What is your preference, Engle or Waco. This topic got a lot of responses at work on the 4x4/Camping forums.

AND...describe your set up.

At the moment I have a 8mm cable to a marine plug in the back of the Navara. The fridge is rigged up to the ignition so it cuts out when I turn the car off.

ARB said, all they would do is run a cable (6mm)straight off the battery, so I'd have to climb in the back every time I stopped and switch it off. All for $180 mind you.

TLM said the same. $120+ Engle plug $20

Auto sparky did the above with 8mm cable, circut breaker, and solenoid (SP?)for $150!

When I get back I'll wack in a duel battery system.

In the mean time take a looooong set of jumper leads. Reminds me; in 1974 a Melbourne inventor drove an electric car from Melbourne to Bendigo for $1.85. The cord cost him $12,000.00.

I have had a Waeco for about 3 years and reckon they offer good value for money . If you'll be using the fridge a lot then the Engel is possibly worth the extra that you will pay as they have a steel casing .You won't go wrong with either .
You will probably want an insulated cover whichever you buy . This will protect the fridge and may negate the need for the steel case .

Been looking at the Waeco v Engel thing myself.
Just bought and awaiting delivery of a 50ltr Waeco.
The newer Waeco's have the 240v built in, the older ones require a transformer.

There was a product test done by 4WD monthly issue 87 - about last December, they used ADI's test facilities to test them over a 24hr period up to 55c they have figures for power consumption and cooling ability.
The ARB and Engel fridges are the same and in the test report they have put the wrong graph with the Engel so you need to look at the ARB graph.
Forget all the brands they had.
Waeco was recommended best small fridge, there was another brand for best large fridge.

I have been borrowing a friends 25yr old Engel for the last 12 months, so I have the set up already.
the old Engel on frig not freeze would drain my battery in just over 24hrs in 18-20c daytime temp, this would be in part due to small battery.
Unsure of the capacity of the battery but it is a small deep cycle as was meant to fit under bonnet but gas system took the room.
dual batteries - no room under the bonnet so went in the tub.
Piranha dual battery isolator.
6mm cable from second battery to fuse (about 12" from the outlet socket) then 4mm from fuse to socket as the socket would not accept 6mm cable.

Waeco have a seconds shop online stock can change day to day so just wait for the fridge you want.
Waeco

gday bakes
waeco 4 me, i got a 50ltr off the 2nds shop 416sw mentioned it was no probs and i have been flogging it for bout 2 yrs now and only had the buttons squashed down, by the kids climbing on it stopped the buttons working, un done the panel to loosen the buttons and alls now good.
im slack with the setup it just sits on the back seat and runs off the cig jack in the car. thats been no probs eather. i run anderson plug to the back of the car and plug in to a spare battery so i can run the fridge for days with no need to start the car.
make your own setup with plugs and adapters for heeps cheeper than ARB TJM offer.
greg

Bakes,

My wife and I used a 32 liter Engel fridge/freezer when we drove from Norway to RSA for a year. It was connected to a seperate battery via a marine plug, and was on basically 24/7 for the whole year. We kept the battey topped up with a small solar panel that we used to put on top of our tent when stationary for several days. The only time it drained the battery (which was dedicated to things like the fridge, winch, flurecent lights inside the Land Rover etc) was when we were stationary for 3 weeks in Mozambique. The solar panel wasn't big enough to keep the battery up for that. We generally kept the temp around +5 celcuis in Africa. The ambient temp could vary of course, being hot in the Sahara, and cool in the southern African nights. So power consumption varied naturally.

Since returning home, we've used it as a spare freezer during the summer (via 220V), and it's run continually at -10 to -15 degress celcius for 4 months a year for the past 3 years, in an ambient temp of around +20 celcius. It's still working just as well as when we got it.

Btw, the insulated cover not only protects the fridge, but the insulation also allows it to keep cooler, and thus drains the battery less.

All in all, I couldn't have been more pleased with our Engel, but on the otherhand, I'd probably be pleased with the Waeco's too, and haven't heard anything negative about them that comes to mind.

Watch the current draw,that's the big thing.The new fridges out now draw bugger all.I've got an old Engel and it will eat a battery when stopped.
A mate picked up a new Waeco a little while ago because it draws 2amps(?)or something redick-a-las. Engels are using bugger all too now days.

Waecos are plastic,Engel are metal.

edit-I spotted a ad in a truckie rag today,Engel are doing a deal with a free cover thrown in.Left it in the truck,I'll bring it home tomorrow and report.

Bugger the deal ended 31st August.....sorry bakes.
It was for Waeco fridges,free cover,55L esky,and converter for 240V.