A portable fridge is a big investment. It’s likely to be the most expensive item in your camping kit. This does not necessarily mean you need the most expensive fridge on the market, it comes down to individual requirements.
Think about how you plan to use your fridge, someone roughing it on a lap around Australia will have different needs to a couple on a long weekend getaway at a caravan park and take these factors into consideration to make the selection process a little easier.
1. Is a bigger fridge capacity better?
- A couple will usually use a 40 – 50ltr fridge where a large family may require 65ltr or more.
- If you’re packing light with powdered milk and canned veggies, you will need less fridge space than those taking fresh food.
- Consider the length of your trip/s and if you can re-stock en-route.
- Vehicle space may be a limiting factor for the size of your fridge.
The first step is to work out how much food you need to store in your fridge.
2. Popular fridge brands come with a good reputation
- The big brands will have more service agents and readily available parts.
- A little more money spent now will most likely reduce problems in the future.
- Big brands come with a better warranty.
- Make sure the brand has a reputation for the right reason.
3. Fridges with good insulation will use less power
- Look for fridges with thick insulation.
- Plastic fridges will conduct less heat than metal, while white fibreglass offers the best insulation.
- A cover adds insulation and removes the issue of metal or plastic heating up.
- Better insulation reduces the workload on the compressor.
4. A good quality portable fridge will withstand the rugged roads of outback Australia
- You can stand on the lid of a strong fridge, ask the sales guy to show you.
- Metal casings are tough, great for the back of the ute.
- Plastic will flex when impacted, a good option for touring.
- White fibreglass is strong but prone to cosmetic damage, ideal for the boat.
5. The compressor is possibly the most important part of a fridge
- The compressor warranty is a good indicator of the manufacturer’s confidence in their product.
- Look for brands like SECOP (formerly known as Danfoss) and Sawa Fuji. Waeco now produces their own compressor which has proven to be very efficient and reliable.
- A good quality compressor will keep your food cold for years of outback travel.
The Waeco Compressor
6. Power consumption is a great way of comparing the efficiency of 12V fridges
- The current draw of a fridge is measured in “a/h” or “amps per hour”.
- Most good electric fridges should use between 1 – 2 a/h over a 24hour period.
- Power consumption should be based on real world testing – Look for stats like ‘- 5°C interior, 32°C ambient, 12 V = 0.89a/h over 24hours’. This means that from a 12V power supply, a fridge set at 5°C in a 32°C environment will consume an average of 0.89 amps/hour over 24 hours.
- A high current draw is not always a bad thing. Fridges like the Waeco CFX will draw high current over a short period as the compressor reduces the internal temperature quickly. These short burst of high current can average out less over a 24 hour period than a compressor with low current draw running for longer periods.
7. Features may not be an indication of quality, but some features are priceless
- Battery protection saves your battery from damage, especially useful if your only power supply is also your vehicle starter battery. Look for variable protection. Some fridges are set to a very low protection voltage (usually 9.5V) to protect the compressor, but not your battery.
- The ability to set the fridge to a specific temperature is very convenient.
- Thermometer – monitors the interior temperature of your fridge.
- A bung in the bottom makes cleaning easy.
- Flush mount cooling elements – having the elements build into the side of the fridge makes for easier cleaning than bolted in elements.
- Removable lid – handy for accessing your fridge in hard to reach places!
8. Do you need a dual-zone fridge/freezer?
- A fridge/freezer operates as a fridge or freezer, but not both at the same time, whereas a dual-zone fridge/freezer has two compartments and works as a fridge and freezer at the same time.
- Some dual zone models have a removable internal divider to allow the entire unit to be a fridge or freezer. The downside of this is that the fridge may use more power if it is relying on the smaller cooling element most dual zone fridges are equipped with.
- Some dual zone fridges have independent compartments and thermostats, allowing you to control the temperature of both the fridge and freezer separately.
A dual-zone fridge/freezer offers the best of both worlds, only with smaller compartments.
9. There are plenty of cheap options around… you get what you pay for!
- This doesn’t mean you need the most expensive fridge.
- Cheaper fridges can be a great option for occasional use and often come with more features.
- Expensive fridges should have all the features and the reliability to go with them.
10. Fridges are usually offered as package deals
- At Snowys, we always have fridges at our very best price every day. Unfortunately, these are not currently available to deliver online.
- Quite often the big brands will offer bonus packs.
- Don’t forget to ask for a cover.
At Snowys, our fridges are always in stock at every day low prices, usually with bonus packages. If you need some help making a decision we are just a phone call away – 1300 914 007.