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Post Info TOPIC: Bought a Waeco replacement.
hako


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Bought a Waeco replacement.
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Gave up on trying to fix the old CF50 Waeco that would only run on 240V after much help from this forum and a few local techs. Put it on Gumtree with honest description for $240 and a bloke drove up from Brissie in his brand new Discovery just to buy it. Gave me $250 and said keep the change!!.... You wonder why but I don't knock it.

So, looked around for a replacement and after much investigation ended up with an Indel B 50 litre job off Ebay for $435 plus post. This meant that after selling the Waeco which cost me nothing, the new one cost just over $200 with postage which is OK by me.   This one came with 2 years warranty and is identical to units sold by EvaKool for $719 but they give a 5 year warranty. Other mobs sell them under different names but they are all the same. Danfross compressor etc and built to look like a Waeco. Seems to operate the same performance wise as the old unit - I sat it on the pavers in full sun (ambient mid 30's) loaded with 4 litres of warm water running off an 80watt solar panel. Paver temp was 48C. It took the internal temp down to -5C in 2 hours and after 4 hours the water was starting to get a thin skin of ice on it.  They even come with an individual actual performance chart (attached) for my unit.....noted on this chart is the date -Oct 2010 which means the unit was made 3 years ago or????

So I was pretty happy with that as it was in full sun with a heater(pavers) under it and only solar power. 

Yes it's Chinese but so are all the others...if not all then parts of them. 

Anyway, I'll report on this after a year or so....sooner if it fails, but after reading about Engels, Waecos etc and the problems they can have I'm happy.

Regards

 

Denis



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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
GaryKelly


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I won't ask how you connected the fridge directly to a solar panel cos I wouldn't understand anyway. But it certainly sounds like you snaffled a super deal on that item, Hako. You've done very well indeed!

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Gary

Ford Courier with Freeway slide-on called "PJ". www.aussieodyssey.com
hako


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Thanks Gary, but they are also available from other sources on Ebay from $580 up so I really only saved $150 or so although selling the Waeco was a win.
Re connecting solar - I have an accessory female socket (cigarette lighter) that connect to the solar panels - the solar panel regulates the power so it never goes over 14.3Vdc....cloud cover panels and volts drop below about 11.6v and fridge turns off, turns on again when sun comes back and volts over 11.6.
So basically the fridge is connected directly to the panel. This is not the way I'd run it longterm however.
In todays local rag someone is selling a 37l Engel in VGC for $280....now that would be a real bargain!
Regards

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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
bill12


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I saw on a 4wd site that he was using a 50 ltr waeco as a fridge on-1c, and a smaller one as a freezer on -10c.Would stop your beer from freezing as I have had trouble with. I think I will stay with mine connected to the batterys( I have a 55ltr waeco, about 5 years old). I have had a bit of trouble with the electronics in my waeco,so connecting it straight to the panels is not a good thing as you get toomany votage spikes. This is my opinion,only.Some of the Chinese freezers are quite good. its like the jap stuff years ago- they will get better.Thanks, Bill

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hako


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You're probably right Bill about the voltage spikes - I monitored the volts and found that when the sun was really blazing down, the volts would fluctuate rapidly...only a small amount maybe .1 or .2 of a volt which would normally be dampened by the battery, but maybe over time it would kill the electronics. This was just an experiment and normally it will be connected via the house battery and solar. Bro-in-law runs his 37l Engel straight off the panel but maybe he's been lucky.
Regards

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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
DeBe


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I paid $200 happily for a second hand Waeco that was running continuously, just to get the compressor & control box for another project.



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D.L.Bishop
bill12


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I live in a humid environment , and electronics fail with monotomus frequency. The contacts corrode , the boards fail, etc, etc.The present waeco has been with me for years and has survived the Tanami, and the Gibb river road,and other rough tracks, so I think I will keep it.A small one as a freezer would be nice though. Bill

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Bunkerbob


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I originally had 3 Waecos, we had a camper trailer. Used a CF 55 for a fridge, purchased a CF32 as a freezer and had a CF19 for my day job as an Interstate Truckie. The CF 19 gave up the ghost but because I didn't need it, didn't bother getting it fixed. I was using the CF32 for a Freezer but have started using the CF55, slightly bigger. Runs on 12/24 only but not a problem as the van has a 12volt plug.

Reason for the comment. I have a CF32 Waeco, 12/24 or 240volt via a 240 lead for sale. Includes a cover. Yours to collect from Albany or nearby for $600 negotiable.

PM me if necessary for my mobile. We will be at Poopanyinning next weekend but back in Albany as of the 3rd of February for 3 weeks, then we are in Fiji for 3 weeks. Life's `tough.

Bob

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