We've been using one full time in our RV for the last 6 months. Currently in Mexico in extreme heat conditions. The fridge runs awesome and can be ran solely of our solar set up. It also has a low voltage shut off so that it will not damage your battery.
About 2 months ago we came to the conclusion that we needed to replace our fridge in our RV and bought an Alpicool ECX50. Incase you’re new around here, we’re currently about 3 months into a 1 year overland trip from Nova Scotia, Canada to Panama and back. We’ve decided to do this trip in our trusty stead, a 30 year old motor home we affectionately refer to as “Old Buckie”. Now when we bought Old Buckie, the previous owners had removed the propane system. This meant the onboard 3 way fridge could only be used in 12V or 110V mode. Considering how often we’re plugged into shore power (almost never), we only really have 12V available. Trying to power an RV fridge with 12V only is not the greatest idea.
Prior to this trip, we did a 3 week overland trek through Southern Africa in a Rental Hilux. Our rental came with a decent sized Engel 12V fridge that ran off a second deep cycle battery on the truck. No additional solar was needed to run that fridge, the second battery only charged off the alternator. As we began planning this trip, we knew our onboard fridge wouldn’t be as efficient as that little Engel fridge, but hadn’t realized just how inefficient it would be.
In preparation for being “off grid”, we installed 2 x 217 Amp Hour 6V batteries and a 250 watt solar panel. It didn’t take long to realize just how much power this fridge was pulling when in 12V mode. With our batteries fully charged and in direct sun we could barely keep up with how much this fridge was drawing. Off grid and in ideal situations (good sun and lots of driving) we could keep that fridge going for 3 days before our batteries starting getting dangerously low.
At this point I did what I should have done a couple months ago. I looked into how much power this fridge actually pulls compared to a dedicated 12V fridge. Our Dometic 3 way pulls up to 18 amps when it’s running. Not only that, its duty cycle (time it spends running compared to idle) is well over 50% when in 12V mode.
So how does that work with our battery bank? With a full charge in our batteries we have 217 amp hours available. That means we can take a continuous 1 Amp discharge for 217 hours. Or we could take a 5 amp continuous discharge 43.4 hours. At 18 amps continuous discharge our batteries would be at 0% in just over 18 hours. If you have sealed lead acid batteries like us, you never want you batteries to go below 40%.
Why is this fridge so inefficient? The 3 way fridges like what you have in an RV use heat to make things cool. They do this so that they can make use of the onboard propane to operate the fridge. The propane boils an ammonia water mixture and those gases move under their own pressure into the condenser. There the Hydrogen gasses from the water and the ammonia gasses mix and cause a chemical reaction that pulls heat from the fridge. This method is terribly inefficient compared to a compressor style fridge. Compressor fridges can only run on electric, either 110V like the fridge in your house or 12V like the Engel fridge we had in Africa or the Alpicool we have now. These 12V fridge usually only pull 2-3 amps to run and have a much lower duty cycle.
Budget, we were already on the road when we realized we needed to change our fridge situation. We also didn’t budget for replacing such a large item this early into the trip and really didn’t want to spend too much money. The fridge also needed to be able to carry enough food for around two weeks for the two us. We loved our little Engel we had in Africa, and it did great in the heat. We also know that Dometics 12V fridges are very popular in the overlanding community. Unfortunately both of these options in a size that worked for us were out of our budget.
We knew we needed at least a 40 quart fridge for the type of extended travelling we were doing. As we scoured Amazon we came across two well reviewed off brands. Alpicool and Costway. (Ausranvik also had a couple models but not many reviews at time of purchase). Both Costway and Alpicool had models that were big enough for us. What won us over though was the fact the Alpicool model was on wheels. We thought it would be nice to also use this as a wheeled cooler. In the end we ended up with their largest ECX50 Model.
Purchase Details: Alpicool ECX Series Car Refrigerator 30L/40L/50L
Do you want a compact refrigerator/freezer that you can take on long road trips or use daily in your truck or RV? The Alpicool portable Fridge Freezer offers a great solution, plus it costs significantly less than its competitors.
As with many other mobile electric coolers, the Alpicool gives you lots of versatility. For example, it can use both AC and DC power.
Therefore, you can plug it into your vehicle or use it at home. Furthermore, it can even run on solar!
As a result, you can use this cooler virtually anywhere (ie. camping, fishing, tailgater, picnics, at home, the office, trucking and more). For that reason alone, you can really get your money’s worth out of this car cooler.
Second, you can adjust the cooling temperature to act as either a refrigerator or a freezer. In other words, you can use it for different purposes on different occasions.
Plus, this model comes in 3 different sizes, so you can choose the size that fits your vehicle and needs best . For example, the smallest version (the 35L) can fit 36 cans of soda.
Not to mention, the unit doesn’t require ice to chill the interior contents. Therefore, you don’t have to allow extra space for ice packs, etc..
Below, the video review covers the similarities and differences between these two brands. Surprisingly, the Alpicool may have some features that you’ll like even better than the more expensive models.
This budget-priced cooler demonstrates great cooling efficiency too, which might be the most important feature of all. (By the way, the reviewer is looking at the freezer-only model, which explains the price difference.)
For comparison, a 35 liter Dometic fridge-freezer has a price about double of the 35L Alpicool.
However, this higher-end model does contain some advanced features.
For example, you can control the temperature remotely from your phone.
It also has an energy-saving design and heavy-duty construction to handle more extreme activity.
You can get this portable fridge/freezer in 3 different sizes, depending on your needs. They each come with identical features, just different storage space.
If you plan on using your portable cooler frequently, the Alpicool fridge freezer has some handy features that you’ll appreciate.
First of all, it includes a 3 stage car battery protection system. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the unit running down your car battery unexpectedly.
Second, the compressor has a vibration-resistant design and can operate while sitting at an angle (up to 45°). Consequently, the device can last longer in more extreme environments without having problems. Who wants a high-maintenance cooler, right?
Third, the high efficiency compressor also has adjustable modes. For instance, you can set it to either ECO or HH modes, depending on your cooling needs.
Fourth, the lid features a built-in LED light. I know, this component might not be a game changer for many people, but it sure comes in handy at night!
Similar to Dometic, Costway electric coolers will cost you more than the Alpicool. However, they ofer an extra-large version that has 2 separate lids.
Therefore, you can open the fridge and freezer sides separately. If you live in a van or an RV full-time, you might prefer this larger version.
Having said that, both models have a significant difference in wattage. The 80 Liter Costway uses 85 watts vs Alpicool’s 45 watts. You probably expected this variance in power consumption, due to the size difference.
Click to view: Alpicool C25/30/40/50/75L Car Camping Refrigerator
To learn more, please follow:
To access these hidden settings, first, turn off the unit with the OFF button. Press and hold SET until E1 comes up. Press SET again to move to each setting in turn, and press the up/down buttons to make corrections.
If the unit’s screen goes blank while trying the settings above, turn it off. And after ten seconds, try again.
These special features are accessed by first turning off the cooler with the "soft off" button.
The pressing and holding "Set" until "E1" appears.
Press "Set" to move to each setting in turn, and press the up/down buttons to make adjustments.
The special settings are: "E1" Lowest temperature setting "E2" Highest Temperature setting (I think there is a maximum 40 C spread between E1 and E2) "E3" Temperature Return Setting "E4" Soft start Setting and "E5" Changing from Celsius to Fahrenheit (My favorite) Programming temperature compensation (in case the internal thermometer is not accurate) appears to also be possible.
Alpicool C15 is one of the best mini car refrigerator coolers.
Buy online: Alpicool C15 Mini Car Refrigerator
After searching for a smart car fridge via Bluetooth and binding it, you do not need to open the trunk and use the physical buttons on the refrigerator to operate. Use the Alpicool APP, you can check the fridge temperature, voltage and other information, and you can also set the temperature and switch. Machine control. Convenient for your experience with smart car fridge .
Battery protection stops the compressor and gives a F1 on the display if the voltage drops too low.
The error codes for the refrigerator |
Trouble contents |
solution |
F1, F2. F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8,F9,Fr, Eh |
The sensor error |
Please call the service |
E0 |
Communication error |
|
E1, E2, E6, E9 |
The fan error |
|
Er |
Ice maker error |
|
Ec,Ed, Fd, Rd, Hd |
Defrost error |
This is for everyone who uses the 12volt power cord provided with the Alpicool unit, and is experiencing F1 codes.
Bear with me, electrical stuff can get a bit complicated.
Voltage-drop in the Alpicool's original power cord and cigarette-lighter male connector may be a part of the problem. On the 12 volt power cord's outer insulation, the printed information appears to say the cord is #16 gauge, which is small for a 12 volt application like this.
And ... if there is a significant drop in the voltage being provided to the cigarette-lighter style power point in your vehicle, that's part of the problem, too. In a 12 volt system, voltage-drop is a problem, and this is why heavy-gauge wires must be used.
Your batteries might still have plenty of charge, and you can still get an F1 code. Using my T36 plugged into a cigarette-lighter type of outlet in my van, the voltage reading on the T36's display panel is usually about 0.4-0.8v lower than what's available at the battery terminals of my van's 220 amp-hour battery bank.
Keep in mind that it is the voltage available right where the power cord plugs into the refrigerator, that the unit probably uses to decide whether or not to trigger an F1 code.
When the Alpicool first starts up a cooling cycle, the increased current draw results in an even greater voltage drop, for a short time. That short time is the most likely time an F1 code would appear.
Using a pretty good voltmeter, I found that much of this voltage drop happens in the #16 connector cord that is provided with the Alpicool T36, and the cigarette-lighter male connector on the end of that cord.
The long length of this cord is probably part of the voltage drop. The rest of the voltage drop, about 0.2v is happening in other areas of my electrical system, which consists of 4 large AGM batteries charged by a grid-powered charger.
The considerable voltage drop in the Alpicool's connector cord, and within the cigarette-lighter type of connection, could trigger an F1 code, even when your battery bank's voltage is not low enough to trigger that. This is especially true during the first few seconds after the Alpicool starts up.
Using the Alpicool's "L" setting for the low-battery-voltage cutoff, might be a "have to" for many people who use the original 12 volt cord that plugs into a cigarette-lighter socket. To solve the voltage-drop problem with the Alpicool's 12v power cord, I cut the cord (sure hated to do that), about 6" from the refrigerator end, firmly attached a #12 cord to that short end, and wired the other end of the #12 cord to the nearest 12volt source I could find .. that has a solid connection to the battery bank. I did this keeping the new #12 cord as short as possible.
Keep in mind that cutting the original Alpicool cord might cause a customer service problem if the Alpicool fails in any way, and you have to return it.
But, I do believe that the original Alpicool cord should be #12 or #10 wire instead of the lighter gauge wire that it is. This is especially true since the unit does draw about 9amps for a short while after startup.
This is for a T36, a T50 or T60 might draw more than 9amps at startup. And using a cigarette-lighter type of power point, is always going to result in a small voltage drop.
For those of us who use a 12 volt system to power the Alpicool, this is a reminder that power-cord connections have to be good, and wires have to be HEAVY GAUGE.
I know this is a bit long, but having this information might help you avoid a few problems with an otherwise nice refrigerator. great refrigerator so far, best regard.
The compressors of LG refrigerators are generally new products produced by LG and in Guibing refrigerators, the compressors are TCM compressors, which have two intelligent operation modes, forward and reverse, with low power consumption and strong cooling effect. The advantages of low pressure start.
Related recommendation: Alpicool C20 LG Compressor Car Cooler
Alpicool, focusing on portable fridge design, R&D, manufacturing and sales, has now become one of the top in the field, and has a very good reputation in China and overseas. With the skilled and motivated staff and strict quality control system, Alpicool is able to provide high standard products and OEM service to customers all over the world.
For more information about Alpicool, you can click: About Us
Car Fridge, Portable Fridge, Car Freezer, Car Refrigerator, Compressor Car Fridge, RV Fridge, DC 12V Freezer, Cooler Box
If you are interested in Alpicool refrigerators, you can check it out: Alpicool reviews
After searching for a smart car fridge via Bluetooth and binding it, you do not need to open the trunk and use the physical buttons on the refrigerator to operate.
the Alpicool C20 c20 manual mentions Bluetooth.
After searching for a smart car fridge via Bluetooth and binding it, you do not need to open the trunk and use the physical buttons on the refrigerator to operate. Use the APP, you can check the fridge temperature, voltage, and other information, and you can also set the temperature and switch. Machine control. Convenient for your experience with smart car fridge.
View more: Alpicool Fridge Reviews
Part of the machine does not have a battery. If you need a battery, you need to purchase it separately (pay an additional fee).
In order for it to run and cool it needs one of two external power sources. 120v ac, with the adapter that comes with it or 12v dc.
The Alpicool will need at least 10 amp-hours per day. Taking the battery to work, refilling it, and then taking it back to the fridge could work except while you are at work the fridge has no electricity. As the sole source of electricity for the fridge, it seems weak. I wouldn't expect any less than a 100-watt solar panel to work with the Alpicool.
View more: Alpicool Fridge Reviews
Each product in the Alpicool store will provide instructions to teach you how to connect the refrigerator and mobile phone.
View more: Alpicool Fridge Reviews
The specific wattage of different models of refrigerators is different.
Let's take a look at the power of the specific model.
Model | Power |
---|---|
Alpicool ARC22L/35L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool C10 power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool C15/B15L power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool C20/B20 power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool C25/30/40/50/75L power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool C9/C12L power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool CF35/45/55L power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool CL30/40/50 power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool CR65/CR130 power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool E60L/E75L/95L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool ECX Series 30L/40L/50L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool ENX Series 42L/52L/62L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool G22L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool K25/18L power consumption | 45W |
Alpicool T36/50/60L power consumption | 80W |
Alpicool TS40/50/60 power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool TSW40L/50L/60L power consumption | 90W |
Alpicool TWW35L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool TWW45L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool TWW55L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool TWW75L power consumption | 60W |
Alpicool TWW95L power consumption | 60W |
View more: Alpicool Fridge Reviews