3-way (gas) fridges

[bimborocks]

been looking round at getting a fridge to take camping and because there is once a year where we camp for a week in the one spot in a camp ground i think we should go for a fridge that can run on gas cause we take the wifes sedan and my ute doesn't have a 2nd battery anyway.

Just wondering what fridge (gas) that you use and how you find it. any advice on brand etc. looking at about 35-40L size

cheers
James

[griz]

I used to use a Chescold three way fridge years ago and it worked well. The only downside I can remember is that they liked to be level to work and they were pretty thirsty on battery power. Other than that I had no troubles with it.

[01Rod]

Theres a couple of comparisons here if your interested.

roberts fridge (http://www.campertrailers.org/roberts_fridge.htm)
repco_fridge (http://www.campertrailers.org/repco_fridge.htm)

Rod

[toy yoda]

The 3 ways are a chemical reaction fridge a heat source causes the chemical to react to produce cooling. The gas burner is a heat source as is a 12v &240v element. Gas is the most efficient of the three sources followed by 240 and 12 is usually hopeless (cool down stuff first and dont open it untill on 240 or gas) u can usually get gas to freeze stuff too. You are limited in size with the 3 way but it doesnt sound like u want a large one any way. the most reputable one around is the dometic (electrolux finch) the have been around for donkeys. Waeco have recently released one into their range too, i have heard good thing about them. They do not have the sne abilities as the compressor fridges nor the price tag. I used a finch for 15 years and it was an old one when i got it. i worked a treat untill it died

[101 Ron]

I have owned a Finch 3 way fridge for 15 years or more.
It is great if you intend to stay in one spot for a great lenght of time as the thing works best on gas and a large Primus bottle will last for two weeks.
In out out back heat the finch ( and most three ways fridges ) give up the ghost,,,,,say 40c and only chill down to 20c.
Forget 12volt operation as the current draw kills batterys and your aux circult wiring quicker than you can say short circult.
240 operation is OK as a bar fridge at home.
Never had a problem about having to keep the thing level.......seems to work on gas on reasonable angles.
Right or wrong I travel with the fridge running on gas in the back of my canvas covered ute and never had a problem.
My finch is more than 15 years old and my missus broke the lid.....I managed to buy a new one no problem.
I checked the Repco site above and it looks like a finch.........but mine has a adjustable gas control.......which the repco seems to lack which is important to stop things freezing in cooler climates and save gas.
Having experience with both waeco and engal compressor fridges they are better units for shorter stays and sheer cooling grunt and for longer stays if you can find the small amount of 12 volts to drive them...ie a second battery.
regards Ron

[wheelie]

been looking round at getting a fridge to take camping and because there is once a year where we camp for a week in the one spot in a camp ground i think we should go for a fridge that can run on gas cause we take the wifes sedan and my ute doesn't have a 2nd battery anyway.

Just wondering what fridge (gas) that you use and how you find it. any advice on brand etc. looking at about 35-40L size

cheers
James

We are sort of!!! looking at one of these 3 way fridge freezers as well. It will primarily be used as a freezer whilst camping on Fraser Is over Xmas.
But before we start to look I need to ask a couple of questions,
1..what temp can they get down to.
2...If they can get down to say -15 deg C, will the 12V side of things be able to hold that while driving for a couple of hours or is it asking way too much of it.
3...If they can get to this temp, what would be the gas usage.

Any info greatly appreciated.

Wheelie

[OzJeeper]

We are sort of!!! looking at one of these 3 way fridge freezers as well. It will primarily be used as a freezer whilst camping on Fraser Is over Xmas.
But before we start to look I need to ask a couple of questions,
1..what temp can they get down to.
2...If they can get down to say -15 deg C, will the 12V side of things be able to hold that while driving for a couple of hours or is it asking way too much of it.
3...If they can get to this temp, what would be the gas usage.

Any info greatly appreciated.

Wheelie

Forget the 3 way as a freezer. Don't have enough cooling grunt for northern climes - even on gas. Ambient temperature will kill off the heat exchange ratio big time. Go compressor unit and you will have it forever. Will work in all temperature ranges.
I run both here in Victoria and the Chescold ONLY gets used as a second fridge while the Waeco does the freezing.

HTH

[jokshell]

I run a chescold- fridge/freezer 39 litre I think. I have it in the wagon all the the time, but have installed a switch for 12 Volt operation, as they don't switch to 240 like an engel does. Only run it when i need it, but it will freeze on 12v if I want it too-with engine running tho'. Use gas of an evening and 12v during driving time. I run 3 wires(trailer 7 core) direct to fridge to get required voltage to work. While travelling Oz I usually ran it on 240 at night, and might turn it during day,might not- depended on how often it was open.
Sitting around drinking I would turn it on, but if driving all day I would not bother as it stays cold if not opened often.
I would highly recommend it if base camping a lot, but for ease of use I would get an engel or waeco for o'night camping. It all depends on how long you st in one spot with the engine off I guess- what suits you?
Never used it just as a freezer when bush, sorry

nb- most problems with 12v are the fridge not getting a big enough supply-they suck shitloads of juice using 12v- will kill a battery very quick if not driving. the fridge will work fine if getting required voltage.
Jok

my fridge is 20 years old and still going strong!

[trains]

For our trip last year up thu the center to the west and east mcdonald ranges, we were loaned an old chescold 32ltr ??fridge only unit.

I had to fix the gas fittings, as they all leaked, and rewire it for 12v, and eventually fix the 240 heater element when a wire broke inside it. (easily fixed by taking the ceramic tip off it, and reconnecting the wires).
Anyway. Went to prechill it down on 240, and found the walls were very cold after 12hrs opeation, so I covered it in 25mm packing foam, then wrapped the foam in packing tape for impact resistance/ protection. I used sticky velcro to attach the lid cover.
I then placed 3, 1 ltr uht milk containers that were pre frozen under the element, and placed all our meat which was frozen ontop of that, then worked from beer to milk, and a frozen 1.25ltr bottle we filled with water on the far side from the element. The bottle could be moved back to the element overnight so it could refreeze. There were usually 4 hot bottles of beer being restocked each night. Also an assortment of cheese's meats etc for food filled the rest of it.
We also had 2 esky bricks which we used in small fabric eskys for our vegys during the day and froze at night.
This worked really well for us.
Anyway back to the story.

I then made sure I had good 5mm dia wire, not including the insulation from the batt to the fridge via a 2 pin 240v plug, which registered minimal voltage drop, and never got warm with a 30a fuse inline.
The 12v element pulls a constant 10amp.

Then I put 2 socket 7 cpu cooling fans blowing up thru the condensor fins that were plugged in when I connected the fridge to promote air flow and heat transfer. They were simply held in by using some spare wire from a computer wiring loom, I think we all have some of that stuff around somewhere.

Each evening, I would take it out, make it level, and put it on gas.
then when moving again, put it on 12v with the fans.

We were able to have cold beers each day, frozen meat stayed frozen for 2 weeks, and days were around the 30deg mark, nights down to 5ish to 10.

I have found that the 12v works well untill 35ish deg, then it just cant keep chilled, however with thermal mass of the contents, it will maintain a good cool temp for a day or 2 due to the insulation improvement.
During our trip, it would freeze the element over on 12v during the days.

After more than 2 weeks of travelling, I refilled my 2kg bottle, however I could not weigh the bottle to see how much had been used.
I feel that it would have lasted another week at least, but wanted to be sure.
I now travel with a small kitchen scale which will weigh the bottle, to let me know gas useage.


Those blue chescold fridge freezers are really efficient, and have a better ambient difference, coupled with good wiring, and some fans to help the air flow, you will have a great fridge for set and forget.
Just realise that they dont chill down quickly like a compressor fridge, and thus, if you work with it by minimal openings, filling with prechilled, or frozen product, it will work well for you.

Putting in warm left overs, and beers, expecting cold beers in 2 hrs, and your pushing things beyond what it can offer.

hope that helps

Trains

[eldo]

i just purchased an old finch 3 way down the markets last sunday for $30. bargain i thought, i came home and put on 240V to test it out, i used my new ebay thermometer with an outside temp of around 17c it was running at -.5c within an hour, then i left it on , it now runs at -3.1c and outside is 23c. is this the norm for this sort of fridge ? i have been trying to find info on the net but cant find any, it is brown and is made in luxemburg for finch refridgerators it is really old i think !!

[trains]

Yer, that sounds about right for them.
Try turning it off, and then put it in your car upside down, and go for a drive.
This helps mix up the refridgerant, and dissolve any crystals that can form when there not used level, and it scalds the mixture.
If its already working like that tho, it may not improve its performance.

Trains

[bush boy]

i got a chescold rc1800 3 way. great on gas i get 12 days out of a 4.5kg
gas bottle. on 12 volt it is a bit thirsty its ok if your car is running though.