I have a friend who has the misfortune to be the owner of an "Eva Kool" 12 volt portable fridge. Started having problems third time he used it. Turns out the warranty doesn't even make good toilet paper. So prospective buyers beware !
I do not advise anyone to make the mistake he made by purchasing an "Eva Kool" product (which they charge top dollar for). They loudly proclaim themselves an Australian owned company. But, it is still poor quality cheap Chinese crap they are selling. Nothing Australian about it. It was "designed and manufactured to a price", which Maximised profits, not quality.
My research has shown he's not the only victim. And I have spoken to two camping shops which will no longer carry the "EVA Kool" product, because of too many complaints, and difficulty getting warranty repairs done without a fight.
So if you're thinking of purchasing an "Eva Kool", DON'T !
Was the fridge out of warranty? If so by how long? If not we here in Australia have very good consumer laws for protection, a product can be out of warranty and still be covered, it must be considered fair and reasonable under the law. Case 1.I brought a refurbished iphone and it packed it in 2 months after warranty expired, the company refused a refund until I pointed out the relevant clause via email 2 days later an apology and full refund. Case 2. Brought a LED LCD 55" TV 8 months out of warranty after being told bad luck by a authorised repairer for the product I contacted Samsung online, they rang me back after I provided purchase details and sent a repairer to my home. Thanks again Samsung.
So as you can see out of warranty doesn't mean out of pocket.
I have an evakool fridge, 60 litre. It had a dry joint within the first 30 days, fixed promptly and without fuss the day I took it to the service agent. Used it off and on for a couple of years with no problems then took it on our big trip and it basicly run 24/7 for 5 years. Last time it was used I blew up the 12/240v transformer. Not bad for a fridge that is likely close to 10 years old.
cheers
blaze
My 12v EvaKool is connected up 24/7 in my van and it has been for about 5 years and has not missed a beat.
It stays on temperature through hot and cold weather so I cannot speak highly enough of my experience with EvaKool.
Sorry to read about your friend's bad experience.
-- Edited by Very happy camper on Tuesday 23rd of May 2017 04:59:16 PM
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Happy camping to all from Happy
"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within".
It seems to me that Eva Cool are up to there on tricks again maybe they have been doing it for ever back about 1997 I brought a 47 litre portable frig, at frst thought it was the best thing since sliced bread then after about 6 months started having problems. Being baised in Brisbane I would run it up and down to the Sunshine Coast on my RDO's then they said to save time take it to the Gold Coast after about 2 years they just up and said thats it no more, we want no more to do with it. Go away.
This frig was the replacement for my 1975 model 3 way which was still going in 2010 working only on gas.
Offering me a new frig motor for nearly the cost of a new frig, hence gave it to my brother in law for a fish esky, he thinks it pretty good.
I brought for a third of the price of a new one a second hand 1985 model other brand for a replacement which unfortunately gave up last year after 30 years of use, now own a new other brand one, just great.
On one of our first trips out we got in contact with on of our members who did not had an Evakool but had some problems with an other brand portable fridge
they told him to come around in Caloundra were they did fixed with their own parts
We own an Evakool and last year the fan made some noises.
So we contacted Evakool and told us that so an so in Hervey Bay would look after the problem
was fixed with in an few days
Yes they are Macka. Though they now make ones with the motor enclosed like all the others. The issue is that there were really only two types of compressor motors. Engels Sawafuji Swing Motor and a Danfos. Danfos motors use less power to cool so were/are more efficient in battery draw than the engel. Danfos was bought out in about 2014 and since that time many clones have been manufactured from that country north west of us. As a result quality has dropped. Evalkool uses the Danfos motor, or the now new owners model motor.
I have an engel fridge that I bought in 1972. It is still going. It has bee abused bashed, dented, been in roll overs and still works. It will flatten a 120 amp battery overnight but it works and until it stops I put up with its excessive power consumption. To me they are the ducks nuts. People are very ready to rubbish them, But in nearly all portable fridge comparos they are the benchmark that every one measures the newcomers against. I know they are expensive, but there is a reason why. I have heard of very very few complaints about engel fridges, and I guess that comes down to the fact that they have designed and built it themselves to an exacting standard.
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David Irvine
Tugs: 2016 Discovery 4./2017 Toyota 76 GLX Auto Wagon. Van: New Age Manta Ray Deluxe
Well I can't complain about my 70 ltr. EvaKool. It is in the back of my Dmax going 24/7
I had a small problem after about 15 mths, but was fixed without any worries. Mine has a 5 yr. warranty
I always recommend this fridge to others, but do agree there are lemons in all brands, be it fridges, cars or caravans.....
I notice that he said at the start that he paid top dollar .Well all the folk I know did not ! pay top dollar yet all of them {4} are very happy with the product . ! Go figure !!
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Westy. Some people I know are like slinkies. They look really funny when you push them downstairs !
I installed a split Marine unit in my 42fter, back in mid '80's.
and they'd been around a while then.
6ft chart table was Body of fr\freez. with Piping t,o and compressor under nav seat.
VERY efficient.. And I could get into it with lid closed (fridge side).
Around 3\5ths of whole.
I bought a Supercool around 1999, Supercools were the forerunner of Evacool, different motor I know, but basically the same design body wise. What a heap of rubbish! I bought the Supercool because, according to my research, it used less power than Engel, Waeco and all the others, again what rubbish. I virtually had the Honda EXD going non stop during the day and had to turn the fridge off at night, it was that power hungry. It had the coils in the corner of the the interior with a fan mounted above, two weeks from new the fan had to be replaced. Every few days the coils would ice up solid and we had to defrost the thing. just out of warranty the fridge stopped working so we took it in for repairs - $900 was the quote to put a new motor in, the fridge only cost $800. Not an Evacool I know, and fridges have come a long way since then, but it still turns you off a brand when things like this happen. I bought an Engel after that, what a difference, minimal power usage, no icing, no defrosting and quiet as a church mouse. I have a Waeco now, again, great fridge. Things were tough 20 odd years ago for campers. As for cheap Chinese rubbish, I don't buy anything unless I know it's Chinese, excellent service. The Chinese bend over backwards to please buyers and I've had minimal problems with Chinese gear. Now if you buy Australian, see what sort of service you get, they won't even bend forwards for you, warranty items usually turn into long Consumer Affairs fights - not for me.
