Engel 40L Combi Experiment

Same here - not getting it - I would be concerned if the contents were not frozen after the time frame with the fridge running at -8.

Sorry what have I missed?

I think Michael is proving that the entire unit can work as a freezer if desired. I have the 75 Litre combo and it will definitely not freeze over the fridge section with the divider in no matter how hard you run it (the lettuce being left to close to the divider being the exception :-)). The divider in the 75L combi's is actually mounted and does not slide out. I presume this is the same in all Engel 'combi' models. It prevents circulation and cooling on the fridge side relies on a spill over effect through a grill centrally located on the divider

Given the amount of time I am usually out between shops (anything from 4-9 weeks) I pack very carefully to maximise freezer space then spend a few days getting it down to maximum (-22) prior to the trip.

Once on the move I monitor the fridge to keep the unit around -12 in the freezer section and -1 to 4c in the fridge compartment. -12 is ample to maintain deeply frozen food for that period of time and does not overly drain the battery levels in hot conditions or when camped for a few days.

I'd suggest that temp fluctuations in a mobile vehicle environment would be afar greater than in a garage environment RMD making very different circumstances in terms of fridge cycling and power consumption in maintaining consistent internal temps.

Michael, I must confess I have 2 x 140AH AGM's on board and enough solar to power an outback community so I actually pack a second 40-50 litre if I require an extra fridge of freezer space. Still requires active maintenace but gives a degree of comfort that battery storage will last. One day I'll be able to afford lithium...sigh. Always seemed a bit complicated to pull the divider panel out. Nice to know she'll freeze down suitably considering the refer paneling is confined to the freezer end.

Thanks for posting. You've also motivated me to 'consider' tidying up my gear in the shed, something I'd been putting off to avoid the distress that comes with the realisation that I won't be travelling the outback this year.

Cheers.

Mick

Mick, maybe you should consider giving Telstra some lessons on how to size a solar system. They clearly need them.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-07/towns-with-no-phone-coverage-when-it-is-cloudy/12033916

Zippo, that's what happens when you live in a remote community the roads to which are subject to periodic flooding. I noted that power was still running in the town so I wonder why Telstra wouldn't have a contingency plan that involves the town generator or an emergency generator. That's an oversight on their behalf for sure.

I feel confident that there were other options possible that the ABC may have overlooked in their reporting like the fact that Tjikarla has a staffed health centre, 3 diesel generators, an emergency communications base station, a police station at Santa Theresa and the town administrators have an override authority on the power distributors that allows them to override the card system! Didn't take much to find that out so wonder why the ABC didn't mention them as mitigation?

150 people without mobile phones and cut off due to flooding for 30 hours....wonder how the Gippsland and NSW communities felt a month earlier with their infrastructure destroyed, roads blocked and cut off for weeks! Good on ya ABC for highlighting the major issues.

I know this is getting off-topic, but ...

"Didn't take much to find that out so wonder why the ABC didn't mention them"

Mick, you give the "journalists" at the ABC too much credit. They take copy handed to them on a plate from whatever source and regurgitate it as fact. And like most media these days (A Current Affair being the outstanding example) they take one side of a story and turn it into a beat-up.

Notwithstanding that, if Telstra did use the "man with the genset couldn't get through" as the excuse for it failing then they didn't know about the alternatives or hadn't availed themselves.

In my previous life I have established solar-only radiocommunications facilities for multiple agencies (including fire/ambo), and one thing I did was size the entire system for 11-days- no-sun. The *only* time there was a shut-down on low power was when the entire solar array was stolen. And yes, I was the guy with the gen-set ...

I live in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Certainly within 1 hour of the CBD. In one of the recent wind storms, the power failed due to fallen trees. We lost 4G connection due to no batteries in the local cell tower.
Fired up the generator, that got essential power and internet going. That was good until the batteries in the local telephone exchange failed after about 6 hours and took all phone and internet.
The power came back at about 11PM. Unfortunately with the batteries in the exchange now flat, it took another 9 hours before we had dial tone or internet.
In the old days, there were 2 banks of batteries in every exchange. 1 was powering the exchange and on charge. The other was on float charge and ready to take over operation of the exchange if required. Typically this would give you a couple of days of operation.
I know these are first world problems, but it shows the lack of planning in the design and construction of our infrastructure.

Thanks Bigfish, after talking with Engels Support Manager he clearly explained why 40L Combi's are advertised at 17/22L or 22 freeze and 17 Fridge or all Fridge. NOT a 40L Freezer.

* When purchasing a Combi; ie mine 5 years old; MT45F - G4C - P, point of sales and homework clearly say that taking the Divider out does not provide a 39L (for the pedantic ones ;) freezer.

* A mate said the 40L Freezer does work with pre-frozen food AND the Engel on freeze. This prompted the "Experiment" Just a home thing.

* Engel said they cannot guarantee that a "Divider out Freezer" can hold minus 16 to 18 that some food needs thus the restriction on sales and manual advice (litigation avoidance - my comment)

* Interestingly, Engel do not recommend using an inverter due to frequency fluctuations - at least that's stated in my 4yo manual - that should throw the proverbial Redarc cats amongst the pigeons :)

In summary, the mates advice proved true as expected but the "some foods need deep freeze at minus 16 - 18C" caught me. Our home freezers are in fact around that but after years of remote travel; our first Engel was 34yo when sold where still here however I take the -18C advice with thanks.

Cheers