I am leaning toward the plastic version because it can easily do double duty on my boat. In a ski boat that is wet all the time a metal-cased cooler is not the best solution.
Engel MT45(classic) vs. new MR040(plastic) (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Peluo
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I researched this a short while ago, thinking I was just going to buy the Engel, but I actually ended up getting a Waeco instead, a choice I’m very happy about.
I’ll try to summarise why:
The main reason to avoid the Engel is that they use the Sawafuji swing compressor and not the Danfoss BDF series compressor and controller (used by most others).
The reasons for selecting the Waeco was that I found that the Waeco’s have:
I’ll try to summarise why:
The main reason to avoid the Engel is that they use the Sawafuji swing compressor and not the Danfoss BDF series compressor and controller (used by most others).
- A Choice test showed that the Engel is much slower to lower the temperature (131 min vs. 60 min for a Danfoss powered fridge) while average current was 10% higher.
- In a South African test in very hot weather (43 degrees Celcius) the Engel had to work continously and only reaches +3 degrees Celcius whereas Danfoss powered units were still cycling on and off yet they achieved minus 12 degrees Celcius and better.
- In the Choice test this was -6 for the Engel vs. -10 for a Danfoss powered unit.
- Engels own test data show that the Sawafuji compressor is only just able to reach freezing when the ambient temperature reaches 45 degrees Celcius. At this ambient temperature a Danfoss can reach minus 10 degrees Celcius.
- The Danfoss is significantly quieter and almost free of vibration as opposed to the Sawafuji vibrating unit.
- Supposedly, the newer Engels have had problems with their electronic components and it is very expensive to get an Engel repaired.
The reasons for selecting the Waeco was that I found that the Waeco’s have:
- best control panels
- three position low voltage battery cut-out
- display of error codes
- light weight
- good insulation
- both AC 110-240 and DC 12-24 operation
- good slides, 3 different mounting systems
- cover available for further insulation and protection
- turbo cooler setting
- detachable lid
- detachable carry handles
- built-in light
- good warranty
- less expensive.
I have the ARB version on the Engel. I have to say that the temp display is very nice to have so that you know what is going on. It keeps things cool or frozen if needed. Though it's never been tested in the African Bush during the hot months.
CONS:
1) My Arb version has nothing that keeps the lid from falling off the hinges. I have no idea why they did that but it's pretty lame. Lots of fun at night when someone gets into the fridges and come out with the lid in there hand.
2) It's pretty darn heavy.
3) Noise/vibration is on the high side. I sleep in the truck and started turning it off at night as it would wake me up when it cycled. Also people will hear it outside of the cruiser with the windows all closed and sealed up. It sort of resonates inside the plywood inclosure I have it in. That might be part of the problem as well and making it louder yet.
CONS:
1) My Arb version has nothing that keeps the lid from falling off the hinges. I have no idea why they did that but it's pretty lame. Lots of fun at night when someone gets into the fridges and come out with the lid in there hand.
2) It's pretty darn heavy.
3) Noise/vibration is on the high side. I sleep in the truck and started turning it off at night as it would wake me up when it cycled. Also people will hear it outside of the cruiser with the windows all closed and sealed up. It sort of resonates inside the plywood inclosure I have it in. That might be part of the problem as well and making it louder yet.
Funny you mention this.
Yesterweek I was camped up at Mt. Rainier in my roof top tent.
With my head on the pillow I could hear the cycling of my fridge inside of my rig.
The fridge is behind the drivers seat.
The noise traveled from inside of the rig to the roofrack, then transmitted from the tent base to my pillow.
If you had your Engel on a drawer system you would know why they did it. It allows you to remove the lid and pull the basket out. With drawers you often can't fully raise the lid. This is the case on mine. It works perfectly with the lid off though.
I actually like the removable lid design. You learn quickly not to push the lid to the right as you are opening it. I bought a hinge flip kit when I ordered the fridge but haven't found the need to install it.
As with many things, what one user finds to be a nice feature another finds lame.
If you do some research online you will find that some agree with this but some don't. For example, Martyn Davies (owner of Adventure Trailers) has had different results and chooses to use Engel rather than Waeco. From a thread over at Expedition Portal-
"We have done in depth testing on both the Waeco's and the Engel fridges. The Waeco’s we have tested draw considerably more amperage than the comparable Engel’s. Don't trust posted specs, they are sometimes off. The 35 and 45 liter Engel’s draw less than their posted specs.
Waeco in North America doesn't have a good solution for mounting the fridge into a vehicle. Their version of the transit locking plate needs more work. I’ve checked their OZ site and don’t see anything different offered there".
His response when given the test results with Waeco performing better-
"I read the report on the fridges, it's not close to the result we got. We tested for 2 weeks and consistently got the Waeco drawing more amps.
This reconfirmed our field tests, where the owners of the Waeco's were having to turn their vehicles on to charge their batteries due to the low voltage warning going off on the Waeco's.
I guess there will never be a satisfactory answer to this question. The only answer I can give you is we no longer stock Waeco fridges".
Personally I have only heard good things about both fridges. I don't think that one is clearly better. The best choice probably comes down to what each individual needs.
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As a side note, the Engel rep at the recent Outdoor Retailer show informed me that the new plastic Engel uses slightly more power than the 45. Might be of some use to know if you like to spend a considerable amount of time in one spot without running your vehicle.
just a couple of observations:
- both brands (Engel and Waeco) are established and leading brands, so both are probably pretty good stuff
- it's funny but the worst buying advice seems to be what you get from existing owners of either brand. I guess having invested what is a significant amount in a simple cooler means part of the investment goes into building brand loyalty and cognitive bias. This means that now I've bought a Waeco you can't trust me either!
- different people will put importance on different buying criteria, and they might change over time, specifically from the time before you bought to the time after you bought.
- but what is most perplexing is probably that it's so hard to find simple, scientific facts about these items. It is not that difficult to round up the 5-10 top-selling brands (rather than the 4 the advertisement sponsors happen to sell) and perform a test that isolates the different parameters rather than compare apples and pears and quote hear-say.
- "The Waeco draws more amperage": yes, and that's a good thing, it means it's a more powerful fridge able to cool things down faster and keep them there. The Danfoss compressor can easily run at variable speeds so if you set it at a lower speed setting you have lower amp. Like, on the Waeco, don't set it on turbofreeze. On the Engel I am not aware that you have that possibility, as the vibrating piston has to vibrate in sync with it's fixed harmonic. In other words you're not able to pump in 6 amps to get a quick freeze when you want it.
- The Expedition Portal article is an example of the unscientific approach; it's pretty heavy on quoting Engel's marketing brochure. The Danfoss compressor is not German either, it's Danish-owned and headquartered since 1933. The comparison tables quote Engel power consumption in amps and Waeco's in watts, unfortunately the figures are not useful for a true comparison. What you want is average amp draw for the same size, same content, same ambient temperature, and same measured internal temperature.
- What is apparent from the article is that the steel Engels have a weight overhead: While the 33 qt. Waeco is 33 lbs, the 34 qt Engel is 46.3 lbs.
- Waeco have excellent mounting solutions, in fact three of them that get good review. Dunno why the guy checks the OZ site for a German headquartered company though.
Imagine what it's like with the fridge inside a plywood box, and your head on the top of the plywood box trying to sleep. A guy i was with keep asking if I heard that car? Umm, no it's just my fridge in the cruiser!
I started turning turning it down real cold during the day, then off when i went to sleep. It was still below 40 inside in the morning. We drove all day in the heat!
I started turning turning it down real cold during the day, then off when i went to sleep. It was still below 40 inside in the morning. We drove all day in the heat!
hoser
SILVER Star
My Waeco does consume more electricity than I'd like. I've been meaning to adjust the rpm of the compressor. Probably will be some sacrifice in performance. However, the performance is very good right now. The Waeco literature says the factory setting was set for extreme temperatures as so encountered in the outback.
Also noteworthy, as quiet as the Waeco is, the new models have a soft-start feature that should further reduce perceived noise as well as increase compressor longevity. On the downside, the soft-start feature could also mean more complicated electronics/more to fail.
Also noteworthy, as quiet as the Waeco is, the new models have a soft-start feature that should further reduce perceived noise as well as increase compressor longevity. On the downside, the soft-start feature could also mean more complicated electronics/more to fail.
The only scientific comparison I have seen was done by Australian 4WD a couple of years ago. They tested the fridges in a controlled environment and monitored the interior temps and electricity consumed as they raised the exterior temps, simulating the back of a vehicle on a hot day. The Waeco CF 40 was their pick for a smaller fridge and it was also the least expensive and had the lowest power consumption. I will have to find my copy of the article, since I can't find the entire report on the web. I think the Waeco and Engel are both nice units. I was looking for an Engel when I found a rediculous deal on a refurbished Waeco. It has been on numerous hunting and camping trips and has worked great. My only complaint is the quality of the insulating cover, but Waeco was very good about replacing my first cover.
Hey Moody,
I almost bought his plastic floor model on monday when the show was ending. He dropped it below wholesale, but I picked up his 65 qt cooler instead. I just wasn't impressed with the latch and lid on the new fridge.
