Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Engel making noise?
#11
I would seriously look at the Iceco units. I know they had issues with the first batch and the company held off shipping and opened and plugged in each unit dropped it to -5 and then if no issues shipped them. I got mine about three weeks late. But that customer service step saved a ton of frustration. I talked to them twice and they were informative and honest.

Still a five year fridge but at under a grand for a 65liter cheap. Good features. I haven’t had an issue and the power draw is better than the Dometic 45. Different conditions but good units.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply
#12
My 20 something year old Engel Fridge I bought used 3 years ago is not noisy. I do not think it had a hard life earlier but I am using it full time. You could try putting a rubber shock absorbing cushion under it. A piece of the EVA foam flooring, interlocking, “puzzle mats”’ is a good choice. EVA foam insulates as well as reduces noise. Harbor Freight sells a pack of those mats for about $10.00. I cut them to size taped them on the sides and top as well as the bottom of my Engel Fridge for added insulation; being careful not to block the venting.
[-] The following 2 users say Thank You to maki2 for this post:
  • rvpopeye (10-16-2022), Texjbird (10-26-2022)
Reply
#13
Noisy, is subjective, to the ear within range of it.

The sawafuji swing compressor I had on my Norcold de0040, was a cylinder about 4 inches diameter and 10 inches long.
it was mounted to the condenser with some rubber bushings, and the condenser mounted to fridge body with more rubber bushings.

The amount of weight in the fridge, and the tightness of the fasteners compressing these bushings would greatly affect the noise it made.

My electronics guru buddy has a Sawafuji swing compressor in Norcold 12vdc fridge, from the late 80's. He is an audiophile, and replaced all capacitors and some other circuit board gizmos before firing it up for the first time in 20+ years, and claims it is quiet. Mine was most certainly NOT.

I spent considerable effort trying to get mine to not vibrate the whole cabinet and resonate and have these weird harmonics develop. By the end the fridge was basically floating in a multilayer rubber cushion in a dampened , xtra insulated cabinet with no hard attachements to cabinet. It is likely my efforts to quieten it, contributed to the suspected refrigerant loss and the short cycling behavior when it failed near the 5 year mark.

The Danfoss/Secop compressors, will start to use more amperage when the compressor begins to fail. Not sure about sawafuji.

No idea what compressor a Whytner uses, nor how accessible the fan is, or the bushings holding compressor to the frame.

My VF fridge has a port to add refrigerant. The150$ cheaper truckfridge versions just had the refrigerant line clamped off and soldered over and could not be easily recharged, if required.

When the fan fails, so will the fridge.
When the fan is all impacted with dust, then the condenser also is, and the compressor has to run far longer to perform the same job, wearing out sooner.

I checked some Photos, My made in Italy 50 liter Vitrifrigo front Loader has been in use, at least 10 months a year, since October 2012.

I replaced its sleeve bearing fan within a week, with a Noctua NF-f12, and at about 5 years, A Noctua A12x15.

The Noctua NF-f12. 7 year warranty, lasted 9.3 years overall. It smoked itself after a 2 month break, and being fired back up.

The original Viitrifrigo provided fan, employed in my intake fan shroud, subject to moisture and salt and dust, failed in a few months.

I am amazed at how quickly my dust filters get loaded up.
I put a filter on my fridge intake, and it gets UGLY, quick.
Reply
#14
Thanks for the reply.

I overstated the issue. I hadn't got much sleep, as I had to move after dark from an area that was being inundated, to a location outside of the storm. I avoid driving in the dark, and it's been a long time since I have driven in a major storm.

"It was a dark and stormy night ..."

In Nevada, 1/2 inch is a major rainfall.

Today was the first day in a few days with a cloudless sky. The overcast skies coupled with shorter days, when there was sun peeking through, meant the bank wasn't getting back to 100%. Today it's at 98% @ 15:19, so maybe it makes 100%, but if it doesn't 98% is better than yesterday's 83% at around the same time.

The fridge has been maintaining temperature, and when running, there is only a slight sound and vibration. I have to touch the fridge to feel it. Sticks and brick fridges have been noisier.

The fridge's voltmeter is displaying a value that is only down by 0.1V from the BMS's display. In days prior it was around 1.0V off, in the low 11s. That's when the stuff was hitting the fan, so to speak.

The fridge has a couple of years left before the big five.

I am interested in a 12VDC only fridge that opens normally, when it does come time to replace.
Reply
#15
Well…finally decided on another Engel. Reason being, I need to have a chest style to fit that area (only spot available in my rig)..vf doesn’t make one that is a single compartment. I already have a freezer, so the split just means less usable refrigerator space.

So..I am going to wait until this one finally dies outright…then I have the replacement in storage for quick install. It seems like it might be pretty soon…the rattle and grind noise is getting louder….still works…just really worrisome noises all the time.
1989 Honeywell motorhome
Ford E350 chassis.  460 engine
Reply
#16
Fridges are a bit touchy. They do not like the room being really cold or really hot either, both extremes stress the components. I have mine mounted on heavy duty, full extension drawer slides in a ventilated cabinet. When it gets really hot I open the cabinet doors and pull it out on the full extension slides. I also aim a fan at the motor end to help remove excess heat. Cold nights does not stress it as much when it is inside the cabinet with the doors closed as it provides just enough self warming. Of course I could turn it off but tend to forget to turn it back on when I do that. So I only do that if I am going to be in danger of being short on battery power for running the diesel heater in the early morning.

How you treat them matters a lot for the longevity of the components in the unit. Think like an engineer and provide a way to keep the temperature range of the space it occupies good for the health of the appliance. No fridge is a “cheap” throwaway when you live on a small budget.
Reply
#17
Whynter's power usage sheets specify power usage at three temp levels, 77F ambient temperature, 90F ambient temperature, and 109F ambient temperature. I take that to mean the units can work at those temps. I don't like above 94F. so I'll never know what happens at 109F.

The fridge has been doing well for over 24 hours, with amnient temps ranging from 48F to 89F.

On hot days, 90+F, I have pointed a Endless Breeze fan at the fridge and it does help to stabilize the temps.

Curiously, on another day I placed a Silverstone FM-121 muffin fan near the front vent to suck air out of the compressor area. At 12V+ that fan was moving more air than the Endless Breeze can. I watched the temp display and the temp dropped lower than the target temp by a few degrees. Over cooling. Shut the fan off and temps went back to normal. I decided that the Silverstone voltage in needs to be adjusted for less airflow to be useful.

When it was having issues with not turning on when it should, I would pull the power, wait a minute or two then plug back in. The fridge would then operate normal for a time.

You have given me some ideas about the fridge's installation that I can modify to be more fridge friendly. Thanks.
Reply
#18
I new Engel arrived. New features!! An interior light for one, and a digital read out so you know the temp. Nice features.

I deinstalled the old one. It finally got to the point of being so noisy that it was waking me up whenever it turns on.

As for temps…. Just like my lithium….we all like the same temp ranges…which works out well, because we all live in the same space. If I am comfy, so are they.

I think I found a guy who is going to take it, open it up and try repairs. I hope he does….I hate throwing away stuff until I am sure it is dead. (Even if someone else kills it).
1989 Honeywell motorhome
Ford E350 chassis.  460 engine
[-] The following 1 user says Thank You to RoamingKat for this post:
  • rvpopeye (10-27-2022)
Reply
#19
Update to my earlier posts regarding Bob Wells advice about adding foam board. I didn't want to leave the impression that Bob was posting bad advice on that occasion.

That advice was specific to the 65qt model and caused no issues in my usage. The 65qt model is a heavy beast, with most of the weight in the end with the refrigeration machinery. When I move it I hold the heavier end closer to my body.

The 45qt, a later design, is much lighter in the business end, taking advantage of the outer skin to save weight (and cost?). It was my mistake to apply the old advice to a newer model. I removed the foam board from the sides, and stuffed small cloth rolls to stabilize the unit against fore and aft movement when in transit.

Thank you to Maki for the useful information.
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)