Great review! I love my Iceco that I bought a couple of years ago based on one of your reviews. Last winter, we lost power for several days and our generator failed . I was able to put most of the fridge contents into my Iceco and run off a power station. It worked great and I was able to cook out of it until we got the generator going again. I generally use my fridge when we go camping and then bring it inside for the Winter. I also use it for overflow during the holidays. I have ended up using it a lot more than I expected! 😊
This is the most thorough and well done review I’ve seen on this fridge! You even took it apart and fully explained how it works as well as gave troubleshooting tips in case something doesn’t work. You sir deserve an award for your hard work! Thank you for all of the amazing information! ☺️
I really like my ICECO APL 35, my only complaint is the variation between indicated temperature and actual.... you definitely have to play with it to see where the settings and the actual are in reality if you don't want frozen (when set to fridge) or spoiled food. Once I figured out what the variations were, it is an excellent fridge/freezer. Last time I took it camping we had a "first". We served fresh cobbler with ice cream on top! As for the weight...I placed it on the slide before loading it...not too bad. 30 lbs should be doable for anyone. ICECO should get them adjusted before they leave the factory (for the price...) Thanks for the video. (I also own a VL45 that we take when anticipating more campers...) Great value for the money and the 5 year warranty is unbeatable.
I agree about the temperature compensation settings. It seems they didn't even test them for accuracy or something before sending them out to customers. Luckily there is a video about the correct settings now. You can check that video out in the video description.
Well done. Jason, I appreciate the details. I will keep it in wear out the Explorer Bear we bought last year. About 10 trips out, and it works like great. 110⁰F outside for 7 days and keeps everything stayed at 35⁰.
Same experience with mine... I have to set the big/'fridge' side to 32f to get it to maintain proper fridge temps around ~39-42f. Similar for the small 'freezer' side, 0f yields about 8f actual or so. Good unit otherwise - I'd gotten it pretty early on back in late July. I'll have to check out the calibration info now that it's available.
Last year after watching your review of the Explore Bear EX40B, i bought one and it's still in the box, never opened! The price was so good that i thought it would be a great replacement for my ICECO Go20. Well, the Go20 is so good and so portable that i just keep using it day in and day out so at least i do have a backup:) Great review as it really tells you everything you need to see how long it will last with your power station or battery.
The GO20 is a great size, I also use that one the most from day to day LOL....The ExplorerBear fridges offer an excellent value for the money. They come in about half the price of this one! You should open your's up and see how you like it!
Thanks Jason. As always, you pay for the additional quality and build. I'm sold on these DC fridges over ice, but I think those in the market for one really need to analyze their needs carefully before buying. Will you really be using the freezer? How often do you go camping? Are you camping with a family, or just a couple/solo? Are you going seriously off-road, or just to established campgrounds? If you buy what you need and skip on the features you don't need, these are a great investment.
Great analysis and questions to ask yourself before you buy. It would have been better if I had mentioned something like that to help people make the right choice!
@@Jasonoid You are already doing a fantastic job helping people make the right choice by giving consumers knowledgeable, detailed, quality information with no hype and no clickbait cards. If you continue to do that, we're good! 😀
Nice coverage of the APL35 - I have the older ICEO JP30, which does the job and hasn't let me down. In addition to the SECOP compressor, one nice feature of the JP30 is it has the 120 volt AC power brick built-in to the unit. The option for a separate freezer on this newer unit is a nice feature to have.
I have always felt that these 12 volt refrigerators we not that practical. My main concern is not only power consumption but the speed at which these units are capable of cooling down to temperature settings at startup. I realize that time would be different based upon the ambient temp. at startup but, it’d be interesting to test at various conditions. I hear sometimes that, with some 12 volt refrigerators that it’s best, or rather, recommended that products be put into the refrigerators already cold and/or frozen, so that comparison would also be another variable in the test I’m suggesting.
Purchased my Iceco APL35 in early October and immediately experienced wide temperature variations and inability to maintain setpoint temps in either zone. This was quickly remedied using the Iceco customer service provided calibration procedure and video that you mentioned. Setting the temperature compensation values back to Iceco's recommended default settings worked very well. This seems to be a common issue with the APL35.
I think the default calibration settings were incorrect from the factory. They definitely need to be updated for proper use. Why didn't ICECO figure this out before sending them to customers? Not sure... I'm glad they have a video walking through the steps to update it though.
Thank you for the review and link to calibration video. I am so excited to have this fridge; the weight, size and compressor are positives for making this choice (plan to use daily in the future). I will definitely use the calibration video as I bought early on and haven't tested yet. Would love the link to the temp gauge you have if possible. You're the best!!!
I've never felt the need for a FRIG, just a FREEZER. M ACID test to see if my Engel 45 Qt (1.3 cu ft) FREEZER kept things frozen was to put a few ice cubes in a ziplok baggie & place them on top of everything then closed the lid. My Engel Freezer is what I placed inside my Ford E250 Insulated cargo van conversion. The ice cubes remained the same shape, no sign of melting after a week long trip in summertime. I eventually put the ice cubes in a container along with a soft drink. Please consider including this ACID test with your future FREEZER tests because we all truly want our frozen food to STAY FROZEN.
As always great video. Set Power also had the temperature variations like this ice-co and they hav a video to show you how to calibrate the temperature . I have been looking for dual zone fridge but most were too big for how I want to use it, this seems like a good fit for me. Wondering if you will make another video comparing similar size 12V fridges and power consumption. Great job on this video.
Thank you for a nice review Jason. I’m glad Iceco finally got around to making smaller dual zone units. I have a JP40. How does this compare to it from an insulation and physical dimensions standpoint? Does this nit have a smaller compressor than the JP40? I have noticed that my JP40 has a hard time keeping the contents at 30 when I have it really full and about 75 ambient temperature, so I wonder how this would do. Maybe if it is insulated better, it will do better. Any thoughts on why Iceco did not design this with the removable center divider? I love the flexibility but maybe it is far less efficient. Thanks again.
These newer options from ICECO are definitely an improvement in efficiency and performance. The internal temperature numbers are grouped tighter, meaning there isn't such a swing in internal temperature before the compressor turns back on. When testing with the JP30 and JP40 fridges, I was surprised how large the hysteresis was before the compressor turned back on. I wasn't really a fan of the warmer section above the compressor on those models as well. It's nice to have a full two zones with actual temperature settings. Now is this fridge worth the full $600.... I guess that depends. I have been impressed by ICECO fridges but you can also get some great performance out of the SetPower PT series for like half the cost!
Hi Jason, thanks so much for the great reviews - I am considering buying an ICECO fridge and I am debating between the AL35 and the VL35....I had anticipated that the VL35 would use less energy, but it seems like the AL35 actually uses less, based on your testing? Which fridge would you pick? Thanks!
The VL35pro is a single zone model, it's a bit heavier. The APL35 is a dual zone model, and lightweight. Are you planning to use a freezer at all? When I am camping I usually stick to a single zone fridge model, I don't really take frozen stuff with me.
@@Jasonoid I'd probably take more stuff that just needs fridge, but I do like that one would have the option of having a freezer part if needed....occasionally ice cream is pretty great LOL. i'd be using it in a van with a lithium battery so was looking for something with little energy consumption. I LOVE the lid on the VL35 but saw somewhere that it can rattle while driving? they are both great fridges as it seems....
@BirgitReeves I don't think the lid rattles too much on the VL35pro. I can't hear it over the road noise while driving. I personally don't think you can go wrong with either option. They are both great fridges and are efficient. If you are leaning towards the dual zone for some occasional ice cream use, I'd say go for the APL35!
Nice review. I haven't bought an Iceco yet (Setpower or BougeRV), but your reviews keep them on my list; I just haven't needed [another] one lately. I have a few compressor-coolers now that run 24/7/365. One is set to 15F and is used to kill bugs in newly-purchased grain products (e.g. flour, rice); one is set to 50F and just stores nuts so they don't get rancid; the last is set around 40F and is used as refrigerator overflow. Realistically, and regardless of warranty, how long should I expect these to last? Thirty years? Ten? Five? The oldest is about ten years old (maybe 12); none have given any issues.
I really dont want anything bluetooth. When did they start with that and the nanotech? Which kind would you suggest then without the tech? And is 32 lbs a usual weight for the fridge/freezer? I am 73 yo woman, not sure if that is too heavy for me. Thanks
I'm not sure when they swapped over to the Nano sized compressors. This is the first one I've tested with that compressor. Check out ExplorerBear fridges or even SetPower fridges. They don't have Bluetooth and they are priced great!
Let’s see which 1kWh to 2kWh power station is most efficient at running this fridge! My money is on anker, BLUETTI second, and ecoflow last… for low power application like fridges I think the results will be very surprising
Ankers have 1-3w standby while others have over 20w. So as a percentage of total usage at 35w, parasitic drain can be 5-60% of total consumption. Devils in the details…
@@kincheng This is more of an issue for AC outputs due to the inverter. in general avoiding using AC for slow and low loads dramatically improves battery life for ALL power stations. 12v DC tends to be a simple 10% ish loss no matter what the draw is.
Different brand but same guts, been plugged in for 5 years, floats between 27 and 32 degrees and 0 problems. Paid half the price of those useless Yetis of same volume. Only complaint I have is that 20oz coke/pepsi products will not stand up with lid closed.
We've noticed that over the past month, you've been leaving the EXACT SAME comments under various ICECO videos. Is there anything specific we can assist you with? We'd appreciate it if you could share your experience with ICECO customer service so we can better understand and address any concerns you may have. Thanks!
The Setpower PT35 is $249, that is a great entry level fridge so you can learn how great it is. You'll never want ice again. Think about the gas used to get ice during a long trip. That adds to the cost as well.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Great review!
I love my Iceco that I bought a couple of years ago based on one of your reviews.
Last winter, we lost power for several days and our generator failed . I was able to put most of the fridge contents into my Iceco and run off a power station. It worked great and I was able to cook out of it until we got the generator going again.
I generally use my fridge when we go camping and then bring it inside for the Winter. I also use it for overflow during the holidays. I have ended up using it a lot more than I expected! 😊
That's a great use case one of these 12v fridges, thanks for sharing, Katy!
What brand/model generator was the problem?
Best review test I’ve seen. Excellent.
This is the most thorough and well done review I’ve seen on this fridge! You even took it apart and fully explained how it works as well as gave troubleshooting tips in case something doesn’t work. You sir deserve an award for your hard work! Thank you for all of the amazing information! ☺️
I really like my ICECO APL 35, my only complaint is the variation between indicated temperature and actual.... you definitely have to play with it to see where the settings and the actual are in reality if you don't want frozen (when set to fridge) or spoiled food. Once I figured out what the variations were, it is an excellent fridge/freezer. Last time I took it camping we had a "first". We served fresh cobbler with ice cream on top! As for the weight...I placed it on the slide before loading it...not too bad. 30 lbs should be doable for anyone. ICECO should get them adjusted before they leave the factory (for the price...) Thanks for the video. (I also own a VL45 that we take when anticipating more campers...) Great value for the money and the 5 year warranty is unbeatable.
I agree about the temperature compensation settings. It seems they didn't even test them for accuracy or something before sending them out to customers. Luckily there is a video about the correct settings now. You can check that video out in the video description.
Well done. Jason, I appreciate the details. I will keep it in wear out the Explorer Bear we bought last year. About 10 trips out, and it works like great. 110⁰F outside for 7 days and keeps everything stayed at 35⁰.
Same experience with mine... I have to set the big/'fridge' side to 32f to get it to maintain proper fridge temps around ~39-42f. Similar for the small 'freezer' side, 0f yields about 8f actual or so. Good unit otherwise - I'd gotten it pretty early on back in late July. I'll have to check out the calibration info now that it's available.
great review as usual!
Last year after watching your review of the Explore Bear EX40B, i bought one and it's still in the box, never opened! The price was so good that i thought it would be a great replacement for my ICECO Go20. Well, the Go20 is so good and so portable that i just keep using it day in and day out so at least i do have a backup:) Great review as it really tells you everything you need to see how long it will last with your power station or battery.
The GO20 is a great size, I also use that one the most from day to day LOL....The ExplorerBear fridges offer an excellent value for the money. They come in about half the price of this one! You should open your's up and see how you like it!
Thanks Jason. As always, you pay for the additional quality and build. I'm sold on these DC fridges over ice, but I think those in the market for one really need to analyze their needs carefully before buying. Will you really be using the freezer? How often do you go camping? Are you camping with a family, or just a couple/solo? Are you going seriously off-road, or just to established campgrounds? If you buy what you need and skip on the features you don't need, these are a great investment.
Great analysis and questions to ask yourself before you buy. It would have been better if I had mentioned something like that to help people make the right choice!
@@Jasonoid You are already doing a fantastic job helping people make the right choice by giving consumers knowledgeable, detailed, quality information with no hype and no clickbait cards. If you continue to do that, we're good! 😀
Nice coverage of the APL35 - I have the older ICEO JP30, which does the job and hasn't let me down. In addition to the SECOP compressor, one nice feature of the JP30 is it has the 120 volt AC power brick built-in to the unit.
The option for a separate freezer on this newer unit is a nice feature to have.
It's great that there isn't an extra power brick needed for that model! The JP30 is efficient and works well!
The all aluminum look for the APL35 is really standout. I'd almost get it for that alone.
I agree, It is a great looking fridge!
I have always felt that these 12 volt refrigerators we not that practical. My main concern is not only power consumption but the speed at which these units are capable of cooling down to temperature settings at startup. I realize that time would be different based upon the ambient temp. at startup but, it’d be interesting to test at various conditions. I hear sometimes that, with some 12 volt refrigerators that it’s best, or rather, recommended that products be put into the refrigerators already cold and/or frozen, so that comparison would also be another variable in the test I’m suggesting.
Purchased my Iceco APL35 in early October and immediately experienced wide temperature variations and inability to maintain setpoint temps in either zone. This was quickly remedied using the Iceco customer service provided calibration procedure and video that you mentioned. Setting the temperature compensation values back to Iceco's recommended default settings worked very well. This seems to be a common issue with the APL35.
I think the default calibration settings were incorrect from the factory. They definitely need to be updated for proper use. Why didn't ICECO figure this out before sending them to customers? Not sure... I'm glad they have a video walking through the steps to update it though.
It is a shame that iceco was proactive about this and you all had to contact them. I have 2 units from them and they will be my last.
Thank you for the review and link to calibration video. I am so excited to have this fridge; the weight, size and compressor are positives for making this choice (plan to use daily in the future). I will definitely use the calibration video as I bought early on and haven't tested yet. Would love the link to the temp gauge you have if possible. You're the best!!!
These are the Bluetooth thermometers I use: amzn.to/48xbgvw
@@Jasonoid Thanks!!!!
I've never felt the need for a FRIG, just a FREEZER.
M ACID test to see if my Engel 45 Qt (1.3 cu ft) FREEZER kept things frozen was to put a few ice cubes in a ziplok baggie & place them on top of everything then closed the lid. My Engel Freezer is what I placed inside my Ford E250 Insulated cargo van conversion. The ice cubes remained the same shape, no sign of melting after a week long trip in summertime. I eventually put the ice cubes in a container along with a soft drink.
Please consider including this ACID test with your future FREEZER tests because we all truly want our frozen food to STAY FROZEN.
What does ACID stand for?
@@Jasonoid Acid is used as a final test in many chemistry experiments & implies a FINAL test of the experiment
@azclaimjumper thanks!
As always great video. Set Power also had the temperature variations like this ice-co and they hav a video to show you how to calibrate the temperature . I have been looking for dual zone fridge but most were too big for how I want to use it, this seems like a good fit for me. Wondering if you will make another video comparing similar size 12V fridges and power consumption. Great job on this video.
I only have a few fridges on hand nowadays since they take up so much space. I wish I had more storage space for a huge comparison like that!
Thank you for a nice review Jason. I’m glad Iceco finally got around to making smaller dual zone units. I have a JP40. How does this compare to it from an insulation and physical dimensions standpoint? Does this nit have a smaller compressor than the JP40? I have noticed that my JP40 has a hard time keeping the contents at 30 when I have it really full and about 75 ambient temperature, so I wonder how this would do. Maybe if it is insulated better, it will do better. Any thoughts on why Iceco did not design this with the removable center divider? I love the flexibility but maybe it is far less efficient. Thanks again.
These newer options from ICECO are definitely an improvement in efficiency and performance. The internal temperature numbers are grouped tighter, meaning there isn't such a swing in internal temperature before the compressor turns back on. When testing with the JP30 and JP40 fridges, I was surprised how large the hysteresis was before the compressor turned back on. I wasn't really a fan of the warmer section above the compressor on those models as well. It's nice to have a full two zones with actual temperature settings. Now is this fridge worth the full $600.... I guess that depends. I have been impressed by ICECO fridges but you can also get some great performance out of the SetPower PT series for like half the cost!
great review thank you!
😎 thanks Jason
Hi Jason, thanks so much for the great reviews - I am considering buying an ICECO fridge and I am debating between the AL35 and the VL35....I had anticipated that the VL35 would use less energy, but it seems like the AL35 actually uses less, based on your testing? Which fridge would you pick? Thanks!
The VL35pro is a single zone model, it's a bit heavier.
The APL35 is a dual zone model, and lightweight.
Are you planning to use a freezer at all? When I am camping I usually stick to a single zone fridge model, I don't really take frozen stuff with me.
@@Jasonoid I'd probably take more stuff that just needs fridge, but I do like that one would have the option of having a freezer part if needed....occasionally ice cream is pretty great LOL. i'd be using it in a van with a lithium battery so was looking for something with little energy consumption. I LOVE the lid on the VL35 but saw somewhere that it can rattle while driving? they are both great fridges as it seems....
@BirgitReeves I don't think the lid rattles too much on the VL35pro. I can't hear it over the road noise while driving.
I personally don't think you can go wrong with either option. They are both great fridges and are efficient. If you are leaning towards the dual zone for some occasional ice cream use, I'd say go for the APL35!
I just bought a igloo 40q 12v cooler from sams for 263$ it’s a dometic rebrand. Best deal if seen normally priced at 599
That's an awesome deal!
I would like to see a side by side comparison of these 2 models. Really like this product just no sure which size …..🤔
What two models?
@ the 2 aluminum models the 20 and 35
Can I order a beer through Bluetooth, and then expect the frig to deliver it?😂
Yep, that's why it's there!
Nice review. I haven't bought an Iceco yet (Setpower or BougeRV), but your reviews keep them on my list; I just haven't needed [another] one lately.
I have a few compressor-coolers now that run 24/7/365. One is set to 15F and is used to kill bugs in newly-purchased grain products (e.g. flour, rice); one is set to 50F and just stores nuts so they don't get rancid; the last is set around 40F and is used as refrigerator overflow.
Realistically, and regardless of warranty, how long should I expect these to last? Thirty years? Ten? Five? The oldest is about ten years old (maybe 12); none have given any issues.
I'm guessing if the fans and coils are kept clean and running cool, they will last a long time! Nice to hear yours is working so well! 👍
I really dont want anything bluetooth. When did they start with that and the nanotech? Which kind would you suggest then without the tech?
And is 32 lbs a usual weight for the fridge/freezer?
I am 73 yo woman, not sure if that is too heavy for me.
Thanks
wait until you fill it up.
there are other, lighter, ICECO models that do not include the "tech", take a look at their website.
I'm not sure when they swapped over to the Nano sized compressors. This is the first one I've tested with that compressor. Check out ExplorerBear fridges or even SetPower fridges. They don't have Bluetooth and they are priced great!
Need another 12V power option besides the cigarette plug. 2024 GM trucks do not have cigarette lighter sockets.
What type of connection do they have for DC power? You can adapter the 12v socket to anything really...
Positive Comment!!!
Let’s see which 1kWh to 2kWh power station is most efficient at running this fridge! My money is on anker, BLUETTI second, and ecoflow last… for low power application like fridges I think the results will be very surprising
Most DC outputs are extremely efficient. I bet the results would be pretty similar. Whatever power station had the most usable capacity would win.
Ankers have 1-3w standby while others have over 20w. So as a percentage of total usage at 35w, parasitic drain can be 5-60% of total consumption. Devils in the details…
@@kincheng This is more of an issue for AC outputs due to the inverter. in general avoiding using AC for slow and low loads dramatically improves battery life for ALL power stations. 12v DC tends to be a simple 10% ish loss no matter what the draw is.
How many amps when using cigarette lighter lug? Can both compartments be used as a freezer?
~35 watts when running on ECO mode (2.5a @ 14v). Yes, it can be set to a freezer in both compartments.
Hard no for me, between the price and the crappie BBB rating. A D- basically means "RUN" from this company and dont look back
Different brand but same guts, been plugged in for 5 years, floats between 27 and 32 degrees and 0 problems. Paid half the price of those useless Yetis of same volume. Only complaint I have is that 20oz coke/pepsi products will not stand up with lid closed.
I look at price first. It doesn't matter how great it is if it's not in my price range. This one is definitely not in my price range.
Check out ExplorerBear fridges or SetPower fridges, they are much more affordable and still have great performance!
Way to expensive, especially with a crappie Better Business Bureau rating.
FYI: BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU rating D-.
I did not know that! Thank you for sharing.
We've noticed that over the past month, you've been leaving the EXACT SAME comments under various ICECO videos. Is there anything specific we can assist you with? We'd appreciate it if you could share your experience with ICECO customer service so we can better understand and address any concerns you may have. Thanks!
@@ICECOFREEZERTruth is, D-… why so?
Ecoflow, Bluetti, Jackery, and Anker all have F ratings from BBB for non-response to complaints. Yet buyers keep on buying.
SECOP always been made in China?
Used to be German made compressors like 15 years ago, but like all manufacturers, it's now made in China.
I can buy a lot of ice for $600
The Setpower PT35 is $249, that is a great entry level fridge so you can learn how great it is. You'll never want ice again.
Think about the gas used to get ice during a long trip. That adds to the cost as well.
I can buy a lot of Tim Hortons with 600$ top but usually they don’t sell it where I go 😅