Fridges - Dometic and copies

dgadee

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Looking to put a Dometic CRE50 into the boat. Best price seems to be £400. There are copies around, at a bit less (£100 or so less). Tend to go with Dometiic but wondered if these other ones are as reliable. Anyone used them?

They may not, in fact, be copies but Grade B?

The Dometic in the Dehler lasted 17 years.
 

lustyd

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The innards will be Secop regardless so the question is whether the dometic box is nicer or has better insulation.
 

Bobc

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Really impressed with my Dometic CRX80. Uses very little leccy.

Only bad bit is that all the blue translucent bits breK really easily and cost a fortune to replace.
 

ChromeDome

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For many years, refrigerators and freezers for RV, boat and other recreational use have evolved very little and there has been a strange consensus among manufacturers about how high the price point should be. Compared to household appliances, they have been inexplicably expensive.

Italian Indel B is behind many devices in this category, sold under names such as Webasto (joint venture), Isotherm, Cruise and others.
Swedish Dometics is behind brands like Waeco and Mobicool.

There aren't many alternatives, especially if you need to replace and find new ones with the same dimensions. In the subcategory "coolers" there are some alternatives (e.g. HeroCamper, fridge/freeze box designed in Denmark).

The only cheaper alternative I've seen in right dimensions is German Belluna.eu. I bought an 85 litre fridge from them a year+ ago, with a removable freezer box (more space for refrigeration). I also had options to choose the door type (chose stainless steel) and which side to hinge it on. €525 + shipping €49.

More efficient, faster and less noise. I'm happier than with the Isotherm it replaced.
 

lustyd

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evolved very little
Just because you've not seen the changes, doesn't mean they have not happened. The insulation of a modern one is vastly superior to older units. There have been two gas changes, making them considerably better for the planet, and the compressors have been reduced in size quite dramatically making them both lighter and more power efficient.
Italian Indel B is behind many devices in this category, sold under names such as Webasto (joint venture), Isotherm, Cruise and others.
Swedish Dometics is behind brands like Waeco and Mobicool.
Every unit there is using Secop compressors from what I can tell, none of them make refrigeration units they make boxes to house refrigeration units. If you need a box to fit, you are therefore better of getting a like for like since the compressor will be identical.
 

dgadee

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Two summers ago I had to replace my elderly Dometic fridge. I purchased the same volume one (CRE50 with removable freezer box) thinking it would be a straight swap. Not so. The new fridge was much smaller and I had to reduce the cavity to accept it.

I don't know if the efficiency was affected.
 

ChromeDome

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Two summers ago I had to replace my elderly Dometic fridge. I purchased the same volume one (CRE50 with removable freezer box) thinking it would be a straight swap. Not so. The new fridge was much smaller and I had to reduce the cavity to accept it.

I don't know if the efficiency was affected.
As with anything boaty, checking and rechecking measures is critical with fridges.


It's so annoying when planned direct replacements are not direct.
 
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C08

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When my Dometic fridge expired after a creditable 16 years use I bought an Alpicool for 1/3 the price of a Dometic and it seems to have all the same features and uses a little less power. Only in its first year so no info about longevity.
 
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