Does of our nomads have a Vitrifigo fridge in their van's. This is what we are getting with our kedron, and yesterday I posted this question direct to the Vitrifigo website
"Hello, can you advise me if your Vitrifigo DP2600iX if the freezer is automatic defrost?"
and here was their reply
"Dear mrs Lorraine, due to the discontinuous use of these product in the marine field (on the contrary of domestic fridges) they have not the defrost."
Based on this reply, I gather that the fridge is not auto defrost, so wondering now, if the fridge used on continuous basis how often would you have to defrost it...
Happywanderer said
10:44 PM Oct 8, 2010
Based on the above reply I would have second thoughts about buying that fridge at all. Not a very succinct reply to your query.
Dunmowin said
10:58 PM Oct 8, 2010
The fridge is italian, and apparently (I have been told) very good, however, when you go the Vitrifigo website, it is in italian, and you have to translate, then when you contact, their response is as you see in the thread.....
PeterD said
12:33 AM Oct 9, 2010
I don't think you will get any auto defrost defrost fridges in the caravan ranges. If you can get them there will be very few.
I don't think there is anyone here that can tell you how often you will have to defrost. It depends on how often you open the fridge, how long the fridge is open each time, how hot the weather is and particularly how humid the climate you are in. Some here may be able to tell you the range of times they have to defrost. My cook defrosts each month or three.
Dunmowin said
08:00 AM Oct 9, 2010
Thanks PeterD. I supposed I have been spoilt over the past years, with both kitchen fridge & deep freezer. Will have to get used to it.
BobnBev said
08:41 PM Oct 11, 2010
Dunmowin, The gas fridge is not the best for a quick defrost and getting on the go again.. It takes a while for the ice to melt and the action to start up .. The best fridge is the waceo 2 door compressor fridge for quick defrost and getting up and going.. The new model 190 lt and the 220 lt dont have the white evaperator in the fridge and its brezz to defrost .. gone are the waiting for the ice to melt, it just drops of and away it goes.. We just fitted a 190 lt 2 door and are very happy with the fridge. The draw back is they run on 12 or 24 volts and you have to be set up for that...
Dunmowin said
08:53 PM Oct 11, 2010
BobnBev, the Vitrifigo fridge is a compressor fridge, and we will be set up for both 12 & 24v
BobnBev said
09:26 AM Oct 12, 2010
Thats good they work better than the gas fridge when its hot.. I didnt think that Kedron would fit some thing that would give you trouble down the track..
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:52 AM Oct 12, 2010
We had a 130L Victrofrigo fridge / freezer in the OKA. Very happy with it although I recently changed it to all fridge after I stuffed things up.
They need regular defrosting to operate at their best. Ice build up on the evaporator reduces performance.
Ice build up can be reduced by sealing up stuff that has lots of moisture in it and by stopping the kids from opening the door too often.
When you do defrost it, place hot stuff on the freezer compartment or use a hair dryer (if you have power) to hurry things along.
Cheers,
Peter
Dunmowin said
01:59 PM Oct 12, 2010
Thanks B&B, I agree, Kedron has some good products,
Thanks P&M, No kids involved, so at least we are safe with that.
Covert Operation said
01:07 PM Oct 13, 2010
Removed the Vitrifigo DP2600iX. Needed to tow a power station to bush camps to supply power on 12v. Cabinet is poorly made and could not recommend Vitrifrigio. Metting people as you do travelling not a lot of happy Vitrifrigio owners. Reason Bushtracker use Waeco. We will not use a generator. Fitted Waeco 160l which is sufficent size for 2 of us. Would call Waeco 160l suitable size 2 people and what is needed. IMHO 230l is madness and should not have been stupid and unthinking when we ordered van.
-- Edited by Covert Operation on Wednesday 13th of October 2010 01:08:58 PM
Dunmowin said
09:51 PM Oct 13, 2010
Thanks for your response Covert Operation. A couple of questions:
What is the van of your choice? Do you have, how much do you have - solar power? Are you travelling full time, or holidaying? Do you travel many dirt roads? (we have reports for busktracker owners that they have to turn off their Waeco if travelling on a dirt road)
Have been googling both Vitrifigo & Waeco, and go onto the caravanners forum, where there is a very strong argument both for and against both..... I will have to go away and do my homework I think.
-- Edited by Dunmowin on Wednesday 13th of October 2010 09:52:35 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:15 PM Oct 14, 2010
I'll answer your questions for our Victrifrigo Dunmowin.
We have a large solar system, 600W of panels.
We run the 130L Victrofrigo plus a seperate deep freeze plus laptop, lights, fans, electric blankets, bread maker, electric drink heater,......all from our solar.
We have no generator.
We have bush camped for 8 months each year for 5 years.
Almost all our travel during that time (150,000km) has been off the blacktop and has included some of the roughest treks in the country.
I'm very happy with our Victrifrigo...........
Cheers,
Peter
Dunmowin said
10:44 PM Oct 14, 2010
Thanks PeteNMargaret,
Very comforting.....
two questions,
You have a 12v breadmaker? 12V deep freeze? tell me more...
WTF is an electric drink heater?
Covert Operation said
01:28 PM Oct 15, 2010
Dunmowin do a lot of dirt roads reason van is 7' 2" wide with full air bag suspension. Fitted 645w solar panels MPPT regulator. No generator. Ctek D250 12v dc to dc charger for emergency. Could not keep Vitrifrigio 230l powered after 3 days in moderate overcast or winter. I called the Vitrigio 230l a bad mistake listing to poor ill informed bull shirte on forums. We have a bread maker we use from midday to afternoon when the batteries are fully charged. Is excess power we use. Sometimes in winter we end up using the oven to bake the bread in lousy weather.
-- Edited by Covert Operation on Friday 15th of October 2010 01:30:31 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
08:27 PM Oct 15, 2010
Dunmowin wrote:You have a 12v breadmaker? 12V deep freeze? tell me more...
WTF is an electric drink heater?
- 240V bread maker runs off the inverter. Takes about 3 hours to bake a loaf and uses about 30Ahrs @ 12V. - 12V DIY freezer about 25L, top opening under a seat, with a Danfoss BD35 compressor and 150mm of urethane insulation. - Birko drink heater. 750W 240V, runs off the inverter.
Cheers, Peter
jimricho said
07:36 AM Oct 16, 2010
Dunmowin wrote:WTF is an electric drink heater?
And I thought it was a heater for electric drinks
BobnBev said
08:48 AM Oct 25, 2010
Dunmowin, you put a smile on my dial today, thank you..
WTF= Whats This Fing.......Right
Thank you again
Dunmowin said
09:14 PM Oct 25, 2010
happy to make you smile bobnbev
Rolly said
02:35 PM Nov 2, 2010
I have no idea where 'Covert Operation' is coming from but, from first and secondhand experience, I suspect that there may have been something wrong with his installation.
Indeed, the two door Waeco fridges have been getting all the accolades on the various fora recently, but there are a lot of very satisfied Vitrifrigo users too; especially where they have put extra insulation around the outside of the cabinet.
Covert Operation said
02:00 PM Nov 14, 2010
Rolly nothing wrong with the installation. Vitrifrigio are crap cabinets and insulation. In winter 70/90A summer 85/115A. Anybody that cannot manage well on 160l does not plan and shop well. Keeping the power up to 230l becomes a bloody chore not a pleasure.
Rolly said
06:59 PM Nov 23, 2010
Covert Operation wrote:
Rolly nothing wrong with the installation. Vitrifrigio are crap cabinets and insulation. In winter 70/90A summer 85/115A. Anybody that cannot manage well on 160l does not plan and shop well. Keeping the power up to 230l becomes a bloody chore not a pleasure.
Christos, mate, you'd have to have some substantial wiring to cope with a current of 115 amperes. As for the "..does not plan well." bit, that's rather presumptive. 6 to 8 weeks away out bush and we're busting for some fresh fruit and veg. It does all come down to 'horses for courses', though. I agree about the less than perfect insulation on the Vitifrigo, but with a bit of extra wadding around the cabinet ours works very well. Inland in Summer the power consumption works out to about 40 to 50 amperehours per 24 hours in the hottest periods. (Shade temperatures reaching over 45degC most days). The compessor is working for less than a total of 10 hours. Internal temperatures of -4deg to -6deg in the little icecream compartment and 2deg to 4deg in the main body are very well maintained.
"Hello, can you advise me if your Vitrifigo DP2600iX if the freezer is automatic defrost?"
and here was their reply
"Dear mrs Lorraine, due to the discontinuous use of these product in the marine field (on the contrary of domestic fridges) they have not the defrost."
Based on this reply, I gather that the fridge is not auto defrost, so wondering now, if the fridge used on continuous basis how often would you have to defrost it...
Removed the Vitrifigo DP2600iX. Needed to tow a power station to bush camps to supply power on 12v. Cabinet is poorly made and could not recommend Vitrifrigio. Metting people as you do travelling not a lot of happy Vitrifrigio owners. Reason Bushtracker use Waeco. We will not use a generator. Fitted Waeco 160l which is sufficent size for 2 of us. Would call Waeco 160l suitable size 2 people and what is needed. IMHO 230l is madness and should not have been stupid and unthinking when we ordered van.
-- Edited by Covert Operation on Wednesday 13th of October 2010 01:08:58 PM
What is the van of your choice? Do you have, how much do you have - solar power? Are you travelling full time, or holidaying? Do you travel many dirt roads? (we have reports for busktracker owners that they have to turn off their Waeco if travelling on a dirt road)
Have been googling both Vitrifigo & Waeco, and go onto the caravanners forum, where there is a very strong argument both for and against both..... I will have to go away and do my homework I think.
-- Edited by Dunmowin on Wednesday 13th of October 2010 09:52:35 PM
Dunmowin do a lot of dirt roads reason van is 7' 2" wide with full air bag suspension. Fitted 645w solar panels MPPT regulator. No generator. Ctek D250 12v dc to dc charger for emergency. Could not keep Vitrifrigio 230l powered after 3 days in moderate overcast or winter. I called the Vitrigio 230l a bad mistake listing to poor ill informed bull shirte on forums.
We have a bread maker we use from midday to afternoon when the batteries are fully charged. Is excess power we use. Sometimes in winter we end up using the oven to bake the bread in lousy weather.
-- Edited by Covert Operation on Friday 15th of October 2010 01:30:31 PM
- 12V DIY freezer about 25L, top opening under a seat, with a Danfoss BD35 compressor and 150mm of urethane insulation.
- Birko drink heater. 750W 240V, runs off the inverter.
Cheers,
Peter
Rolly nothing wrong with the installation. Vitrifrigio are crap cabinets and insulation. In winter 70/90A summer 85/115A. Anybody that cannot manage well on 160l does not plan and shop well. Keeping the power up to 230l becomes a bloody chore not a pleasure.
Christos, mate, you'd have to have some substantial wiring to cope with a current of 115 amperes.
As for the "..does not plan well." bit, that's rather presumptive.
6 to 8 weeks away out bush and we're busting for some fresh fruit and veg.
It does all come down to 'horses for courses', though.
I agree about the less than perfect insulation on the Vitifrigo, but with a bit of extra wadding around the cabinet ours works very well.
Inland in Summer the power consumption works out to about 40 to 50 amperehours per 24 hours in the hottest periods. (Shade temperatures reaching over 45degC most days). The compessor is working for less than a total of 10 hours.
Internal temperatures of -4deg to -6deg in the little icecream compartment and 2deg to 4deg in the main body are very well maintained.