Fridge deal thread
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Here ya go.
FP430 Compact EdgeStar Portable Refrigerator Freezer looks like a good deal.
FP430 Compact EdgeStar Portable Refrigerator Freezer looks like a good deal.
Does the EdgeStar use side of the case cooling? That is it uses it's exterior case as the condenser for getting rid of heat. Reading the manual it sounded like it did.
BTW: only 90 day parts and labor warranty with ballance of year on parts only. You prepay all shipping.
BTW: only 90 day parts and labor warranty with ballance of year on parts only. You prepay all shipping.
OK, cool. It's just that their manual was saying leave room all around it rather than in the area around the vents.
We have a 430. Yes, the air circulates through the vents.
That is a pretty good price on them. We paid about that much for a reboxed unit, which you can find by checking their website. There's a page which lists all the returned/reboxed/whatever items. These carry a full guarantee.
I don't normally buy extended warranties, but did on this. It always rides in the truck in its drawer, so thought it'd be a good idea.
Ours has performed well. It cools fast and holds the temp well within a range of about 6 degrees of the set point.The EdgeStars do pull more amps than the higher priced competition, but if you plan on running the truck most days you're using the fridge, this shouldn't be a problem. We turn it off overnight when it's going to be cool and it hold well
We did have a hinge break. They promptly replaced it (called on Mon, had it Thur). It's a common type of failure when plastic is cast around a metal pin, as it is with this hinge. No big deal and this sort of thing usually fails pretty quickly in use if it's going to be an issue, so the standard warranty would cover you anyway (as ours was.)
I sliced and diced a windshield sunshade into a "travel bag"to give it a little more insulation. When I built our drawer unit, I made one of the drawers into a slide for the 430, since there are none available like with the fancy fridges.
I did lengthen the power cord, added some looming to protect it, and replaced the end that plugs in with a higher quality locking plug to better accommodate the slide and keep the plug from vibrating loose from the socket.
There is a lengthy thread over at ExPo from a bunch of users. A few problems, especially with a few of the early ones, but overall a good reliable unit. Customer service has been outstanding in reports I read, so if there is a problem, it seems to be taken care of.
That is a pretty good price on them. We paid about that much for a reboxed unit, which you can find by checking their website. There's a page which lists all the returned/reboxed/whatever items. These carry a full guarantee.
I don't normally buy extended warranties, but did on this. It always rides in the truck in its drawer, so thought it'd be a good idea.
Ours has performed well. It cools fast and holds the temp well within a range of about 6 degrees of the set point.The EdgeStars do pull more amps than the higher priced competition, but if you plan on running the truck most days you're using the fridge, this shouldn't be a problem. We turn it off overnight when it's going to be cool and it hold well
We did have a hinge break. They promptly replaced it (called on Mon, had it Thur). It's a common type of failure when plastic is cast around a metal pin, as it is with this hinge. No big deal and this sort of thing usually fails pretty quickly in use if it's going to be an issue, so the standard warranty would cover you anyway (as ours was.)
I sliced and diced a windshield sunshade into a "travel bag"to give it a little more insulation. When I built our drawer unit, I made one of the drawers into a slide for the 430, since there are none available like with the fancy fridges.
I did lengthen the power cord, added some looming to protect it, and replaced the end that plugs in with a higher quality locking plug to better accommodate the slide and keep the plug from vibrating loose from the socket.
There is a lengthy thread over at ExPo from a bunch of users. A few problems, especially with a few of the early ones, but overall a good reliable unit. Customer service has been outstanding in reports I read, so if there is a problem, it seems to be taken care of.
I did very extensive quantitative testing of my Edgestar. I measured it to be equal if not superior in performance to all the better known ones. IIRC the amp draw was similar too, I'll check my notes.
Long-term reliability is more of an unknown given the relatively short time they've been available out there. But so far, mine has performed just fine over rough terrain. Have not used it a lot admittedly, though.
Long-term reliability is more of an unknown given the relatively short time they've been available out there. But so far, mine has performed just fine over rough terrain. Have not used it a lot admittedly, though.
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We have had a long going thread on Edgestar fridges over on the RS forum.
EdgeStar Fridge/Freezer 43 qt - Rising Sun Member Forums
Long term reports have not been that great. I own and Engel so I can't comment personally.
EdgeStar Fridge/Freezer 43 qt - Rising Sun Member Forums
Long term reports have not been that great. I own and Engel so I can't comment personally.
I own a 43q Edgestar and have used the snot out of it for about six months IIRC. So far so good. I haven't had a single issue besides blowing a fuse when I forgot to unhook the power cord before I lifted the fridge out of my FJC to put it in my 55. I did get the 5 year warranty though.
I'm going to post up a long term use review thread when I find time.
I'm going to post up a long term use review thread when I find time.
Another happy Edgestar 43qt owner here. Aside from some initial problems when I first installed it in my 80, it works great. I scored one of their scratch & dent version off e-bay for $300, with free shipping. I found that the wiring in the 80-series cigarette plug is not sufficient to power the fridge; mine worked fine when plugged in to 120v, but not on 12v. I added some new 12v outlets with adequate gauge wiring, and everything is working great now. Compact Appliance's customer service was non-existent, fwiw.
I have noticed that something in the compressor area of my fridge must be loose, as it rattles a bit when going down the road. I need to look into that before I use it again...
I have noticed that something in the compressor area of my fridge must be loose, as it rattles a bit when going down the road. I need to look into that before I use it again...
Not a fan of these fridges for "real" off road/expedition use.
Works great in the shop or for weekend use or in temperate climates. Not in hot climates.
My NorCold was significantly better.
Works great in the shop or for weekend use or in temperate climates. Not in hot climates.
My NorCold was significantly better.
IIRC those having trouble with Edgestar units are seem to be mostly 63 units not the 43 units possibly due to the same internals being used on the larger volume units. There also seemed to be a possible issue of some using inadequate wire size for the current draw. All based on my reading from various places, including here, risingsun and others. I got my 43 in late fall and haven't had a chance to use it so much but when I did I was happy with it.
As for customer service-- I bought an open box unit and when FedEx delivered, it went to the wrong house, that is what I found out from Compact Appliance. They tracked it down with FedEx, got them to pick it up and redeliver the next day, right before my camping/scouting trip I had told them about! Compact Appliance also gave me a 3 year extended warranty at no cost for my trouble.
Just my 2 cents.
As for customer service-- I bought an open box unit and when FedEx delivered, it went to the wrong house, that is what I found out from Compact Appliance. They tracked it down with FedEx, got them to pick it up and redeliver the next day, right before my camping/scouting trip I had told them about! Compact Appliance also gave me a 3 year extended warranty at no cost for my trouble.
Just my 2 cents.
I have beat on my very hard. It pretty much never leaves my DD FJC and when it does it is in my 55. I drive with it somewhere daily and probably wheel it two or three times a month. I'm happy with it so far. I would love to have a dual fridge/freezer but that isn't going to happen for $400!
I have beat on my very hard. It pretty much never leaves my DD FJC and when it does it is in my 55. I drive with it somewhere daily and probably wheel it two or three times a month. I'm happy with it so far. I would love to have a dual fridge/freezer but that isn't going to happen for $400!
There is a significant qualitative difference between using a fridge for a weekend trip or on a DD than say 10-12 days off road in the Sierras or in Southern Utah in the dead of summer.
Equipment really starts to show (or not show) their ability to survive in these environments.
Again, based on my experience with 3 different fridges, the Edgestar is far under par compared to the big boy units.
And for a lot of fridge users, I dare say most of them, they'll never see the conditions you describe. Implying that everyone should ante up & spend the $700 or more on a fancy name-brand fridge is plain silly. By your same logic, you should drive a Lamborghini Gallardo to work simply because it handles well at 200mph. You may never take it there, but it can do it.
Is an Edgestar fridge the same quality as ARB or NorCold? No, nor does it pretend to be. Will it work for a large number of fridge users? Quite likely.
I agree with you that there is a HUGE difference in using a fridge in your DD than for a week to two week off road trip. My DD use is much rougher than others as I'm often off-road. Heck, I even went on a impromptu 3+ hour wheeling trip last night to pull 10 kids off a mountain where they were snowed in. In the summer heat (90-100 degrees in SC) I'll often have the fridge running for weeks on end.
I also agree that long continued use can be the true test of a piece of equipment - no matter if it is a fridge, compressor, welder, whatever. Would I use the Edgestar for a two week or so trip across the desert west - probably. Would I use an Edgestar for a three month trip across Sub-Sahara Africa - heck no!
The Edgestar is definitely not = to the big boy units but at half to a third of the price it is serving me well so far. I'm not trying to defend the Edgestar here as I really don't have a vested interest - I just like the value I got for the price I paid so far. Now, if it craps out on me in a month and Edgestar doesn't honor their warranty then I'll be the first to rip 'em but I'm happy so far. I really think we are on the same page here...
I really think we are on the same page here...
I agree.
I wasn't implying anything. I was just posting my own results with using both types of fridges--the expensive ones and the Edgestar.
I do very much like the Edgestar for weekends, using it to keep groceries cold if I am running errands, etc. I love it at home in the shop as a beer fridge.
it isn't exactly rocket science to build a fridge, for crying out loud.
As to the Edgestar, mine has done everything it was asked to do -and very well at that- while going over rough terrain including very steep slopes under high ambient temperatures. What more can I ask for, besides doing that consistently for a while?
As to the Edgestar, mine has done everything it was asked to do -and very well at that- while going over rough terrain including very steep slopes under high ambient temperatures. What more can I ask for, besides doing that consistently for a while?