Engel portable frig.........

[w32honu]

Curious about real world experience with the Engel portable frig. Specifically the MD-17 model. (or any model)

How much average amp draw on a daily basis?

Reliability?

Tx

S

[jeremiason]

We have been using the Engel 35 quart dual voltage model for about 4 years, with no problems. We use it as an additional freezer and it keeps the meat frozen, rock hard. We have had to defrost it twice since we purchased it.

It uses about the same energy as the Adler-Babour Boat Refrigerator. In the tropics that means about 3-4 amps per hour. Prior to cruising, we were in San Francisco it drew about 2.5 amps per hours.

The last thing to remember is the unit puts off heat and some noise. The only place we had to store it was our bedroom, which of course sucked in high heat areas.

With that said if this ever broke, we would buy another one.

[MarkJ]

I recently bought a Dometic 25 litre. It's good but does draw that 4 amps in the tropics. That's a lot and thus needs a house bank of about 400 amp hours or more... Mine is 360 amp hours and its not enough to run it and everything else.

Plus it never gets down to -18C / 0 F.
About the best is -8 in the tropics which isn't really enough for ice cream. Fine for meat etc though.

I have women on board at the moment and they do tend to have the door open for INORDINATE times while sifting through the contents. What's the damn problem? It's a 25 liter freezer what the hell can't you find in a freezer the size of a matchbox??????????


Mark

[w32honu]

Thanks......


I will probably have to add a few more solar panels. Currently have 480ah of battery. But only two 54 watt panels.

I was curious if the units ran as rated in terms of draw. This varies I am sure.....

Thanks for the post.... Big help.

[rebel heart]

We have the small Engel model and it's been terrific. We put it on "1" on the 1-5 setting and it's kept things quite cool even here in the pitch heat of Baja using not much power. The hardest thing was finding the space.

We cut a hole in our sea berth and put it there, refinishing the wood around it. The old "built in" space we turned into cookware storage.

We have two 135 watt panels on on sunny days we keep up with the load just fine in addition to an electric head, laptops, lights, etc.

[bgallinger]

I too am interested in buying the Engel MT-17 model as it will fit perfectly in a space I have found for it. Price seems ok too. My main concerns are amp draw and noise.

[rivonia]

Originally Posted by w32honu

Curious about real world experience with the Engel portable frig. Specifically the MD-17 model. (or any model)

How much average amp draw on a daily basis?

Reliability?

Tx

S

That is what we have it will draw 4.2 amps on freezing up the plate then drops to 1.2 amps once the temp is reached

[s/v 'Faith']

I have the 27 which is the exact same as the 17 with a couple inches taller box.

Works great, have used on my boat since 04, and I take it on deliveries ( onboard the boat with me now, running continuously for the last 6 months I have been out).

On my boat it is inches from my head, noise is not an issue... The swing compressor makes more of a quiet hum then anything.

It uses 2.3a when it is running, which of course is more in warmer climates. The engle site says 2.5a, but both the link on my boat and the victoron on this one say 2.3a.

Great units, take a licking and keep on ticking... But not too loudly.

[s/v 'Faith']

Oh, and be careful with. The temp selector... Much above 1.5 will freeze your beer... Anything above 3 seems like overkill unless you are doing cryogenic experiments...

[zeehag]

my formosa has a space available as i have no fridge nor bits of same in my boat.
i will be re doing my galley due to rot in a beam supporting important stuff from galley to batteries----
i am not sold on any particular one of the 3 i have heard of makes of these things--i am researching, still, and would like to know more about each of them.
what are the dimensions of each make and medium sized model....
and which company will ship to me in mexico.....

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by bgallinger

I too am interested in buying the Engel MT-17 model as it will fit perfectly in a space I have found for it. Price seems ok too. My main concerns are amp draw and noise.

The noise is nothing. A small aquarium air pump is probably 4x the sound.

The amps are about as low as any possible fridge option. Less than an Engel is buying ice.

[w32honu]

Zee,

Not sure about the other makers..........

Engel posts all of the dimensions, internal and external on their web site. They also post some performance info as well. Not sure if thats real world performance or a bit of hype........

Seems like most everyone is satisfied with the unit.

I am looking at the smaller MD-17 (MT 17F-U1)
Measures 21.2 x 12 x 14.2 (L x W x H)
Internal 11.5 x 8 x 10

[w32honu]

Is anyone feeding these little beasts with solar alone????

If so ..... how many watts and how many panels????

Tx

[w32honu]

This where I am a bit confused.......

If the unit draws approximately 4 amps per hour..........thats 96 amps in a 24 hour period. Thats a good bit of juice.

Has that been the real world experience with these units??

Some have said they operate at a total of 45 amps for everything including frig.......... I am missing something here?????

[zeehag]

ok so if they use only 4 amps per hour, is ok with my solar panels i already have....awesome, and my space works--i may just do this.....

i measure my amps in and amps out---mine i use are 3 amp rated X4. i also have a large 130 wtt and a large semi rigid 3.88 amp rated panel. at present i am only using my 4 smaller panels, but with fridge, i will add the larger ones.

still thinkin