Low - well, lower cost - compressor fridge freezer.

[rotrax]

We have on our Motor sailer two large refrigerators. When cruising both are in full employ. We purchased at the SIBS last year a Dometic 40 litre compressor fridge/freezer. And very pleased we are with it. Nice to have Ice Cream on demand!

Currently in Wellington, NZ.

A few local companies are offering similar products to the Dometic/Waeco range of Compressor units at far lower prices.

The most popular appears to be the 'Brass Monkey' - ten out of ten for the name!

50 Litre compressor model $499 Dollars NZ - about £255 Sterling.

I would not be surprised if they were not available in the UK and Europe.

Anyone got one?

Feedback - reply if you have experience.

Thank you.

 

[coopec]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVsvDouBryI

https://4x4earth.com/forum/index.php?threads/brass-monkey-fridges.45117/

https://www.productreview.com.au/c/portable-fridges-freezers

 

[vyv_cox]

My son (who knows a great deal about refrigeration) tells me that Chinese copies of Danfoss compressors are now as good as the real thing. In fact it may well be that the Danfoss article is made by the same people. As with so many Chinese products these compressors are remarkably cheap but in this case the minimum order is a pallet full. I assume these distributors are taking advantage of this bargain.

 

[lw395]

I can't help thinking there's a cheaper way using a £100 table top freezer and a £50 inverter....

 

[chris-s]

That’s exactly what we do in both camper and boat but killed one by not using a good sine wave inverter. It was under warranty and even if it wasn’t, at £70 it would not have been the end of the world.

 

[rotrax]

I can't help thinking there's a cheaper way using a £100 table top freezer and a £50 inverter....

The units I am talking about do have the advantage of being dual voltage with a smart switch.

Our Dometic certainly has proved its worth over the last two seasons - well, one and a bit really, we got it in September and cruised until November 2018 - frugal on current use, instant switch to 240v when hooked up to shorepower.

I suspect a Brass Monkey at half the price of the Dometic would have been purchased had they been available.

Reason I an enquiring is the old Peltier effect 3 way - gas, 240v, 12 volt fridge box on our Kiwi boat is a wicked thief of current when not on shore power. I wont use gas as it is unvented. A 50 Litre Brass Monkey is slightly longer, bigger capacity and a proper compressor job.

I did not want to blue the dosh if they were crap.

 

[superheat6k]

...

Reason I an enquiring is the old Peltier effect 3 way - gas, 240v, 12 volt fridge box on our Kiwi boat is a wicked thief of current when not on shore power. I wont use gas as it is unvented. A 50 Litre Brass Monkey is slightly longer, bigger capacity and a proper compressor job. ...

The three way fridge - Gas / 240v / 12v is likely an absorption fridge, which works on an entirely different principle to a vapour compression fridge, using a heat source to drive the process. These work well on 240v, moderately well on gas and will barely hold the temperature on 12v. This is due to the relative amount of heat energy each mode can produce.

Whereas these are great on campers and caravans, use of open gas burners on boat fridges is generally frowned upon due to the risk of gas exhaust fumes gathering inside the boat, hence abbos are relatively unheard of on boats.