Engel or Waeco...

[Dunks]

Now i know this is a very hot debate, but i am looking at a camp fridge, i used to work at Aussie Disposals camping store, and they flogged the engel's... so i don't really know much about the waeco, which one is the better one?
Opinions here will probably varey i'm guessing.

Currently i'm looking at the 40L Engel...

Dunks

 

[rodw]

Now i know this is a very hot debate, but i am looking at a camp fridge, i used to work at Aussie Disposals camping store, and they flogged the engel's... so i don't really know much about the waeco, which one is the better one?
Opinions here will probably varey i'm guessing.

Currently i'm looking at the 40L Engel...

Dunks

Myself, I have the Waeco 35 litre and I had an interesting convo with a lady at Camec who sell both. She said she made a mistake and bought the Engel and it is noisy as. She wished she got the Waeco which is much quieter.

So if the fridge is near yor sleeping quarters, get a Waeco!

The Waeco uses the Danfos compressor which is highly regarded and the swing motor on the engel is also very good. Apparently it uses a bit more power.

 

[daweclan]

Iv'e heard from both sides, for years one day engel draws less power next day waeco, It gets confusing!! Iv'e been looking for 5 years as my dads engel its gotta be from the 70s has to die one day, But it never does, and i thrash it, Iv'e had it for 7 years and nearly running it daily, Ill'e still look at the waeco's when that day comes, just price will be the decider!!But yeh no complaints from the engel.Cheers!

 

[cloughcarib]

I'm not informed enough to get into a debate, but our 80lt Waeco has impressed the heck out of me. The voltage monitor is a great feature and the comparable engel was much taller which did not suit our use( the engel is a fair bit less wide and long, which may suit your needs better?).
It's only been me forgetting about the other fridge running that's flattened the batt.

 

[InSanE]

all i can say is Engel.

 

[Justin_S]

Both good fridges but I have a Waeco which is heaps quieter than my brothers Engel. Either way you won't go wrong.

 

[bmurray2250]

I have heard both are good. You may be able save some dollars by going WAECO mobile solutions and check out the seconds prices

 

[Swaggie]

I have a Evakool RF60 fridge/freezer its been under a tarp in the back of a 4x4 on a 40 odd degree day...I accidentally put the eggs and tomatoes on the other side of the divider and within hours they were rock solid and the dial was on 5.5 it goes to 10...IMO you'll never get another fridge with this type of insulation.Just there ice boxes had a fantastic reputation among fisherman,there aussie too..Now mine is fiberglass,Its been all around the High Country and not one dent,although i do take care with it...



EvaKool Dual Temperature 12v/24v Portable Fridge Freezer - Nexberg Pty Ltd

 

[knot_gillty]

Comes down to budget and personal choice. Engel are a little bit noisier, Waeco are a fair bit cheaper. I run an 80lt Waeco for the food and kids drinks in the trailer and a 60lt Waeco for the grownups drinks in the Cruiser. Both do an exceptional job of keeping all things cold/frozen for days on end.

Price differences:

Engel MT35FS SeriesII - 32lt/44 beer cans = $1,199.00
Waeco CF-35AC VERB - 31lt/41 beer cans = $899.00

Engel MT60FS - 60lt/80 beer cans = $1,799.00
Waeco CF-60AC VERB - 59lt/81 beer cans = $1,199.00

Engel MT80FS - 80lt/118 beer cans = $1,949.00
Waeco CF-80AC VERB - 80lt/103 beer cans = $1,499.00

The average power consumption for the fridges is as follows:

MT35FS SeriesII - 0.5-2.5amps/hr
CF-35 - 0.85amps/hr

MT60FS - 0.5-4.2amps/hr
CF-60 - 0.83amps/hr

MT80FS - 0.5-4.2amps/hr
CF-80 - 2.9amps/hr

This is going off their brochures. We sell both, but personally i tend to favour Waeco. Less power draw, cheaper, excellent quality and very reliable fridge. Engel have stood the test of time, are made from steel so are more robust. BOTH excellent fridge/freezers.

Hope any of this helps.

 

[Walkabout]

We have the Engel MT45 with an insulative cover and it works a treat, have to be a bit carefull as it will freeze stuff just past setting 2 (has 1-5 + freeze) and is pretty quiet with just a slight hum when it's compressing gas.

 

[Offrdn60]

My Engel is next to my bed and i hear it about once before i go to sleep and then it never wakes me up.

Engel

 

[monk2]

Now i know this is a very hot debate, but i am looking at a camp fridge, i used to work at Aussie Disposals camping store, and they flogged the engel's... so i don't really know much about the waeco, which one is the better one?
Opinions here will probably varey i'm guessing.

Currently i'm looking at the 40L Engel...

Dunks

horses for corses they both run the german made danfos compressors, one is made of steel case and the other is a plastic case, the electronics is about the same one will rust if it gets scratched, the other won't, one may get a dent if dropped the other may split, my choise is for the waco because of the plastic case i take it out in the boat in the bay the salt dose not worry it and it washes very easely but thats my choise the waco i have the waco 50 litre frige/freezer and on setting 2 wich is just on if not carefull i got frozen burbons heat of day in back of car it seems to be ok this unit is about 8 years old now and still great for what i want

 

[knot_gillty]

horses for corses they both run the german made danfos compressors, one is made of steel case and the other is a plastic case, the electronics is about the same one will rust if it gets scratched, the other won't, one may get a dent if dropped the other may split, my choise is for the waco because of the plastic case i take it out in the boat in the bay the salt dose not worry it and it washes very easely but thats my choise the waco i have the waco 50 litre frige/freezer and on setting 2 wich is just on if not carefull i got frozen burbons heat of day in back of car it seems to be ok this unit is about 8 years old now and still great for what i want

Engel run a 'Sawafuji Swing Motor' according to their brochure.

Engel have a 3 year warranty.

Waeco have a 5 year warranty on the kompressor motor, 3 years on everything else.

 

[Walkabout]

But the Engel comes with a BEER can rating see Gillies post above, how good is that !

 

[frosty]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, BEER!

Wacoe for me!!

 

[monk2]

Engel run a 'Sawafuji Swing Motor' according to their brochure.

Engel have a 3 year warranty.

Waeco have a 5 year warranty on the kompressor motor, 3 years on everything else.

I may stand corrected but many years ago engel used the same compressor as waeco but not seen or taken much notice of them in more recent times as i have my waeco and it works a treat for me

 

[daweclan]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, BEER!

Wacoe for me!!

mmmmmmmmmm X2 even a bucket of ice!!

 

[rodw]

I may stand corrected but many years ago engel used the same compressor as waeco but not seen or taken much notice of them in more recent times as i have my waeco and it works a treat for me

My understanding is that Engel have always used the swing motor and that Waeco have used the Danfos compresor. Danfoss is probably more widely used in 12-24v refrigeration and is used in solar systems extensively in developing countries. It has enormous capacity but the cooling is limited by the amount of insulation. My 35 litre Waeco uses the BD35 compressor just like some of the bigger Waecos. You can get a Vitrifrigo 130 litre 12v fridge driven by a Danfoss BD50 for not much more than an 80 litre Waeco top opening one. Go figure..

 

[monk2]

yes rodw and frosty you are both right it was so long ago i was mixing the engel up with a man how useto make a fridge-freezer called the bushboy witch used the same comp as waeco i met the man through ultimate 4wd in coburg long be for it got sold used to do a lot of the fitting and stuff for them along with the 4x4 mods but it was a long time ago

 

[rodw]

yes rodw and frosty you are both right it was so long ago i was mixing the engel up with a man how useto make a fridge-freezer called the bushboy witch used the same comp as waeco i met the man through ultimate 4wd in coburg long be for it got sold used to do a lot of the fitting and stuff for them along with the 4x4 mods but it was a long time ago

Yes, I think you'll find that most of the new crop of fridges use the Danfoss, hell even Waeco sell the bare compressors if you want to make your own icebox. There area couple of new compressors emerging, but are you sure you want to spend the same money and move away from these two tried and proven compressors?

I still think we are being had on the price of the camping fridges out there when you compare prices with the more conventional caravan fridges which use the same compressors.