ARB (etc) Fridge/Freezer Running Full-Time Longevity?

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woytovich

woytovich

Science...
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So I know some people keep their fridge/freezers in their vehicle and running 24/7, year round... I have even seen that some folks use theirs in the garage or man-cave as a beer fridge...

My question is: are these units designed for extended use in the way one would use a home fridge or is the expectation that they will be used on a more occasional basis? Is it a less-than-good idea to run them full time? OF COURSE if you are in fact USING the thing pretty regularly, like you are delivering blood or ice cream every day, then it makes sense to keep it running... but if it is getting used once every week or two for a trip back from the grocery store is the wear and tear on the cooling mechanicals worth it?

I might be overthinking this, I just don't know...

mark
 
my long term test has not been completed, but 2 1/2 years of continuous use in the garage and use in an 80 or in the open bed of the hilux hasn't killed the engel yet.

Maybe you need to try a beer from it at the campsite at Coal Mine to make sure though :)


I'm sure there are others out there that have used theirs a lot longer than mine...
 
I did use mine on and off for a couple years no problem. I then left it running 24/7 off of a battery/solar panel for about 4 years no problem. It is now running only when needed no problem so far. Older Waeco CF-50.
 
I bought a used, although in great shape engel back in 2010, that runs from April to New Years, either in the garage or truck/campsite.

I just purchased a Dometic back in the beginning of May, to keep running in the truck 24/7

Dometic CF-018DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Personal Size, Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030G7Y64/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_6hsJvbQVQK65V

Love it...quiet, nice size for overflow, cold drinks in the truck all the time
 
Refrigeration is an old established technology. Quite simple stuff really. No big surprise to be expected with normal hardware. It's not like it's cutting-edge unknown stuff. Now, it's probably fair to say that the more you run moving parts, the more wear there will be. Whether that will make a significant difference or not in practice is less obvious. The usual household fridge compressors are designed to run for years 24/7 and normally do. If you think about it they are much more reliable than car engines. Often it's the piping that gives out first because of corrosion. So, short of shoddy quality or an odd less-proven compressor design, I don't think you have to be too worried about running a serious brand unit full-time, at least compressor wise. Corrosion of components if affected by outside condensation might be a different story but that is not a fast process. It will probably take years to develop.

OK, that isn't a definitive answer. And probably nobody can give you a very good one short of saying that they ran xyz fridge 24/7 for so many months. Anecdotally, on my brand I remember only reading about a few electronics problems and one instance of serious corrosion. The former is probably not a runtime related issue, the second may be or could be a fluke. Maybe best would be to ask a tech person at your favorite brand.

Bottom line for me, I think these things are fairly sturdy and I'm running mine 24/7 in the house right now, and not too worried about it or I wouldn't do it. We'll see what happens.
 
Yeah I don't see why these things should not be able to run 24/7 for a long time given proper sized wiring and ventilation. This would include periodic cleaning of the condenser coils that would build up with lint, dust and dog hair.

In a mobile situation, the other thing to consider is how well the mfg. suspended the compressor and assorted coils. They *generally* are on some sort of rubber isolation system.
 
Ocho77 said:
Agreed. I replaced my center console with this for our 2 month trip out West. We kept the 63qt ARB full of food, and used this Dometic as a freezer for ice cream and cocktails. It's awesome as a center console...actually provides a useable armrest and 2 cup holders! One of my favorite mods.
Click to expand...
Pics would be nice if you could please
 
Here are a few pics that I took after installation. It was somewhat 'temporarily installed' for our trip, as I did not have time to fabricate anything fancy. However, it worked out awesome. It's not in the truck right now, as I am still figuring out a way to blend it in better with the shifter console, and look more stock. I painted it two-tone tan/beige to match the interior.

Nonetheless, it's an awesome mod. I have a fuse box under the passenger seat and ran dedicated wires to a 12 volt outlet in the center console as you can see in one of the pics.

Fridge1.webp


Fridge 2.webp


Fridge 3.webp
 
woytovich said:
So I know some people keep their fridge/freezers in their vehicle and running 24/7, year round... I have even seen that some folks use theirs in the garage or man-cave as a beer fridge...

My question is: are these units designed for extended use in the way one would use a home fridge or is the expectation that they will be used on a more occasional basis? Is it a less-than-good idea to run them full time? OF COURSE if you are in fact USING the thing pretty regularly, like you are delivering blood or ice cream every day, then it makes sense to keep it running... but if it is getting used once every week or two for a trip back from the grocery store is the wear and tear on the cooling mechanicals worth it?

I might be overthinking this, I just don't know...

mark
Click to expand...
The Danfoss compressors used by ARB and the other premium brands also makes the compressors used by yacht builders for freezers and refrigerators on boats that are at sea for months, sometimes years at a time.
Just a data point for you to consider. They may not sell the same grade product to everyone , but consider the price of the premium brand 12V fridge freezers.
 
I was actually wondering the same thing last week, as I used my 45MT Engel for some grocery overflow during a power outage. Ran it for a week 24/7. BTW. Danfloss builds millions upon millions of compressors, and companies such as Engel etc, would be forced to use whatever Danfoss has on the shelf.
 
Ocho77 said:
Yes, it sits just above the door armrests. Their 'literature' states that it holds six 12oz cans.
Click to expand...


The model I bought holds 22. My only bitch about this cooler is you think the R&D would make sure it is even cans, either one direction or another. It's off by about a 1/2"...so there's space between cans....a little too much.
 
Mine only holds bourbon, rum, and coke (the liquid kind)...so I've never tried to fill it with cans only.

And ice cream. We typically keep ice cream in there all summer...which is awesome to grab an ice cream sandwich at the stop light.
 
I've been running my ARB non-stop for 2+ years now in the garage or in the back of my Tacoma/Cruiser with no issues. I purchased it used and the PO used it the same way for probably 4 years non-stop. I've been really impressed with it and it's been one of my favorite camping upgrades. I hate waterlogged food.
 
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