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Old 12-12-2018, 09:15   #1
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Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

Does anyone have experience replacing their built in cabinet top-down ice boxes with the standalone/drop-in units from Engel or other manufacturers (ie. Dometic, etc). With some cabinetry rework and vents for expulsion of the built in compressor heat, these coolers (which can run off AC/DC power) seem to be the least expensive and most practical way to re-engineer a sailboats freezer and/or refrigerator. Good warranty and replacement would be simple.


https://www.engelcoolers.com/shop/12...-freezers.html



Any issues, concerns, recommendations etc are appreciated.
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Old 12-12-2018, 10:32   #2
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

I bought five engles for various members of my club several years ago , all of which are working well. Some go home in the off season to serve as extra ice storage in the off season . My one has done 3 seasons in the Caribbean with no issues. Some other members did the same thing this year with the dometic product and out of three one did not work and was returned.
I just had a locker built for mine in the cockpit
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Old 12-12-2018, 11:31   #3
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

Thank you for your feedback. very useful. after doing added searches on this site, I found a significant amount of information on this.
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Old 12-12-2018, 12:02   #4
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

My original "front door" type Dometic fridge wasn't preforming very well. So we now use that as dry storage. We now have two Engel MT45's in our starboard quarterberth. One is a fridge, the other is a freezer. They are very efficient. If plugged in to both 110v and 12v outlets, they will automatically switch to the available power.
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Old 12-12-2018, 12:28   #5
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

Thank You !
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Old 13-12-2018, 09:34   #6
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

I replaced my built in with an Engel portables with a bit of cabinet adjustment (not too hard) and I loved the unit so much I bought another to put forward in the v-berth. I run one as a freezer and one as a fridg. Great units.
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Old 13-12-2018, 09:51   #7
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

I install a Nova Kool conversion kit to my ice box
Nova Kool, refrigerators, freezers, Marine, RV, Truck
http://www.novakool.com/products/ima...plates2018.jpg
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Old 13-12-2018, 12:52   #8
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

After my built-in eutectic fridge died and was too old to repair, I bought a portable Waeco Fridge Freezer (Similar to Engels) and located it in the forepeak - well tied down. No structural changes needed. A bit of extra wiring, a fused line direct from house battery. Not a large capacity, though it could be with a bigger unit. The old fridge/freezer space is now just a cool food/drinks storage space. The good thing is it uses little power, and is quiet. No trouble for years.
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Old 13-12-2018, 12:53   #9
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

Love my Engel! 100% for 3 years in PNW. Bonus for me is the ice box is now storage for dry, fragile foods. I’ve had it running for up to a week with very little draw on the batteries.
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Old 13-12-2018, 14:29   #10
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

I installed a Unique 60 liter top loading fridge/freezer (12/110) 2 years ago. It has 2 compartments, and you can designate which is freezer and which is fridge, or both one or the other. It runs all summer on my 260W solar panel, no shore charging, although it so far sees only weekend open/close activity. Absolutely love it! And the sunlight is free . . . the unit costs under $700 CAD. Below is my pre-existing icebox, and my new Unique fridge/freezer.
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Old 13-12-2018, 14:36   #11
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

Dometic own Waeco, Not too sure about who owns Engel,
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Old 13-12-2018, 18:12   #12
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

We have had many Engels when we did a lot of Bush bashing and treated them poorly none expired until well after they should have. Great product.

As luck runs our fixed fridge freezer has died and I have had a look at replacement...... Engel now make a DIY unit, but with very little info on their site. I have rung them for more info so we will see what comes.

I'll start a new thread to see if anyone has experience with it.
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Old 13-12-2018, 18:29   #13
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_S View Post
We have had many Engels when we did a lot of Bush bashing and treated them poorly none expired until well after they should have. Great product.

As luck runs our fixed fridge freezer has died and I have had a look at replacement...... Engel now make a DIY unit, but with very little info on their site. I have rung them for more info so we will see what comes.

I'll start a new thread to see if anyone has experience with it.
SCQT5408F :: Ice Box Conversion Kit F-Series Compressor

Is this the one you refer to?
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Old 13-12-2018, 18:33   #14
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

Our first two years of cruising were a nightmare due to the fact that our built-freezer froze stuff when it felt like it. My favorite daily conversation with my husband was "what are we having for dinner?", with the reply being "I don't know, let me see what's defrosted that shouldn't be"!!! Anyway, we ended up buying an 85 quart Whynter (similar to Engel but much cheaper - available through Home Depot and Amazon) 85 quart chest freezer, and stuck it in our third cabin (the "garage"). The former freezer is now our second refrigerator (along with our "college refrigerator" under the counter - pretty useless for anything large!) and our liveaboard lives have improved 100%. Aesthetically not that pleasing (looks like a big old ice chest), but love it anyway! Ice cream anyone?
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Old 13-12-2018, 22:39   #15
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Re: Engel, Dometic Freezers & Frig Box products

Macconews Yes have done this I installed a Weaco 40ltr portable within an insulated box leaving vents as on the unit but have the weaco lid exposed and used as the door . This unit has been in service as a freezer for around 10 years and is only turned off for defrost a couple of times a year. Last year I installed a second unit as a freezer as well, will change my refridge to similar ( 100ltr) to same setup if it fails. Sooo I say great setup and if you have unit fail you can lift it out and take it in for service ( here in ozzie a fridg mech is $100 just to get them to your boat) so you will not have that rip off. Cheers Jacko
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