One flaw about that test is that, engel is a LOT older than kings. Obviously the cooling system of the engel has deteriorated somehow, thus it is not cooling as much. Whatever it is engel wins hands down in my opnion for working still after 30 years and thats amazing.
I've had my kings 60L fridge for around 4 years and its been amazing, I run it 24/7 as a beer fridge at home and take it away camping and hasn't missed a beat, holds temperature well and uses next to no power when camping to stay at 2 degrees
I just want to say that this is a great review on the two featured fridges, not because of any other reason other than these two young blokes actually understand how the fridge works and can objectively talk about the pros and cons. Also, they understand the quality vs quantity market, and they understand the risk decision required by the buyer. Refreshing to see clever come from younger people.
2 years of owning a kings 75lt duel zone lives in the ute that is used for work everyday and have not turned it off since I have had it 100% back my fridge
Nice work guys!, however, When using a thermometer don't put it in water. As water enters the freezing stage the temp will be ~zero until it changes from liquid to solid - all you are measuring at this point is the freezing point of water - not the refrigeration temp. You really should be measuring the air temperature with a suitable thermometer.
With the price points and observed difference in quality it would be reasonable to assume that service life would be $50-100 per year of it's life. Eg if you're paying $1500 for an Engel, you'd expect it to last 15 years or more. If you're paying $500 for a Kings, expect it to last 5 years or more. But don't crack the sads when it shits the bed at 6-7 years old either mechanically or the plastique fatigues and cracks from use, age, etc. To ensure longevity keeping the Kings out of direct sunlight and constantly in eco mode would seemingly run it at an optimal power draw/performance level, similar to what the Engel runs at. If you get 10yrs+ out of a Kings or similar plastique counterparts you're Charlie Sheen.
Like the comparison to CS at end, that's a good one. brother-in law has a Finch 3-way since the 80's and it's still running! So are all older fridges better because of the older style refrigerant that was used and better insulation material?
Slightly different but just watched a qualified fridge mechanic do a comparison between the Bushman 85lt upright fridge freezer and the Kings 85lt upright fridge freezer. In his opinion they are the same fridge rebranded. They have the same mechanicals and controls, same layout internally. The Kings currently sells for around $600, the Bushman $1495.
I've had the 45L Kings for 12 Months also and it has done everything I expect a Fridge to do. Keep things Cold.... As for reliability, it is powered by a Secop Compressor (formerly Danfoss)which powers a lot of Fridge Brands out there, including Waeco. If your Ego can take the hit, your Wallet won't.
I have had my kings 60L fridge for 5 to 6 years now, no dramas with it, been an unreal fridge, all I could afford at the time as I was only an apprentice. 👌
Great work guys. I have an Engel 29L fridge, running all the time from 1982, love it. One negative on ur presentation is DON'T SIT ON THE LID of any fridge, later they leak.
Had my kings 45l in my ute 3 years now (4 months of that’s as strapped to my tray in the sun before I got the canopy) and use it regularly and she has never given me a problem for the price would definitely buy again!
They do run better and last longer if you don't turn them off. There's lubricant in the coolant that keeps the seals in good condition and working properly. Leave the fridge off for weeks/months and the seals dry out and deteriorate as no coolant is circulating.
I bought the 60l kings 3 years ago. Even used it as a freezer in the shed for 3 months. Also great how fast it cools down. Being made out of plastic makes it lighter to carry. My dads Engel broke down. Cost 800 just to fix it. Great channel guys. Look forward to the next one. 🍻
I just sold my 30+ year old 15L engel (which was still cooling down to -14) and bought the bigger engel eclipse MR40F 38L ($800). The eclipse being the more affordable/entry level, no frills version, but with the same reliable sawafugi running gear you have come to know and trust from engel. Great vid guys.
Went around and around and around trying to decide and ended up with a 75l Kickass brand one (love it). Like you guys said you can get unlucky in all brands. I have about 10 different Kings brand items including a winch and never needed to replace or fix. Keep up the good work. Can't wait for Victoria to be unlocked.
Love your guys channel first of all. I went with an engel a few years ago purely for the metal case and the reliability of the name. Knowing it was going to be thrown around in the back of my 60 series, being able to be knocked about was most important. 3 years on and its run almost constantly either in the 60 or now in my work van, and I wouldn't look back. Taking the cover off it still looks brand new. Keep up the good work guys!
I have 2 Engels, and a waeco, and a bushmans. My first engle was out of a camper van. I've had it 20 years and the van had done 400,000km when it got pulled out. My other engle I bought new in 2001. Both have been going almost non stop. better quality than most house fridges
we run a 40lt weaco and a 45lt kings for a year now and cant split them for power draw or reliability..we swap them from fridge to freezer each time we restock to give the equal running times and think they are great..love your work lads.
Great vid boys. I’m running a Waeco cfx50 and hasn’t missed a beat. It used to run 24/7 as my beer fridge on the verandah, now lives in the back of my prado. I run a kings winch and it has copped a bit of abuse and has never died, also got 2 kings awnings and they work great (been on my car for 3yrs). Yes you do get what you pay but you even the expensive things break down (sometimes lol)
Great review. We have both options. Own top of the range Dometic and Brass Monkey. Both had heavy wear and tear over the years and both broken down (once) with faulty boards. So, why the BrassMonkey. Well, if it breaks and they don’t have the part in one of many retail stores through Australia, you get a new fridge straight away. This is what happened to us. They didn’t have the board. Got a new fridge. When the Dometic broke down, took four months and a lot of hassling with Brisbane HO to get it back. Is the Dometic better. I don’t know what that means, but it has two major advantages. Its very quiet and its number one feature is power draw. If you have a lot of power, it does’t matter, but had a lot of trips with poor weather. If running the BrassMonkey, we get one day less on our batteries. We love both. Our Dometic was $1400 which is far too much for a 50L fridge and their repair service time borders on criminal. We got the same size with BM for 475 on sale. If we had more power, would have two BrassMonkeys. One for freezer, one for fridge. I do think the Dometic is better for keeping the cold in and power draw, but that repair time. Damn.
Hi Boys, Interesting video. It looked like a 240v comparison.. Have you tried measuring 12v draw. Why not a real world comparison?. Why not fill the fridge with food, water bottles etc, connect a fully charged battery and see how long it can run for? Regards Alex
unfortunately we could only get a watt measurement on 240v but yeah having food in it would be a good comparison ! they seem to behave pretty similar on both 12v and 240v !
Aussie Arvos you can buy the gt watt meters cheap as so I would buy 2 and do as Alex suggested and test real world, you have tested best case scenario which is fine for some but I think the info I would prefer to see would be total power use to get to xx temp, when using a deep cycle the better number to know is how long I can run the fridge before needing to charge. then chuck them in the sun and see if they hold temp and what the power usage goes up to. Lastly what are the effects of opening the lid more often like getting beers, how does the higher lid use effect the power draw. Nice effort though 👌🏼
@@Aussie_Damo yes that will give teh amps but it wont give you the actual 12v really, running on 12v is more efficient as its not stepping the voltage down from 240v.
Top notch video guys. Really enjoyed the comparison and think you did a great job actually talking about the merits of each fridge. But what about a comparison between these and an eski with a 3 Dollar bag of ice!
@@einfelder8262 on the east coast of Australia it’s pronounced “angle”. Everyone I know pronounces it “angle” but just in different parts of the world it’s “engle”
With the Kings, it will work about 20% better if you take the cover off, or cut away the mesh over the fridge vents. The mesh is a major restriction on air flow.
Agreed, when I bought my Kings 65lt I used a cover on it, and it seemed to not be venting enough with it on and the cover felt warm. Took the cover off and it's been fine plugged in constantly for about 6 months now..
I've had my waeco 65 for bout 4 years now, all good,,,,, but an ol fella i worked with bought a cheapy 110lt no name brand off Ebay,,, out performs mine hands down, paid 450 bucks for it,, he cant fault it,, but back to the kings fridges,, i heard a lot of reports about them catching fire and burning 4wds to the ground,,, that was some years ago as well,, things might have changed and Kings could have seen the fault and fixed it , not sure, but for a budget, cheaper fridges do exactly the same thing as expensive ones do,, just gotta make sure your solar equipment can handle the draw really,, great vid boys
Good video fellas. You hit the nail on the head. If you are running a business on the road, mining exploration or anything that requires a low risk of breakdown you buy the best available. You can’t afford to piss off your employees with cheap Chinese products letting you down. If you are a weekend warrior then you buy fit-for-purpose. For me, in the current environment, I’m going for Aussie made where available.
i used a Waeco 18l fridge for years in the work van. Bought the same model fridge in WA for work in the mines. I used to take lunch out from the camp and at 1pm turn the fridge to max so that by 2:30pm the single serve yoghurts were frozen juuuust right..... still have both my original and WA fridges... put them in my guys work vans so they can enjoy them.
@Gort Newton there's no insult about calling someone a weekend warrior! Most people are weekend warriors, if you work all week you're most likely a weekend warrior.
Horses for courses! You're conclusion is spot on, you are looking at cost vs use. A budget fridge used only 4 or 5 times a year or an Engel that runs constantly. Buy what suits your needs
I can't afford either. Lol I just buy those little dorm fridges and run them off the inverter in my rig. They draw some power but they also shut off when they hit their target temp. Plus they have a freezer separate from the fridge which is nice for some foods. I picked my first one up for $99.00
I’ve had the same Engel fridge in the family since 1976 has put lived every other fridge I’ve had ... life in the 80 is hard on them but the Engel kicks ass for ever ... don’t waste your cash on anything else !!
The name Engle came from the first fridge they brought out that didn't have to be on a level surface for it to work great fridges. Would never waste money on any of them esky and ice.
Note the kings fridge uses a fan system to blow cold air over food. Uses more juice and can break but gets colder quicker. Engel uses inductance through the fridge walls to cool outside to in. Also a special compressor that uses a spring at each end to save power when running and means you can run it on an angle and over rough ground when 4wding
Another amazing video guys! It seems like you've been going from strength to strength lately - Amazing editing and extremely informative this time around. Keep it up fellas!
I have a 2003 Engel Mt35 & it works killer, bought it 2nd hand for $240 beans & use it all the time 🙂 didnt wanna spend a lot so i did my homework & made a list of candidates & waitied till 1 popped up 4 sale, do ur home work & get what u can afford, pretty hard to beat the Kings 60L stayzcool fridge @ $450 5 year warranty
i took an Engel fridge away camping for a long weekend with a 2nd hand car battery for its power and a 5w Solar charger to keep it topped up and after 4 days at staying at -2 i put the reco car battery on the charger to see how much was left and low and behold it was a tiny bit under 3/4 full! Engel FTW!
Not a hater but just saying the thermometer readings were different to the thermometer you put in the water because the water is calling down as well and it's not gonna cool down as fast as the fridge thanks for the review was really helpfull
That Engel is impressive! I have a new Dometic CFX 45 which is variable in power draw. I've seen it draw up to 85W on initial cooldown and then steady 4-7W maintenance. (25 minutes from 20 to -1C btw) Testing a 15yo fridge against a new one says a lot about durability and quality!. I know it's necessary to prioritize cost sometimes but I put value on not loading up landfills too. (Plus, lower power draw needs less battery) For insulation testing I'd like to see how they perform in hot conditions (ie sun or hot car vs shaded, outdoors in a breeze).
great work boys,definitely get'n better...I bought a 40 or 45ltr Waceo pretty much when they first come out been in my truck till it died last weekend it was the best fridge i'd ever had i'd even turned around a couple of die hard Englel boy's,still looking to get another fridge.but Waceo fridges also make kings & Dometic fridges as well. Good luck with it all boys....
Ive got the spinifex 50l fridge freezer ,had it 4+ years. Broke the lock latch so added 2 stainless latches. Been around aust and done 1000s of ks down spine rattling dirt highways and shes still going strong.
Id buy an engel simple because its well bloody made and it will draw alot less power so less drain on the battery and things stay at a better temp, with most places doing afterpay etc id just get one on that
Sent myself mental looking for a 50L to go in the back of the SUV and finally settling on an EvaKool because it keeps jobs here and has a very high customer satisfaction record. Also see recently Patrick was provided one to install and later review for his Cruiser interior refit 🙏
yet anpther great video from you boys, loving the content and quality especially when you are stuck in lockdown. perhaps not clicking the thermometer so much may possibly look a little more professional
yes the clicking was getting a bit annoying, but you guys are awesome, doing a greast job, takes me back to my younger days learning as much as i could to do my own projects.
Good effort on trying to produce a comparison. I know you're trying to make it relatively scientific(reproduceable) and quantifiable (measurable) so good effort there. But in that vein you also need to be aware that putting the thermometer in the water to measure the internal temperature will mean your results aren't measuring what you want. The water/ice will remain at around the freezing point of water (so -2 to +2) until the water has all frozen solid (in which case the ice will then drop to lower temperatures) or all melted (in which case the water can increase to > zero) regardless of the internal temperature of the the fridge itself (which could be -18). Hope this helps.
Ripper vid boys! Smashing out ya humongous tradie voices nice and young. Although the tradie voice + engle can be a tough one. But tonnes of practice and youll be runnin job sites in no time. Keep it up champions!!
Had my kings 45ltr for qlmost 3 years now it runs all day every day at 1deg and has never skipped a beat. When I'm driving and or just loaded the fridge with warm goods I'll run it on Max but when I get to camp I'll switch it to eco and it helps with the life of the battery. Can't fault it and I happily buy another. Given the chance and if the price was good sure I'd buy a better brand but like I sed I'd be more than happy to recommend and by another kings
Iv got both and a 65l kings and 40l Engel the king's is just an old model CF Waeco which has had a thermistor fail which was only a 20$ fix from Dometic (Waeco) honestly the king's is pretty good for the price but longevity wise yes they are 15 years old because the they're just a CF Waeco before the cfx came out 👍 they do the job fine.. I use the small engel for weekenders and use both for big trips.. the Engel as a freezer and the king's as a fridge works well 🤘
Yeah perfect, can't go wrong with that setup!! it's is great tho when you can get it fixed that cheap! but yeah i mean comes down to your budget and how much you can spend , if you just wanna get away the kings does fine!
Cheers fellas, I went through 2 kings in one year Just bought a 60ltre mtv engel an the 15/3 ( off the shelves repco broome) an the ambient temp sensor was buggered just took it in yesterday for repair an no one had a sensor in stock,
I have seen both brands including the waeco sitting in 43 degrees and under the sun, no shade over them at all. The kings was struggling to hold its temp due to cheaper insulation, and was running the whole time. Where the engle and waeco where much better, and didnt have to run constantly to keep temp.
I've had my waeco for 10 years, after buying it second hand. So it's maybe 15 years old. Still works great! Only issue with my particular model of waeco fridge is the lid is plastic crap.
Use my Waeco for 15 +years,not a single problem with it,still works as new and I am camping 2 times a month.Engel uses piston type compressor,Waeco and Kings rotor,that's were power savings come from.Engel is too expensive and weights empty as others fully loaded,hard to lift and put in your 4wd.You can buy Waeco 50 lt + 100 AH lithium battery for the price of Engel fridge.
I paid under $500 and Ive had my 45L Kings Fridge for coming up to 4 years , its on 24/7 either in my shed or on the back of the Dmax , Its 33 degrees here in Brissy right now prob hotter in the shed and the fridge is sitting on -1 on eco , Beers are ice cold every time , I would recommend and would deffo buy another kings Fridge , I know the Engel is the Bugatti of 12v fridges for good reason as you guys have stated but the cost of them vs something like a much cheaper Kings puts me off buying one
I bought a 450 dollar fridge from big W about 3 years ago and it is still going strong it spend most of its life In the back of my gq until I sold it now it is currently just sitting beside my couch keeping drinks cold
Legends!! I’ve been curious of the kings fridge lately, Out come was pretty expected but great content!! Talking about the kings winch’s, I’ve only heard good things about them. Curious to hear from people what they think!
Had mine for 3 years , 12000lbs, only used twice. Used it first time on Billy goats bluff on a steep incline where those notorious wombat holes are, fully loaded Patrol I was shitting myself. Kings winch, heavy 4by is it gonna pull? It bloody well did and damn well too I might add. 2nd time I pulled an isuzu dmax out of a bog hole no worries. So it's not a bad winch for what it's worth.
damm yeah well i mean for the price you can't go wrong, i know blokes who use them on comp trucks as they are so cheap and when they give out they just go and throw a brand new one in, but they are pretty decent i'd say, Liams got an old grande one on his GQ and goes good!
Kings 40 L is a good one, but keep the display protected from direct sunlight. Mine warped along its edges over a weekend and no longer clips in properly to housing.
In my experience in a lot of different electrical appliances, even in expensive models, they can still be lemons. Even the big brands allow for a certain percentage to be returned as faulty, so imo just because the price isn't high, doesn't mean it's poor quality, as you say it's got to work.
love me old engel lived on the back of my pops cruiser for 10 years and still went for 4 years when i was using it, im gonna have a crack at a Kings big boy with the metal casing (not sure what size yet).
@@YaBoyAJS the fact is its almost similar in weight and size to 75l but slimmer and sits much lower than 75l making it easier to grab stuff from the fridge. I am using it in my lifted dual cab tub And just sits perfectly.
I have a 39litre Engel I bought in 1986 it stopped working properly about 3 years ago but is low on gas as it still we take the fridge down to 10C but no more - it has had the crap beaten out over the years
I've had a Waco 40l for over 10 yrs it's taken abuse that you would not believe and it's still going in total it has failed twice and both times it's cost me about 200 bucks to fix I reckon you buy the best you can in your own price range don't buy something cause your mates have it sit down work out what your needs are how much you can afford and work from there and that goes with everything
The cooling unit shat itself in my engel after 6 years cost $900 to replace id still be well and truly in front with a second kings fridge 🤷♂️ maybe I got a lemon engel
12 minutes of fridge slapping 😂
Hmmm you noticed it too huh? LoL
*slaps fridge* this bad boy can fit so many tinnies in it
I was gonna say will you please stop slapping the fucking fridges.
He slapped his leg and other hand as well just to mix it up a bit 🥴
100% done my head in
You slapping the fridge of every 2 seconds literally done my head in
Clicking the fridge probe lid on and off ..... aaargh !
One flaw about that test is that, engel is a LOT older than kings. Obviously the cooling system of the engel has deteriorated somehow, thus it is not cooling as much. Whatever it is engel wins hands down in my opnion for working still after 30 years and thats amazing.
I've had my kings 60L fridge for around 4 years and its been amazing, I run it 24/7 as a beer fridge at home and take it away camping and hasn't missed a beat, holds temperature well and uses next to no power when camping to stay at 2 degrees
I just want to say that this is a great review on the two featured fridges, not because of any other reason other than these two young blokes actually understand how the fridge works and can objectively talk about the pros and cons. Also, they understand the quality vs quantity market, and they understand the risk decision required by the buyer. Refreshing to see clever come from younger people.
Boys boys boys, you guys have gone next level with the edits looking super professional. Keep up the good work!
oh thanks Jack!! really appreciate you saying that :) cheers !
2 years of owning a kings 75lt duel zone lives in the ute that is used for work everyday and have not turned it off since I have had it 100% back my fridge
dam that's great!
Kings fridges are actually a Dometic Waeco. cheers.
Yep my 75l dual zone has never skipped a beat in over 2 years of daily use.
Cant fault it. 👍
We have had our Kings 60L fridge now for just under 6 years, it runs 24/7 and has never missed a beat. I would definitely buy another one!
Nice work guys!, however, When using a thermometer don't put it in water. As water enters the freezing stage the temp will be ~zero until it changes from liquid to solid - all you are measuring at this point is the freezing point of water - not the refrigeration temp. You really should be measuring the air temperature with a suitable thermometer.
Hi j hi uh h uh ffyyuegi
With the price points and observed difference in quality it would be reasonable to assume that service life would be $50-100 per year of it's life.
Eg if you're paying $1500 for an Engel, you'd expect it to last 15 years or more. If you're paying $500 for a Kings, expect it to last 5 years or more.
But don't crack the sads when it shits the bed at 6-7 years old either mechanically or the plastique fatigues and cracks from use, age, etc. To ensure longevity keeping the Kings out of direct sunlight and constantly in eco mode would seemingly run it at an optimal power draw/performance level, similar to what the Engel runs at.
If you get 10yrs+ out of a Kings or similar plastique counterparts you're Charlie Sheen.
Like the comparison to CS at end, that's a good one. brother-in law has a Finch 3-way since the 80's and it's still running! So are all older fridges better because of the older style refrigerant that was used and better insulation material?
Slightly different but just watched a qualified fridge mechanic do a comparison between the Bushman 85lt upright fridge freezer and the Kings 85lt upright fridge freezer. In his opinion they are the same fridge rebranded. They have the same mechanicals and controls, same layout internally. The Kings currently sells for around $600, the Bushman $1495.
Great to see a couple of young Aussie blokes having a go - good work keep it up.
I've had the 45L Kings for 12 Months also and it has done everything I expect a Fridge to do. Keep things Cold.... As for reliability, it is powered by a Secop Compressor (formerly Danfoss)which powers a lot of Fridge Brands out there, including Waeco. If your Ego can take the hit, your Wallet won't.
yeah mate same with mine, been perfect
I have had my kings 60L fridge for 5 to 6 years now, no dramas with it, been an unreal fridge, all I could afford at the time as I was only an apprentice. 👌
Great work guys. I have an Engel 29L fridge, running all the time from 1982, love it.
One negative on ur presentation is DON'T SIT ON THE LID of any fridge, later they leak.
I've had my kings 65L for 2.5yrs now runs perfect every time
Yeah same with our 45L!
@@AussieArvos my kings hasnt been turned off for 2.5 years, goes good mate
Same here mate,using every day
Had my kings 45l in my ute 3 years now (4 months of that’s as strapped to my tray in the sun before I got the canopy) and use it regularly and she has never given me a problem for the price would definitely buy again!
It speaks to the reliability of Engel when Piranha 4x4 in Bayswater have had one running in their shop no stop for something like 40 years.
wow that's insane!!
They do run better and last longer if you don't turn them off. There's lubricant in the coolant that keeps the seals in good condition and working properly. Leave the fridge off for weeks/months and the seals dry out and deteriorate as no coolant is circulating.
I'm more impressed they have never had a power outage in 40 years!
@@leeveitch4448 lolol
I bought the 60l kings 3 years ago. Even used it as a freezer in the shed for 3 months. Also great how fast it cools down. Being made out of plastic makes it lighter to carry. My dads Engel broke down. Cost 800 just to fix it. Great channel guys. Look forward to the next one. 🍻
I just sold my 30+ year old 15L engel (which was still cooling down to -14) and bought the bigger engel eclipse MR40F 38L ($800). The eclipse being the more affordable/entry level, no frills version, but with the same reliable sawafugi running gear you have come to know and trust from engel. Great vid guys.
Went around and around and around trying to decide and ended up with a 75l Kickass brand one (love it). Like you guys said you can get unlucky in all brands. I have about 10 different Kings brand items including a winch and never needed to replace or fix. Keep up the good work. Can't wait for Victoria to be unlocked.
Thanks Adrian! We can't wait !! :)
I also went the kickass come with a 5 year warranty also mine runs nonstop in my car had it about a year now no problems
I’ve had my kings fridge running non stop at 0 for 6months and it hasn’t skipped a beat
hell yeah!! gives me more confidence in mine hahah !
18 months for me non-stop on 3°. I keep my work lunches and breakfast in their to hide it from the kids haha!!!!
Love your guys channel first of all.
I went with an engel a few years ago purely for the metal case and the reliability of the name. Knowing it was going to be thrown around in the back of my 60 series, being able to be knocked about was most important. 3 years on and its run almost constantly either in the 60 or now in my work van, and I wouldn't look back. Taking the cover off it still looks brand new.
Keep up the good work guys!
Yeah that's great!! its like our old engel , take the cover off and looks brand new! good stuff mate! and cheers for the support!
I have 2 Engels, and a waeco, and a bushmans. My first engle was out of a camper van. I've had it 20 years and the van had done 400,000km when it got pulled out. My other engle I bought new in 2001. Both have been going almost non stop. better quality than most house fridges
we run a 40lt weaco and a 45lt kings for a year now and cant split them for power draw or reliability..we swap them from fridge to freezer each time we restock to give the equal running times and think they are great..love your work lads.
Great vid boys. I’m running a Waeco cfx50 and hasn’t missed a beat. It used to run 24/7 as my beer fridge on the verandah, now lives in the back of my prado. I run a kings winch and it has copped a bit of abuse and has never died, also got 2 kings awnings and they work great (been on my car for 3yrs). Yes you do get what you pay but you even the expensive things break down (sometimes lol)
I inherited my dads old 1980's Engles and it is honestly one of my favorite things in my car!
hahaah yeah and it just keeps going!!
Great review. We have both options. Own top of the range Dometic and Brass Monkey. Both had heavy wear and tear over the years and both broken down (once) with faulty boards. So, why the BrassMonkey. Well, if it breaks and they don’t have the part in one of many retail stores through Australia, you get a new fridge straight away. This is what happened to us. They didn’t have the board. Got a new fridge. When the Dometic broke down, took four months and a lot of hassling with Brisbane HO to get it back. Is the Dometic better. I don’t know what that means, but it has two major advantages. Its very quiet and its number one feature is power draw. If you have a lot of power, it does’t matter, but had a lot of trips with poor weather. If running the BrassMonkey, we get one day less on our batteries. We love both. Our Dometic was $1400 which is far too much for a 50L fridge and their repair service time borders on criminal. We got the same size with BM for 475 on sale. If we had more power, would have two BrassMonkeys. One for freezer, one for fridge. I do think the Dometic is better for keeping the cold in and power draw, but that repair time. Damn.
Hi Boys, Interesting video. It looked like a 240v comparison.. Have you tried measuring 12v draw. Why not a real world comparison?. Why not fill the fridge with food, water bottles etc, connect a fully charged battery and see how long it can run for?
Regards Alex
unfortunately we could only get a watt measurement on 240v but yeah having food in it would be a good comparison ! they seem to behave pretty similar on both 12v and 240v !
Aussie Arvos you can buy the gt watt meters cheap as so I would buy 2 and do as Alex suggested and test real world, you have tested best case scenario which is fine for some but I think the info I would prefer to see would be total power use to get to xx temp, when using a deep cycle the better number to know is how long I can run the fridge before needing to charge. then chuck them in the sun and see if they hold temp and what the power usage goes up to. Lastly what are the effects of opening the lid more often like getting beers, how does the higher lid use effect the power draw. Nice effort though 👌🏼
@@FAR_CUE_TOO Thanks Peter!! yeah would be a good test!! ill sort out some!
Divide the wattage by 12 and it will give you the current draw in amps as if it was from a 12 source. Simple math.
@@Aussie_Damo yes that will give teh amps but it wont give you the actual 12v really, running on 12v is more efficient as its not stepping the voltage down from 240v.
Cheers boys from the US but I've had my Kings fridge for about 3 years now and it still works perfectly awesome video keep up the great content!
Thanks Mikey! glad to hear it mate! and really appreciate the support ! thanks mate
Top notch video guys. Really enjoyed the comparison and think you did a great job actually talking about the merits of each fridge. But what about a comparison between these and an eski with a 3 Dollar bag of ice!
do the which one is still running in 30 years test
You know it’s a “Engel” not an angle 😂
Ask them how pronounce Lego.
It is actually pronounced angle funnily enough
@@aaron4156 Not in my vocabulary. Engel is engel, angle is angle.
@@einfelder8262 on the east coast of Australia it’s pronounced “angle”. Everyone I know pronounces it “angle” but just in different parts of the world it’s “engle”
@@MoonKnightH8 Bullshit. I live on the East coast of Australia and it's Engel - the clue is in the spelling for those that can read and speak English.
awesome video guys, ive been thinking about how much i should spend on my fridge great insight !
Thanks Fraser!!
With the Kings, it will work about 20% better if you take the cover off, or cut away the mesh over the fridge vents. The mesh is a major restriction on air flow.
ah thanks for the tip Stephen!!
@@AussieArvos Would be good to test this in another video hahah!!
Agreed, when I bought my Kings 65lt I used a cover on it, and it seemed to not be venting enough with it on and the cover felt warm. Took the cover off and it's been fine plugged in constantly for about 6 months now..
I've had my waeco 65 for bout 4 years now, all good,,,,, but an ol fella i worked with bought a cheapy 110lt no name brand off Ebay,,, out performs mine hands down, paid 450 bucks for it,, he cant fault it,, but back to the kings fridges,, i heard a lot of reports about them catching fire and burning 4wds to the ground,,, that was some years ago as well,, things might have changed and Kings could have seen the fault and fixed it , not sure, but for a budget, cheaper fridges do exactly the same thing as expensive ones do,, just gotta make sure your solar equipment can handle the draw really,, great vid boys
Good video fellas. You hit the nail on the head. If you are running a business on the road, mining exploration or anything that requires a low risk of breakdown you buy the best available. You can’t afford to piss off your employees with cheap Chinese products letting you down. If you are a weekend warrior then you buy fit-for-purpose. For me, in the current environment, I’m going for Aussie made where available.
Yeah well that's it mate!! thanks Fred!! appreciate
i used a Waeco 18l fridge for years in the work van. Bought the same model fridge in WA for work in the mines. I used to take lunch out from the camp and at 1pm turn the fridge to max so that by 2:30pm the single serve yoghurts were frozen juuuust right..... still have both my original and WA fridges... put them in my guys work vans so they can enjoy them.
Good vid boys!!!! Engel build great and reliable stuff, no doubt . But for the average weekend warrior a $500 Kings fridge is a no brainer
Thanks Swish!, definitely agree on that!!
@Gort Newton I suspect that you either failed very miserably at basic high school English comprehension or you are a “simpleton”
@Gort Newton there's no insult about calling someone a weekend warrior! Most people are weekend warriors, if you work all week you're most likely a weekend warrior.
Horses for courses! You're conclusion is spot on, you are looking at cost vs use. A budget fridge used only 4 or 5 times a year or an Engel that runs constantly. Buy what suits your needs
That's it mate!
I can't afford either. Lol I just buy those little dorm fridges and run them off the inverter in my rig. They draw some power but they also shut off when they hit their target temp. Plus they have a freezer separate from the fridge which is nice for some foods. I picked my first one up for $99.00
I have a kings fridge running in my ute 24/7, 7 days a week for the past 10 months and hasn't skipped a beat
I’ve had the same Engel fridge in the family since 1976 has put lived every other fridge I’ve had ... life in the 80 is hard on them but the Engel kicks ass for ever ... don’t waste your cash on anything else !!
I have 2 Engels, one my father bought in 1985 & one I bought 2nd hand in 2001 (12 years old at the time). Both still going strong.
This should've been done on 12v and 24v shunts as they're a better comparison to what the actual usage would be.
Totally. End of the day all that matters is total Ah to get to the target temperature and hold it indefinitely
The name Engle came from the first fridge they brought out that didn't have to be on a level surface for it to work great fridges. Would never waste money on any of them esky and ice.
I have a bushman 45 been very happy with it for the last 5years. And it’s 100% repairable if it stops
good to hear! haven't used one of those before!
Note the kings fridge uses a fan system to blow cold air over food. Uses more juice and can break but gets colder quicker.
Engel uses inductance through the fridge walls to cool outside to in. Also a special compressor that uses a spring at each end to save power when running and means you can run it on an angle and over rough ground when 4wding
Another amazing video guys!
It seems like you've been going from strength to strength lately - Amazing editing and extremely informative this time around.
Keep it up fellas!
Oh thanks Micheal! really appreciate you saying that ! :) means a lot !
I have a 2003 Engel Mt35 & it works killer, bought it 2nd hand for $240 beans & use it all the time 🙂 didnt wanna spend a lot so i did my homework & made a list of candidates & waitied till 1 popped up 4 sale, do ur home work & get what u can afford, pretty hard to beat the Kings 60L stayzcool fridge @ $450 5 year warranty
I use Engel fridge I’m the third owner of it and can’t fault it still goes good considering it’s over 15 years old never lets me down
yeah impressive!
i took an Engel fridge away camping for a long weekend with a 2nd hand car battery for its power and a 5w Solar charger to keep it topped up and after 4 days at staying at -2 i put the reco car battery on the charger to see how much was left and low and behold it was a tiny bit under 3/4 full! Engel FTW!
Not a hater but just saying the thermometer readings were different to the thermometer you put in the water because the water is calling down as well and it's not gonna cool down as fast as the fridge
thanks for the review was really helpfull
That Engel is impressive!
I have a new Dometic CFX 45 which is variable in power draw. I've seen it draw up to 85W on initial cooldown and then steady 4-7W maintenance. (25 minutes from 20 to -1C btw)
Testing a 15yo fridge against a new one says a lot about durability and quality!. I know it's necessary to prioritize cost sometimes but I put value on not loading up landfills too.
(Plus, lower power draw needs less battery)
For insulation testing I'd like to see how they perform in hot conditions (ie sun or hot car vs shaded, outdoors in a breeze).
great work boys,definitely get'n better...I bought a 40 or 45ltr Waceo pretty much when they first come out been in my truck till it died last weekend it was the best fridge i'd ever had i'd even turned around a couple of die hard Englel boy's,still looking to get another fridge.but Waceo fridges also make kings & Dometic fridges as well. Good luck with it all boys....
Ive got the spinifex 50l fridge freezer ,had it 4+ years. Broke the lock latch so added 2 stainless latches. Been around aust and done 1000s of ks down spine rattling dirt highways and shes still going strong.
Awesome vid lads, top quality content. Locked in the Engel for me.
Id buy an engel simple because its well bloody made and it will draw alot less power so less drain on the battery and things stay at a better temp, with most places doing afterpay etc id just get one on that
Sent myself mental looking for a 50L to go in the back of the SUV and finally settling on an EvaKool because it keeps jobs here and has a very high customer satisfaction record.
Also see recently Patrick was provided one to install and later review for his Cruiser interior refit 🙏
yet anpther great video from you boys, loving the content and quality especially when you are stuck in lockdown.
perhaps not clicking the thermometer so much may possibly look a little more professional
Thanks Bruce yeah it sucks not being able to leave the home! oh yeah definitely ahahahah that's our bad hahaha
yes the clicking was getting a bit annoying, but you guys are awesome, doing a greast job, takes me back to my younger days learning as much as i could to do my own projects.
I've got a 70s model engel, runs like a dream but for the price of a kings you can't go too wrong
Yeah well that's it Macca , the prices that you can buy a fridge at today is way way lower then what it was mealy 10 years ago !
Best channel on UA-cam!
Too Kind!! Thank you Jack!
My grandad has had his Engel for 20 or so years never skipped a beat
like the setting and the production upgrade lads. keep it up
thanks mate!! good to get the awning out! felt like we were out camping again ahha !
Good effort on trying to produce a comparison. I know you're trying to make it relatively scientific(reproduceable) and quantifiable (measurable) so good effort there. But in that vein you also need to be aware that putting the thermometer in the water to measure the internal temperature will mean your results aren't measuring what you want. The water/ice will remain at around the freezing point of water (so -2 to +2) until the water has all frozen solid (in which case the ice will then drop to lower temperatures) or all melted (in which case the water can increase to > zero) regardless of the internal temperature of the the fridge itself (which could be -18). Hope this helps.
Good video boys, well done for thinking about your experiment and you methodology. Cheers guys.
Ripper vid boys! Smashing out ya humongous tradie voices nice and young. Although the tradie voice + engle can be a tough one. But tonnes of practice and youll be runnin job sites in no time. Keep it up champions!!
Had my kings 45ltr for qlmost 3 years now it runs all day every day at 1deg and has never skipped a beat. When I'm driving and or just loaded the fridge with warm goods I'll run it on Max but when I get to camp I'll switch it to eco and it helps with the life of the battery.
Can't fault it and I happily buy another.
Given the chance and if the price was good sure I'd buy a better brand but like I sed I'd be more than happy to recommend and by another kings
Iv got both and a 65l kings and 40l Engel the king's is just an old model CF Waeco which has had a thermistor fail which was only a 20$ fix from Dometic (Waeco) honestly the king's is pretty good for the price but longevity wise yes they are 15 years old because the they're just a CF Waeco before the cfx came out 👍 they do the job fine.. I use the small engel for weekenders and use both for big trips.. the Engel as a freezer and the king's as a fridge works well 🤘
Yeah perfect, can't go wrong with that setup!! it's is great tho when you can get it fixed that cheap! but yeah i mean comes down to your budget and how much you can spend , if you just wanna get away the kings does fine!
I have a Engel it’s over 20 years old and still going strong
Yeah they are hardy fridges!
Kings absolutely value for money and very good reliable product, no need to spend too much money for adventure and camping product
the kings is a rebranded waco/dometic cf45
Cheers fellas,
I went through 2 kings in one year
Just bought a 60ltre mtv engel an the 15/3 ( off the shelves repco broome) an the ambient temp sensor was buggered just took it in yesterday for repair an no one had a sensor in stock,
I have seen both brands including the waeco sitting in 43 degrees and under the sun, no shade over them at all. The kings was struggling to hold its temp due to cheaper insulation, and was running the whole time. Where the engle and waeco where much better, and didnt have to run constantly to keep temp.
By far my favourite channel on UA-cam boys 🤙 just brought me and all me mate stickers Yeww
awh thanks Jayden! really appreciate the support mate! :)
There is more than getting down to a temp. What needs to happen is measuring its cycling and how often it is on & off.
I've had my waeco for 10 years, after buying it second hand. So it's maybe 15 years old. Still works great! Only issue with my particular model of waeco fridge is the lid is plastic crap.
Yep seen one at rays the other day and the lid lock felt a bit weaker than the engle
I have two Engel fridges one is over thirty years old and still running fine as good as the day I purchased it
Bocka 66 for My evacool I got on sale for $500 ,it does what I need it for....long lap maybe Engel/ Waeco great vid love what you blokes do...Cheers
well that's all that matters! Thanks Scott appreciate it mate!
Use my Waeco for 15 +years,not a single problem with it,still works as new and I am camping 2 times a month.Engel uses piston type compressor,Waeco and Kings rotor,that's were power savings come from.Engel is too expensive and weights empty as others fully loaded,hard to lift and put in your 4wd.You can buy Waeco 50 lt + 100 AH lithium battery for the price of Engel fridge.
Great video. You boys certainly know how to slap fridge.👍
HAHAHAHA Not wrong!! Cheers Kadiocalc
I paid under $500 and Ive had my 45L Kings Fridge for coming up to 4 years , its on 24/7 either in my shed or on the back of the Dmax , Its 33 degrees here in Brissy right now prob hotter in the shed and the fridge is sitting on -1 on eco , Beers are ice cold every time , I would recommend and would deffo buy another kings Fridge , I know the Engel is the Bugatti of 12v fridges for good reason as you guys have stated but the cost of them vs something like a much cheaper Kings puts me off buying one
Anyone else notice they have the classic Kings awning up ? hehe
I bought a 450 dollar fridge from big W about 3 years ago and it is still going strong it spend most of its life In the back of my gq until I sold it now it is currently just sitting beside my couch keeping drinks cold
Legends!! I’ve been curious of the kings fridge lately, Out come was pretty expected but great content!!
Talking about the kings winch’s, I’ve only heard good things about them. Curious to hear from people what they think!
Had mine for 3 years , 12000lbs, only used twice. Used it first time on Billy goats bluff on a steep incline where those notorious wombat holes are, fully loaded Patrol I was shitting myself. Kings winch, heavy 4by is it gonna pull? It bloody well did and damn well too I might add. 2nd time I pulled an isuzu dmax out of a bog hole no worries. So it's not a bad winch for what it's worth.
damm yeah well i mean for the price you can't go wrong, i know blokes who use them on comp trucks as they are so cheap and when they give out they just go and throw a brand new one in, but they are pretty decent i'd say, Liams got an old grande one on his GQ and goes good!
Cheers for that boys!! I reckon I’ll cheap out and get the kings winch haha 🤙🏼
Good review boys, enjoyed it
Kings 40 L is a good one, but keep the display protected from direct sunlight.
Mine warped along its edges over a weekend and no longer clips in properly to housing.
In my experience in a lot of different electrical appliances, even in expensive models, they can still be lemons. Even the big brands allow for a certain percentage to be returned as faulty, so imo just because the price isn't high, doesn't mean it's poor quality, as you say it's got to work.
First, solid video. Keep it up!
Thanks mate! Appriciate it :)
love me old engel lived on the back of my pops cruiser for 10 years and still went for 4 years when i was using it, im gonna have a crack at a Kings big boy with the metal casing (not sure what size yet).
You could try the 90l model
Its has amazing storage capacity and runs like a dream.
@@BannaGii I'm just worried about weight and the height as its gotta sit on some draws
@@YaBoyAJS the fact is its almost similar in weight and size to 75l but slimmer and sits much lower than 75l making it easier to grab stuff from the fridge.
I am using it in my lifted dual cab tub
And just sits perfectly.
@@BannaGii cheers for the info mate I'll be giving the 90 a crack then
The 90 only being a couple hundred more makes sense
Nice scientific examination guys, well done.
Considering the Engel fridge is over 10 years old, that's pretty Fckin good
Yeah definitely !
Over 10 years old and still better....
That's the point...
Poor man buys twice!
Yeah my Hisense house fridge broke in a year.
My parents bought an Engel in 1983. Still going. I am going to be taking it soon to go camping
Had my Waeco for 15 years and love it
Eva kool, 4 years plus and going strong. Runs 24/7.
I saw a video of a first Engel fridge, that was like near 70 years old and still goes.
Kickass fridges!
I have a 39litre Engel I bought in 1986 it stopped working properly about 3 years ago but is low on gas as it still we take the fridge down to 10C but no more - it has had the crap beaten out over the years
I've had a Waco 40l for over 10 yrs it's taken abuse that you would not believe and it's still going in total it has failed twice and both times it's cost me about 200 bucks to fix I reckon you buy the best you can in your own price range don't buy something cause your mates have it sit down work out what your needs are how much you can afford and work from there and that goes with everything
Yeah agree on this, good words Glen!
Give them a break! Young Aussie boys being helpful!
Nice review boys. My kings fridge is still going after 3 years.
The cooling unit shat itself in my engel after 6 years cost $900 to replace id still be well and truly in front with a second kings fridge 🤷♂️ maybe I got a lemon engel
I've heard the new ones aren't as good