Used Autofridge - what to look for

...don't you mean "switch it off during the night"????

Not even a eutectic fridge is going to stay cold during the heat of the day without being on.....

I'd buy it. I really like the AutoFridge. Considering that they are about $1,700 new, I probably wouldn't want to offer any more than $450 or so for a 10 year old one. That way if you need to spend $600 on fixing it, then it's about the same price as an Engel - and as good as new.

I've had an Autofridge since they started making them, I usually get a new one every 5 yrs or so and pass the old one on. They are all still going strong.
I'd echo the comments made previously that Quirks advise and the price range.
And yes that is correct I usually only run ours 2 hours early in the morning and 2 hours in the evening, the rest of the time it is turned off and has no problem holding temps down during the day.

I simply do not understand this turn it off or turn it down at night theory.

All compressor fridges are thermostatically controlled and turn on and off as necessary to hold a given temp. They simply run less at a lower ambient temp.

Does anyone turn their household fridge down at night and up again in the morning? No? Why? Because the thermostat looks after holding a constant temp.

Let it do its job is my counsel. Having fitted a thermometer to my fridge and trying to second guess what the fridge is doing has proved to me that the fridge will do a better job than me.

I once tried turning it down at night only to find it was at 6C in the morning. Haven't done it since. My observations monitoring the battery are that it uses bugger all overnight when it is cool. After turning it off you then start the day with a warm fridge that you have to get cold again and use the power you have "saved" overnight.

Cheers,

Jim.

Having owned and used Autofridge and Engels - I just won't beleive anything "4WD Monthly' says ever again. I mean that.

There is no way an Engel etc, will draw less than an Autofridge. NO WAY - Once you've got the Autofridge and it's competitors chilled down and then put 'em side by side on the same duty - NO WAY

Bilbo

Bought my 39lt Autofridge in either 94 or 95 which is at least 10yrs old. When not out bush it sits in the shed running 24/7. Nothing has ever gone wrong with it.

I have worked for the last six months with a guy with an Autofridge.
Thanks, but I will keep my evaKool everyday.
Could never come close to justifying the high price of an Autofridge.

I would very much like to test Quirk's claims and see how the temperature fluctuates. With Quirks theory you could place a bladder at the bottom of any fridge filled with saline solution and save a bundle. Overall I am not impressed with the Autofridge for the price.

Regardless of Quirks claims, compared to the price of equivalent size Waeco, you could buy a 155w solar panel and regulator and still have some change. Autofridge compared to an evaKool you could buy a 80w solar panel and regulator.

I have used most of the major fridge/freezer models over the years and now only use and recommend Autofridge. We also Hire out both the 39lt and 73lt Autofridge for both short and long term periods.
I would not use anything or recommend anything else. I think you will find that many of the commercial concerns that use fridge/freezes also use Autofridge.
My personal experience and that of our customers speaks for itself.

"Chrispy" has quoted Quirk's figures and my experience with Autofridges says that they reflect practical reality. I worked self employed as prospector in WA for a few years and used to set the Autofridge on 3, and leave it there, letting it cycle on it's thermostat (yes it does have one). On that setting, it maintained frozen food at the bottom of the fridge - frozen. Stuff at the top of the fridge was ice cold but not frozen. This was better than my home 240 volt fridge in similar temps of 15c overnight and up to 38C during the day.

Occasionally, a can of beer or Pepsi would slip to the bottom if the fridge. It would freeze solid in 10 hours - and burst!! It used to crap me off having to empty the fridge and clean it all out. BUT - that's how good it was. All this, on a setting of 3 when the max setting goes up to 7.

If I ever bought fresh meat or dropped a roo for same, I'd turn it down (up?) to max of 7 and it would freeze the fresh meat solid in about 8 hours. BUT - any beer or Pepsi at the TOP of the fridge was frozen - and burst if ya didn't take it out in time.

Autofridge are expensive but when yer working fer a living out there & ya need a serious fridge that's reliable, I wouldn't buy anything else.

I borrowed an Engle once and in spite of two 80 watt solar panels backing up my second battery, I had 3 flat batteries in 8 days when temperatures were around 38C. That never happened with the Autofridge. It uses next to nothing once it's cold. Just follow Quirks instructions and you'll be right.

Bilbo

Thanks everyone for your input. The practical experience & opinions (for and against) are most helpful. I'll go into the negotiation on the weekend far better informed. I'll post the result.

Perhaps we should add "fridge loyalty" to the list of dinner party taboo subjects!

Adrian

Just buy a normal fridge and get some of those blue flexiable ice packs from coles. I put them around the edges of my waeco cooler and they work a treat. I never knew how an Autofridge worked until this post and then realised that's essetially what I've been doing anyway. LOL