DC Fridge or AC fridge with inverter?

AstroBob said:

Hmmm. Exactly how many 12volt portable fridges do you actually own at the present? I own both an ICECO and a bougeRV. I have had both for over a year now, and have had zero issues. The iceco has a german made compressor, and a 4 year warranty. The bougeRV has a 3 year warranty.
Your car analogy is kinda silly, isn't it? Do you know the history of 1970's "Good Old" american cars?
Your response reminds me of how people once complained about "cheap Japanese junk". Engel, Dometic and ARB are vastly overpriced. I paid $350 new for my ICECO, and $192 for the bougeRV. The ICECO has been running constantly in my garage for the last 4 months as a backup freezer. Zero issues with the ICECO. Zero issues with the bougeRV.

As far as your stories of all these fridges that failed, love to see the evidence. Pictures or it didn't happen.

I bet you would have been happy driving an AMC matador. LoL

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The YUGO was essentially a Fiat (your giving your age away by mentioning them though). Just made with cheaper materials/qc. The Fiats back then did do some things that would be "mainstream" much later on (Cams/Fuel injection) but just like most cars back then lacked power/today's reliability. I suspect a LOT of that reliability comes from us NOT driving on dirt roads though (harder on ALL parts of a car) and better manufacturer/ability. But you'd be wrong to think Japanese cars of those times were that well of made cars either. In my view, Volvos were the first ones to get fuel injection/safety/quality close to todays standards while delivering "decent" power.

Why say all of this? As a DIY'er you can build a Yugo, or, a Volvo.

A 1982 GLT 240 had four wheel disc breaks, overdrive transmission, decent power, could go 200,000+ miles with no major breakdowns, and could take a hit (wreck) far better than most and the doors didn't want to fall off and the paint looked decent all the while.

I'm shooting for the Volvo.

But I did know a Major (0-4) who bought a Yugo (one months pay for him) and drove it till it died. Mile per $ if you didn't die in it you got a good deal....And you could swap in Fiat parts if need be.

AstroBob said:

Hmmm. Exactly how many 12volt portable fridges do you actually own at the present? I own both an ICECO and a bougeRV. I have had both for over a year now, and have had zero issues. The iceco has a german made compressor, and a 4 year warranty. The bougeRV has a 3 year warranty.
Your car analogy is kinda silly, isn't it? Do you know the history of 1970's "Good Old" american cars?
Your response reminds me of how people once complained about "cheap Japanese junk". Engel, Dometic and ARB are vastly overpriced. I paid $350 new for my ICECO, and $192 for the bougeRV. The ICECO has been running constantly in my garage for the last 4 months as a backup freezer. Zero issues with the ICECO. Zero issues with the bougeRV.

As far as your stories of all these fridges that failed, love to see the evidence. Pictures or it didn't happen.

I bet you would have been happy driving an AMC matador. LoL

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unbelievable you want me to produce pictures of refrigerators that broke long ago. Why would I still have them? I don't but here is my current.

AstroBob said:

Hmmm. Exactly how many 12volt portable fridges do you actually own at the present? I own both an ICECO and a bougeRV. I have had both for over a year now, and have had zero issues. The iceco has a german made compressor, and a 4 year warranty. The bougeRV has a 3 year warranty.
Your car analogy is kinda silly, isn't it? Do you know the history of 1970's "Good Old" american cars?
Your response reminds me of how people once complained about "cheap Japanese junk". Engel, Dometic and ARB are vastly overpriced. I paid $350 new for my ICECO, and $192 for the bougeRV. The ICECO has been running constantly in my garage for the last 4 months as a backup freezer. Zero issues with the ICECO. Zero issues with the bougeRV.

As far as your stories of all these fridges that failed, love to see the evidence. Pictures or it didn't happen.

I bet you would have been happy driving an AMC matador. LoL

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Oh and about your "german made" compressor... Iceco uses a danfoss compressor and danfoss sent their mfg to China several years ago.

https://www.hvacrcompressor.com/secop-compressor

read most of thread, grateful for all the perspectives.

just started using a 1.6 cubic foot midea.
ac compressor type.

200W when it starts, 50W during cycle.

condenser is distributed between left and right outside walls. would have liked a monolithic external condenser, but it was only 130 usd.

it cools down beverages well. <1kWh/day in a 70-80F environment

130 usd for 1.6 cubic feet and less than 1000 watt hours a day, i’m satisfied so far. might insulate the non-condenser parts later..

Batvette said:

Why would I still have them? I dont but here is my current.

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I asked for evidence, it would be useful to this forum.
I can provide results from my testing that says otherwise, at least for my two samples.

Batvette said:

Oh and about your "german made" compressor... Iceco uses a danfoss compressor and danfoss sent their mfg to China several years ago.

https://www.hvacrcompressor.com/secop-compressor

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https://www.secop.com/about-us/history/

"production facilities are located in Slovakia and China. They all follow the same manufacturing practices and approved quality management systems."

You are only partially correct. Still german r&d and design.

AstroBob said:

I asked for evidence of your claims. It would be useful to this forum

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I was sharing my personal experiences and observations, and nothing you've shared of yours contradicts them, including:
1. I stated Iceco was a legitimate brand. (although a number of Amazon users say they dont answer the phone or emails unless you write a bad review)
2. I said you can find positive reviews of these products. Yours included.
(The way they game the review system, only honoring warranties by removing bad reviews, makes informed purchasing decisions impossible. Legit brands dont do that)
3. You make my argument for me by saying you have a "bougerv" fridge. Really? Where is their factory? They dont have one.

My point is all these cheap freezers are sold by brands that slap a name on it and you get no warranty and theres no accountability for quality. There is no parts bin to provide spares from, all they have to do after the sale is avoid answering the phone. Established brands like ARB and now, assumedly, Iceco and whynter, who make their own products, dont have that credibility issue.

i’ve also used ARB elements fridge and can attest it is a tank. fantastic insulation. cycles infrequently with any amount of stuff inside

i appreciate everyone’s perspectives in this thread

maybe we can… *ahem*. cool it down a little?

hehe it’s a pun

I'm having great success with my iceco. Hopefully it will last more than 3 years.

Bubba1 said:

I'm having great success with my iceco. Hopefully it will last more than 3 years.

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As am I. 1 year going on 2, so far. Good luck!

Bubba1 said:

I'm having great success with my iceco. Hopefully it will last more than 3 years.

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Same here I have owned two and sold one to upgrade to larger one. But the VL60 dual is going strong in my car running 24/7 and last few days in the 90's here. The 100watt solar panel provides enough juice to keep in going during the day battery big enough to run it through the night.

curiouscarbon said:

i appreciate everyone’s perspectives in this thread

maybe we can… *ahem*. cool it down a little?r

hehe it’s a pun

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Works for me. I dont even know what the argument is about.

AstroBob said:

https://www.secop.com/about-us/history/

"production facilities are located in Slovakia and China. They all follow the same manufacturing practices and approved quality management systems."

You are only partially correct. Still german r&d and design.

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Not everything made in China bad. Just some of the ones trying to make cheap copies of the same thing.

It would be good to know where the expense in a 12V compressor really is, as that is the key to choosing which one. And having an idea where the cost are cut is good info. I'm a car guy, too- and know that the cheap knockoff parts have more variability in QC and finish than better parts. If you are willing to fix the parts as you get them (if even possible) you can save big bucks. If not, you take a chance that the parts wont work as you wanted them to.

Given the choice of choosing a cheap 12V fridge and a cheap 120V fridge, I would choose the 120V all day long- because they are cheaper to replace when they break. And they will break. Actual mobile kitchens are harsh places- making sure the fridge will survive moving is pretty darned important- some environments harsher than others (I'd point at marine fridges having an overall tougher time, since boats move a lot more than trailers).

For anyone still confused about all of this......

You can get 5 AC 1.2 cu ft new fringes for the cost of 1 decent entry level DC fridge. 10 or more for the expensive DC fridges.
The power usage is not so much difference that it can't be adjusted for cheaply. 300wh in 10 hours use. not bad.
2 solar panels and a 100Ah LiFePo4 battery and you're all set for round the clock use (up to 3 cu ft on AC fridge)

He is correct about warranty on the cheap chinese DC fridges as far as integrity. Maybe they will, maybe they won't.
I always recommend you contact your intended vendor before you purchase and try to get support just to see if you can.
Maybe just ask a tech support question. The idea is to see if you even get a response at all.

So, to get 1.2 cu ft of reliable fridge space in DC you have to spend at least $500 and up. Solar panels are cheaper. And you probably already have an inverter, battery and the other necessary hardware. (Don't be misled by websites saying AC fridges will cost more overall.)

The life span of any fridge, AC or DC is mostly dependent on the compressor and supporting electronics. "Cheap" = shorter life.
AC fridges have a longer and more widely used test base and track record. DC fridge use has more recently become a widespread commodity.
There has not yet been enough time to get a comprehensive feel for the longevity of most of the latest DC fridges.
But it's probably safe to say the sub $500 DC fridges should be considered "disposable" items with a limited lifespan due to the cheaper compressor components. We just don't have enough long term data on the latest DC fridges. ICECO seems a good choice, however if you simply must have a DC fridge.

Bottom line: Apparently either option will "work". Choose the one you can justify and/or suits you best.

It's not really an "argument"...just a choice.

For me - easy choice. Another $80 panel, additional $80 battery, $167 7CF 120VAC fridge. $330; done. And useable excess solar. And I don’t have some cooler taking up space

12VoltInstalls said:

For me - easy choice. Another $80 panel, additional $80 battery, $167 7CF 120VAC fridge. $330; done. And useable excess solar. And I don’t have some cooler taking up space

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But if you already have a simple 100 watt or better panel, and a battery? I paid $192 for my cheap Chinese 12volt fridge. Takes up very little space, and consumes ~130 Wh per 24 hours. So, for less then your choice, you get the convenience of a portable fridge that weighs less than 30lbs. It's worth considering anyways. It's nice to have choices.

I wonder where the Cheap 120vac fridges are made, and exactly how easy they are to repair? If they have a short life span, isn't the argument kinda moot? Has anyone here ever actually taken a fridge in for repair?

I actually did once, I had a early 1950's coke machine that no longer chilled, took it to a refer shop, and they fixed it right away, and for cheap, if I remember right. Would the refrigerator repair shop be able to to fix a cheap fridge, AC or DC? I don't know.

I crave real data. I enjoy testing things.

AstroBob said:

But if you already have a simple 100 watt or better panel, and a battery? I paid $192 for my cheap Chinese 12volt fridge. Takes up very little space, and consumes ~130 Wh per 24 hours. So, for less then your choice, you get the convenience of a portable fridge that weighs less than 30lbs. It's worth considering anyways. It's nice to have choices.

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What size fridge? 3 quart?

You do realize that for that money, by default you most likely have the cheapest compressor assembly on the market?
Granted, if you use it only occasionally, it could last a few years. But under heavy use you get what you pay for rings true.
That said, if there is a consensus that the fridge you have lasts for at least 2 years under heavy use, then I'd probably buy one

Meanwhile, my 120Ah battery barely notices the 300wh overnight and my 2 solar panel can replace that easily and keep it going all day.

Somebody said you could get 5 AC fridges for the price of an entry level DC fridge. This is the cheapest fridge I could find at Wally-world, maybe somewhere else is cheaper?


And here is the cheap DC fridge I own: ($249 retail, I got mine for $192 on special)


And I have attached real data from an actual 24 hour run. (temps 70-72 f)

OnTheRoadAgain said:

What size fridge? 3 quart?

You do realize that for that money, by default you most likely have the cheapest compressor assembly on the market?
Granted, if you use it only occasionally, it could last a few years. But under heavy use you get what you pay for rings true.
That said, if there is a consensus that the fridge you have lasts for at least 2 years under heavy use, then I'd probably buy one

Meanwhile, my 120Ah battery barely notices the 300wh overnight and my 2 solar panel can replace that easily and keep it going all day.

By all means keep us posted as to how much you use it and the failure date. haha

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Please see my original post, and also a more recent one. I have been using both of my DC fridges extensively for the last year, as I have stated before. the argument that the compressor is cheap is compared to what? A $79 dorm fridge? really? My 50Ah rebel lifepo4 battery takes even less notice. I can run for at least 4 days without recharge, and no inverter needed. You Gotta factor in the cost of the inverter here.
And inverters do fail. Why introduce another point of failure?

OnTheRoadAgain said:

What size fridge? 3 quart?

You do realize that for that money, by default you most likely have the cheapest compressor assembly on the market?
Granted, if you use it only occasionally, it could last a few years. But under heavy use you get what you pay for rings true.
That said, if there is a consensus that the fridge you have lasts for at least 2 years under heavy use, then I'd probably buy one

Meanwhile, my 120Ah battery barely notices the 300wh overnight and my 2 solar panel can replace that easily and keep it going all day.

By all means keep us posted as to how much you use it and the failure date. haha

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Please show us the make and model of your inverter, and how much you paid for it. That must be factored in., as well as the warranty. Please keep us posted as to how much you use it and the failure date. HaHa

AstroBob said:

Please show us the make and model of your inverter, and how much you paid for it. That must be factored in., as well as the warranty. Please keep us posted as to how much you use it and the failure date. HaHa

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I already posted all of that. Please search for it if you are that interested.
You get what you pay for.

You can get cheap or you can get quality
But quality never comes cheap.

If I get two years out of my AC fridge WOOT! $40 per year is great.

I still have two Massimo (Alpicool) China built LG compressors 54qt fridges operating 24/7 @ 32deg F for almost a year now on LiFePo and solar.
Never had a problem with operation.

So if your fat wallet needs some emptying go get ya a trendy box and you'll be in the club.

Both Massimos together cost less than 1 of those worshiped shiny trendy coolers and probably could have bought three and still spent less.

Bought at Costco so warranty is not a concern.

BTW, those Amazon reviews are regularly bought and sold...................

So, let's debunk the argument for a AC fridge, at least for grid down or camping. OnTheRoadAgain says he is using 300wh for 10 hours on a Jackery. (it isn't stated how this was measured, I have a Jackery too, they don't measure watt hours used, just percent power remaining)
I use a kill-a-watt for AC measurements and a DC power logger for DC. I actually test my stuff.

So, the power used for the AC fridge will be about ~350 watt hours for 12 hours, probably more. So we are talking ~700 watt hours for 24 hours. That is a lot of power. The Jackery 500 only has a stated 518Wh, but in real life, it's going to be closer to 90% of that, so 466wh. So in a grid down- no sun emergency, you can't even make it a full day with a Jackery.

This is exactly why DC fridges are so popular.

My testing with the 23quart BougeRV (which I posted pictures of real results earlier) , uses ~135 watt hours per 24 hours. That's over 5 times more efficient.

With a 50ah lifepo4 battery, I can go at least 4 days without a charge, or forever with sun and a panel. I have had this fridge for almost a year now and use it lots. No issues whatsoever. None.

I would love to see more actual tests on fridges.