Question 2

    How long will the fridge run in the vehicle with the engine running?

      Indefinitely, as the battery charging system in the vehicle will generate a lot more power than the fridge can consume.

           Question 3

    How long does the fridge take to cool food and drink?

      As soon as the Fridge is turned on the temperature at the evaporator plate  will drop within half and hour. It will take time for heat to be removed from the contents. You would have to allow at least 6 hours for each 2kg of food. Always try to load the fridge with pre-cooled food from your home refrigerator where ever possible. By doing this, the fridge will not have to work as hard or as long to reach the desired temperature. This cold food and drink will stay cold and will help to cool any food or drink later. Try to leave spaces between products to allow circulation of cool air.

           Question 4

    Can I switch the fridge off when not in use?

      Yes. However, continuous usage is beneficial to the unit. If you can’t leave the fridge on all the time (for instance at home), ensure that the unit is started up periodically – recommended at least 24 hours every month. We suggest:

·        A       That you use the fridge on a permanent basis as a fridge on the lowest setting.

·        B        Pre-cool or freeze the product to be packed

·        C        Pre-cool the fridge so that the product does not defrost

·        D        Leave room for air circulation around the packed product inside the box

·        E        Do not introduce hot or warm goods

·        F        Do not pack large volumes of product – where possible break it down into smaller packs

·       G        Store the fridge in cool, dry places, ensuring that the interior is dry. If stored for long periods of time, leave the lid slightly open to help ventilation and avoid the formation of mould.

           Question 5

    Will my fridge still work when I switch my vehicle engine off?

      Generally, no. In most vehicles when you switch your engine off using the key (and the radio stops working!), your fridge will stop working. This is because you are effectively closing the power circuit by turning the key to the off position in the ignition. Hard wiring direct link is a common 4wd/off-road option that can be explored with your local auto electrician.

RUNNING MY FRIDGE

                 Question 1

    Can the fridge run on normal 240-volt household electricity?

      Yes. If you use an optional AC adaptor, which converts 240 volts AC to 12/24 volts DC We recommend the AC adaptor have a minimum of 10 AMP output.

                 Question 2

    How long will the fridge keep food cool when it is not running?

                This all depends on the following things:-

·                 A       ambient (outside) temperature

·                 B        shade, sun and wind

·                 C        starting temperature of contents

·                 D        size of icebox

·                 E        number of lid openings while unplugged

·                 F        quantity of product inside

      As a rough guide, the fridge is based on the EvaKool insulated icebox, which can keep product cold as long as 5-10 days under certain conditions. In case of a breakdown, adding ice to the ice box will extend the life of the product in the box up to 2/3 days.

      Question 3

      What is the battery drain of the fridge?

      The power consumption of the RF47 (BD35 compressor) measured on average over a 24 hour period is as follows:-

¨      If you were to use 24V the amperage would be halved.

      Question 4

      Is there any way to automatically switch the fridge off before the battery becomes dangerously low?

      Yes. The fridge requires either 12 or 24V to operate and incorporates a computer-operated automatic cut off system. This feature cuts out the fridge if the power source goes below 10.4V.  Although this is a great safety utility Evakool advices you to use your own good judgment before leaving your fridge unattended.

      Question 5

      What do I do, if, in the unlikely event that my fridge stops?

      There are many well-qualified service agents within Australia who can service the Evakool Fridges – refer to the listing on the fridge page.

Ø      Read the troubleshooting flowchart provided, the problem faced may be easily rectified.

Ø      Refer to the service manual

Ø      Contact your nearest service centre

      Question 6

     What is the cooling power of the fridge?

      The fridge can maintain its contents at temperatures up -23^oC For example:-

Ø      A       At 32^oC (ambient) , the contents are kept at -25^oC (when set to 8 on dial and in normal mode)

Ø      B        At 43^oC (ambient) , the contents are kept at -19^oC (when set to 8 on dial and in normal mode)

General Questions Regarding my Fridge

      Question 1

      Why is a fridge a good alternative to an EvaKool icebox?

      The fridge has the same insulation as an Evakool icebox. It cools the air space inside the icebox on a continuous basis via the evaporator plate. By using the fridge, your food is kept dry because there is no necessity to use ice, which will eventually melt. Additionally, more room is made available by not having ice taking up valuable space.

      Question 2

      Will the fridge freezer make ice cubes?

      Yes. The fridge is unique in that it can operate as a fridge and freezer at the same time. This is achieved by using the fridge divider (a movable partition), which can be used to partition the fridge – you decide how big you want your fridge. It will make ice cubes and will maintain block ice as block ice if set to the correct setting to achieve this. 

      Question 3

      Can the fridge be carried in car trunk/boot?

      Yes. For a limited time as proper circulation of air is required as heat energy is absorbed and pumped out of the unit. In a confined space, such as in a car boot, this dissipated heat may reduce the effectiveness of the fridge. Bear in mind that the temperature in the trunk of a car can reach over 60^oC or more – in these circumstances, the fridge will not work effectively.

      Question 4

      Is the fridge strong enough to sit on?

      Yes. Very much so. The construction of the icebox and the inherent strength of the fibreglass make this unit one of the physically strongest iceboxes/fridges on the market.

      Question 5

      Can I connect my fridge to a solar panel?

      Yes. In fact any regulated external power source such as a solar panel, wind turbine generator etc can be linked to a battery then the battery can be linked to the fridge. As long as the voltage is between 12 and 24 volts.

      Question 6

      Does the fridge travel well in rough conditions?

      Yes. The fridge is made in Australia to cope with the toughest conditions of the interior of Australia. To help optimize best performance, we do recommend that the fridge is positioned in a well ventilated area.

     For extreme conditions we recommend putting a layer of high density rubber foam or neo-prene under the fridge to create a suspension layer.

      Question 7

       I have a boat! Can I fit the fridge on board?

      Yes. Unlike metal fridges that are susceptible to corrosion, this fridge is a seaworthy fridge, provided it is located away from direct contact with salt water. If used continuously on a boat, the refrigeration unit must be sealed with a water repellent/ sealant (marinised).

      Question 8

      Does the fridge have to operate on a level surface?  

      No. The fridge will happily operate at angles up to 30^oC. However, where ever practicable, please ensure that the resting surface of the fridge is level and horizontal.