #23 – June 17, 2020, 08:13:31 pm

The oem Norcold trek ll chest freezer appears to exactly the same box as the Engel mt80.

Which is good. Uses a Swing style ultra efficient compressor instead of whatever the norcold had, we turn on our norcold every time we are in the coach. It's power consumption in a summer test was less per day than my 15 amp max 370 watt solars output. 60-70? Amphours used per 24 hours.

The norcold seems to have very high cooling capabilities.

Used as a refer it's set very low on its thermostat. Nice machine. Handy outside on a sideways slide out.

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