Dometic CombiCool RC 2200 - any good?

[stevd]

Has anyone had any experience of this cooler - Dometic CombiCool RC 2200. It looks reasonably good value, being able to run on 12v, 240v or gas, but it does use a lot of power when compared to the more expensive compressor cooled offerings. Running on 240v isnt an issue, but they have a lot of drain on batteries. I think from what I can gather its about 160ah 24hours. whioch is a lot. But it is a lot cheaper than the compressor driven ones.

What I am trying to establish is, are they worth the money, or would I be better forking out an extra £300 for a compressor one.

Does anyone run this type of cooler on gas on board?

Cheers

 

[Otter]

160ah is a huge battery drain - that would need a bank of at least 350ah just to support it. The recharging alone would take two hours of fast motoring with a high output alternator fitted. It would be cheaper and easier to have cold beers flown in by helicopter.

Waeco do a thermostat controlled Pelletier type for about £110 called the tropicool which worked well for us on the last boat. A second hand compressor type might be the best way forward.