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Bridge Boy
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# Posted: 5 Mar 2011 03:50pm - Edited by: Bridge Boy
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Hi,
I am thinking about buying a propane refrigerator for my camp.
Not really sure of size to purchase, possible 15. Anyone with experience with this type of unit? Brands and prices that are decent?
Camp is located upstate N.Y. and I found one or two places to purchase.
I could only run generator about 15 hours a day so an electric will not work.
Thanks
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bobrok
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# Posted: 5 Mar 2011 07:40pm
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Bridge Boy
Hi Bridge Boy,
I did a lot of research before I bought my propane unit. I purchased a Consul unit, approx 7 cu. ft. for about $1000.
It has been a good unit. I had some problems but they were due solely to my not being familiar with the operation of a propane unit. All issues are now resolved thanks to a very good dealer and service techs.
I don't know where in upstate NY you are but it you let me know I can recommend my dealer to you.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 5 Mar 2011 09:31pm
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Servel 400. approx 8 cu ft.
Propane refrigerators any bigger than that use more or less the same burner, same cooling system. Check the BTU / hour ratings. The same size burner with a bigger box provides less performance unless the box is insulated better. Most are not and performance suffers.
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hebegbz
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# Posted: 5 Mar 2011 11:35pm
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You do not need to run your generator for any more than 6 hours a day to keep all your food cold or frozen. And that is in 105 degree heat in the middle of August. I run my genset for 1 hour in the morning, and 4 hours at night. I have a regular side by side refrigerator, and a small chest freezer, and they work just as advertised. There are a few minor issues like the freezer on the side by side doesn't really freeze, but it keeps the milk realllly cold.
We keep a bunch of blue ice and gallons of bottled water in both units for ballast and everything stays plenty cold or frozen.
I have used propane refrigeration and they work fine except that they are very small and expensive, and when it is hot they need to work extra hard to kee things cold, burning more propane and heating your home even more.
If you can run generator every day, you don't need a propane reefer.
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2011 07:33am
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Both Dometic and Norcool are good refrigerators.All those propane powered friges are expensive though.It does pay to shop around.Iv'e got my best deal from JC Whitney.You can also find used ones but it is hard to trust used.They can be ruined by running them off level.
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dvgchef
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2011 01:34pm
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Bridge Boy, - A friend gave me one and I don't want it. I don't know any of the specs, but the box is about 2 feet square. If you can wait till late April or May I will be back on the property and you can take the fridge - I am near Greenville, NY.
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TomChum
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2011 05:07pm - Edited by: TomChum
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I'm interested in brands, sizes, costs for a good propane refrigerator too. Please keep this thread going!
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larryh
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# Posted: 14 Mar 2011 02:32pm
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The old servels are work horses if they still operate. I have a very small 600 model from 1946 and it cools like a champ. But tiny ice cube trays and very small storage. Sadly the thermostat has quit functioning properly and it runs too cold. I could have it rebuilt as there are a few people doing that still, but the cost of operation of the early ones is high compared to a new one. Especially considering the newer ones are capable of zero or below in a somewhat small freezer. Old servels tend to not get much colder than 15 in the freezer which leaves things like ice cream pretty soft.
I have owned the Dometic propane and Dometic oil models which are basically the same as the European made Servel by Electrolux that were around for about 10 years a while back. I found that most of the gas boxes didn't cool well and the oil ones nearly all froze the eggs or lettuce overnight no matter how low I set it.
I never owned a Norcold but had heard mixed review of them from amish repair people who tended to think the Dometics were superior. The latest model Dometic in gas or oil is to my mind a flawed cabinet. Its way to shallow inside and the freezers are barely able to take a ice cube tray and a few other frozen foods. The eariler ones had a bit larger freezers. Also the shelves and veggie drawer is shallow making it hard to put anything of any size in them. The 400 oil model I had worked well, but had a odd odor that none of the other oil models ever had. So with the freezer issues and ugly cabinet I finally got rid of it as well. Plus although I am fascinated with oil models I know that oil is too high and the quality is now too low to operate them with any sense of ease that used to exist. I had a Siber oil model which was small by many standards but the interior lay out was still better than the new 400 Dometic. It used a half sized Aladdin burner made in Germany and only in its day used about a gallon a week of oil. When oil was still reasonable you could operate it for nearly a month on less than 4.00. But it cooled too well also!
I have not used any of the new Amish built units but they are fairly widely used now by their communites, those are the Crystal Cold brand that comes in a number of sizes. As mentioned all run on about the same size burner so the smaller of the units is the most efficient in hot weather for sure according to what I have read. They offer a more standard freezer and food compartment than the European imports which are toy like in comparison. But how well they hold up is not something I am totally up on at this point.
China makes some nice looking oil and propane models but so far no one seems to be importing them which I find odd since everything else seems to come from there? They are visible on line and show at least three sized of what appears to be a rather standard shaped and sized box which I would personally like. Not too big, but more along the lines of the smaller Whirlpool models sold a big box and other stores. I have an small electric one from them that I got as a standby and have been very surprised at the ability it has to operate well on nearly no electric and quietly at that.
Since my refrigerator interest extends to all kinds of them, I currently am using a late Coolerator Ice refrigerator which I have the luxury of freezing my own ice blocks for. If I couldn't do that it would be to costly or impossible to operate it. I have been more than surprised at how well it works, almost a good as electric or gas but no freezer of course. I won't be able to use it for ever but for now its fun and has been providing my sole refrigeration for almost a year.
I think I may for the fun of the experiment see how well the small Chinese Whirlpool does operating a few hours in the morning and in the evening to get an idea of what the intermittent power would or wouldn't do. I would guess that without constant replenishment of the cold they would heat up quickly when opened to remove food?
Interesting topic to me also for sure.
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bobrok
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# Posted: 14 Mar 2011 04:53pm
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Quoting: larryh The old servels are work horses if they still operate
I don't think this has been mentioned before, but the old Servels were deemed hazardous (in the US at least) for carbon monoxide. There was a bounty on them of $100 for just turning them in. This may still be in effect because they are trying to remove these old units from circulation.
We acquired an old non-working Servel when we bought our cabin. The propane dealer I bought my new unit from picked it up, billed me for the service, and I was reimbursed in full by Servel for the charge plus the $100 bounty. That's how badly they wanted it back.
I've been told by everyone that they are very unsafe. Just FYI.
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larryh
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# Posted: 15 Mar 2011 05:49pm - Edited by: larryh
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Old servels are not safe if they have been neglected for 70 years. If one has the correct information on how to maintain the burner and sees that its adjusted an burning correctly and the vent and burner system are not clogged with old dirt and mice nest they will operate as the should. If one is concerned while operating one you should most definitely have a carbon detector located near the unit. I have operated them for many years and never had an issue. Its the old ones people have just taken for granted they need no attention that eventually can cause them to burn inefficiently and cause the carbon monoxide problems. The biggest issue I see is that they are less efficient in operation than the newer ones and don't get as cold, so in reality if one wants one for the looks and a period non electric refrigerator, then fine, but if your more concerned with safety and cost its best to go with a new one. I know many people who are operating the old units and have for a long time with no issues. But some deaths have indeed occurred as mentioned.
In a world that sues at the drop of a hat the lawyers have forced the issue of safety no doubt. And that is fine as far as it went I guess. But if your driving down the road and swerve to avoid a deer and hit a tree, well do we do away with cars? I doubt it.
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bobrok
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# Posted: 15 Mar 2011 06:33pm
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Agree, larryh. I just wanted to mention the recall in case someone wasn't aware.
FWIW, I was just tickled pink to get a hundred bucks in my pocket for a useless, non-working piece of junk that was sitting on my deck outside for a couple of years. :-)
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wkobe
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2014 10:54pm
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Bobrok what dealer did you use ?
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bobrok
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:21pm
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wkobe -
Helmer's Fuel & Trucking in Old Forge. They're great to work with.
bob
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denniss461
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# Posted: 23 Jun 2015 03:12pm
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dvgchefDid you get rid of the propane refrigerator? I noticed that you said Greenville, I'm in Port Jervis and am interested if you still have it. Thanks, denniswsimmons@yahoo.com
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