Dometic CFX3 55 Portable Fridge/Freezer 55 Litre

Specifications

SKU CFX355

Brand Dometic

GTIN 9331391010189

Warranty Period: 3 Years

Product Category Portable Camping Fridges

Model CFX355

Product Type Portable fridge freezer

Total Capacity (Litres) 55

Fridge Cabinet Material Polypropylene - Plastic

Fridge Depth (mm) 720

Fridge Width (mm) 455

Fridge Height (mm) 480

Voltage Input voltage (AC) 100-240V / Input voltage (DC) 12/24V

Energy consumption 12V/240V Average current draw x running time. Average 1.10 Ah/h (@12 V, 4?C set, 32?C ambient, Bluetooth on, WiFi off)

Net Weight (kg) 20.4

Portable Fridge Type Single Zone

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Product Q&A

• How long will my camping fridge run for from my battery?

  You need to ascertain how much power your refrigerator will consume on average per hour under certain ambient conditions; we provide this information under the Specifications section of the product. You also need to know the size of your battery in amp-hours. Once you know these figures, you can divide the size of the battery by that average consumption figure (multiplied by 24 hours) to give you approximate run time. e.g. If the stated consumption is 1 amp per hour average, multiply that by 24 hours. (equals 24 Amp hours per day). You should understand that you never get the full amount of amp-hours from a battery however. You should use 80% as a good rule of thumb. So if you have a 100 Amp hour deep cycle battery, you can assume 80 amp-hours of usable power. So if a refrigerator consumes on average 1 amp per hour, and is the only appliance running from a 100 amp-hour battery, you should be able to have the refrigerator run for around 80 hours before recharging becomes necessary.

• Hi, I want to use my 90amp hour camping battery to run a portable fridge. How many hours will I get from my battery before needing to recharge? And what solar panels should I use to charge the battery?

  Hi Greg, great question. It is good that you will use the solar panel to charge the battery, as opposed to running the fridge directly from the solar panel, as voltage will drop if clouds come overhead for instance. You can run the fridge direct from your solar panels if you wish, but using the battery means your refrigerator keeps running even if the voltage output of the solar panel drops severely due to cloud cover.

  Presumably your 90amp hour battery is an AGM / GEL / Lead Acid type, meaning they have an approximate 'Depth of Discharge' of around 50% - so you can only use around half the capacity of the battery before you need to recharge. For Lithium batteries, you can get down to around 20% of capacity (sometimes more), however lithium batteries are more expensive. So, your battery model has around 45 hours capacity before you need to recharge. A portable camping fridge of say around 40-50 litres in size will draw approximately 0.75 amps/hr*. Meaning you will get approximately 60 hours of total run time from your battery before needing to re-charge, assuming you are running just your fridge and nothing else. Obviously different brands and models have different power draw ratings and a larger portable fridge will draw more power than a smaller model - best to check each fridge model's specifications for precise power draw data.

  Now looking at solar panels and the fact you may also want some other small camping appliances as well as the fridge:  A good rule of thumb to prevent inadequacies with power supply is to have a solar panel large enough to provide enough daily power to run your appliances, and have battery storage of an extra 2/3 on hand. So, if your portable fridge plus some other small camping appliances consume a total of say 30 amp-hours per day, you should have battery storage of 90 amp-hours capacity (like your battery does) and a solar panel of at least 80-100 watts or greater capacity to ensure you won't have problems. It is advised to go a little higher in specification than your needs, however. A popular solar panel size to charge your batteries to run camping fridges is around 100 to 160 watts… a quality 160 watt portable solar panel should give you around 60 amps per day of charging, assuming around 7 hours of decent sunlight.

  So based on the above, a 160 watt sized panel could be a good option for your sized battery - this should give you enough daily power to comfortably run a standard sized portable fridge and some other small appliances if required. Thanks.

  *Note that average power consumption data depends on things such as ambient temp, compressor speed (fridge setting), temp of contents in fridge, etc. So treat this numbers as approximation to give you a 'thereabouts' guide.

• When turning on a warm fridge will the Waeco CFX3 range draw more power? If so, how much higher than the average power consumption?

  Any compressor fridge will draw more power when first starting up, compared to when its running stable on the thermostat. The average power draw (from both 240V AC and 12/24V DC) is listed in the specifications for each model.

  If you are concerned about conserving power when starting up, a good tip (if possible) is to put your fridge on 240V power for 24 hours before leaving on your trip. That way when you put your fridge in your vehicle to run on your battery source, the fridge is already cooled to your desired temperature for your food and drinks.

• What size portable fridge/freezer should I purchase?

  Dometic portable fridge/freezers comes in a wide range of sizes. When deciding on a portable fridge/freezer, it is important to remember that the larger size will require more power, it is also heavier and will take up more space.

  While if you choose a smaller more compact fridge/freezer, it may be hard to fit your required food for your family during your days away.

  We recommend to to choose the size that matches your required storage capacity for food, your travel habits, and weight requirements.

• Looking at a camping fridge. What are your thoughts on an Engel compared to a Waeco?

  Great question - Waeco and Engel are the premium brands for portable fridges. Waeco has the CFX3 range and Engel has their Platinum series - these two ranges of fridges are generally considered the leading portable camping fridges in the market...its a bit of a classic Ford vs Holden debate situation. Both ranges have:

  • Battery protection
  • 12/24volt and /240volt operation capability
  • Comprehensive warranties with national service support
  • Premium grade compressors designed with the Australian environment in mind
  • Digital control and display
  • Impressively efficient power consumption

  You really can't go wrong with either...however a couple of differences to help you make your decision:

  • The Engel Platinum series of fridges have a steel cabinet, steel lid and steel handles...some people prefer the steel exterior (particularly farmers) as opposed to the rotomounted material used by Waeco. However, the steel material typically makes the fridge slightly heavier when comparing models on a like for like size basis. 
  • The Waeco CFX3 range have a couple of small extras worth noting, including; USB charging outlets, drop down handles and ability to remote monitor.  

  If you're still in two mind between the two brands, then perhaps look at the pricing and see which model is cheaper in the size you need. Thanks!

• Can I run my waeco fridge on its side/end?

  It is not recommended to run refrigerators on their side or end. 30 degrees angle is the steepest recommended angle to leave the refrigerator running at.

• What Solar Panel do I need to run my fridge?

  The panel should be of a suitable size to meet requirements of the refrigerator and any other appliance running from the battery. Its best to use the solar panel to charge a battery, as opposed to running the fridge directly from the solar panel as voltage will drop if clouds come overhead for instance. The battery means your refrigerator keeps running even if the voltage output of the solar panel drops severely due to cloud cover. A good rule of thumb to prevent inadequacies with power supply is to have a solar panel large enough to provide enough daily power to run your refrigerator, and have battery storage of an extra 2/3 on hand. So, if your refrigerator (or any other appliance) will consume 30 amp-hours per day, you should have battery storage of 90 amp-hours capacity and a solar panel of around 80 watts or greater capacity to ensure you won't have problems. It is advised to go a little higher in specification than your needs, however. A popular solar panel size to charge your batteries to run camping fridges is around 120 - 160 watts. 

• What are the battery protection levels on my Waeco fridge, and what should I set them to?

  There are three set-able battery protection levels; "Hi" equates to 11.8 volts (High cut-out), "Ned" equates to 11.2 volts (Medium cut-out), "Lo" equates to 10.1 volts (Low cut-out). These are the voltages sensed at the refrigerator under load at which the compressor will shut down to protect your vehicle battery. If you have a small battery in a smaller vehicle, you should select high so that you are able to restart your vehicle easily. If you have a larger vehicle and larger battery capacity you should select the medium setting. If you have a dual battery set up and the secondary battery is able to be isolated from the starter battery you should select the Low setting.

• What temperatures should I set for fridge and freezer operation?

  Typically your home refrigerator would be running at between 2 and 4 °Celsius which is optimum for good food preservation. With camping refrigerators, some campers choose a temperature a little higher than that to conserve battery power. With Dometic WAECO CFX3 portable refrigerators you are able to select a temperature to suit your needs in 1°C increments. For freezing, your home deep freezer would operate somewhere between minus 18 and minus 20 °Celsius. For camping applications however, minus 15 ° Celsius would be more than adequate and also conserve battery power.

• Can I leave my Waeco fridge plugged into 12Volts DC and 240Volts AC at the same time?

  Yes you can. If both power sources are available to your WAECO CFX fridge, it will automatically select 240 volts AC as the priority so that you are not consuming battery power.

• What Are the Main Differences Between the Old CFX Models and The New CFX3 Range?

  The main differences are:

  The CFX3 range introduces a new rugged design including an XOS frame for protection, aluminium handles and Al alloy hinges, making most of the range lighter than their counterparts.

  These models also have a new high-resolution colour display panel with soft touch controls and faster USB charging, are Bluetooth enabled and feature powerful VMSO3 compressor cooling technology, which optimises performance vs energy consumption.

  The CFX355IM model also features an icemaker which is an industry first!

  Other differences include:

  • Track fridge performance on the new CFX3 App
  • LED light(s) for easy retrieval of items
  • Removed dairy compartment on CFX3 25, 35, 45 & 55 to accommodate a fully wrapping evaporator plate to improve temperature consistency, cool the compartment faster and optimise internal space
  • Anti-condensation tube reduces condensation around gasket & top collar in high humidity conditions
  • AC/DC input connectors, with added weather protective rubber covers
  • M6 threaded inserts for hard mount applications
  • New more intuitive, easy to open latch (CFX325, CFX335 and CFX345 only)
  • 12V plug fuse from 10A to 15A (CFX395DZ only)
  • The evaporator plate is installated around the entirety of the fridge for an even cooling distribution

  Check out our blog on the new CFX3 models here!

• Can I run my portable fridge freezer directly from a solar panel/blanket?

  Hi there,

  Unfortunately no, a battery must always be used to provide a continuous power supply. You must plug the portable fridge/freezer into the battery and then plug the battery into the solar panel/blanket.

  The solar panel/blanket on its own is unable to provide stable and constatnt power to your portable fridge/freezer, which is required to mantain your pre-set temperature.

  Thanks for your question.

• Why do I have to ensure my portable fridge freezer is setup in a well ventilated location?

  Hi there,

  When a portable fridge/freezer is not properly ventilated, the unit can overheat and result in high power consumption leading to poor performance and efficiency.

  It's also recommended to regularly clean the air inlet and outlet vents so that it is free from dust to prevent blockages.

  Thanks for your question.

• Can I charge the Dometic PLB40 Lithium Battery and run a Dometic CFX3 fridge freezer at the same time?

  Hi there,

  Yes - the PLB40 lithium battery has been designed to be able to charge and power a CFX3 portable fridge freezer at the same time.

  Regards, Steve.

• What compressor is in the CFX3 fridges?

  The entire CFX3 range features a genuine Waeco VMS03 compressor. The VMS03 compressor has motor speed optimization that has the ability to change speed in order to adapt to the environment. This allows you to save power especially in hot climates.  The compressor also features a softer start up with a higher maximum power draw to increase the longevity of the fridge/freezer.

• How is the evaporator different in the CFX3's compared to other portable fridge/freezers?

  The evaporator plate in the CFX3’s are installation around the entirety of the fridge for an even cooling distribution and temperature throughout the fridge/freezer.

• Can I take off the lid on the CFX3 fridges?

  Yes, all CFX3’s have a removable lid. The larger models (CFX355, CFX355IM, CFX375DZ & CFX395DZ) also have reversable lids.

• What is the difference between the Dometic CFX3 portable fridges and the Dometic CFF portable fridge models?

  The Dometic CFX3 range is the top of the line in portable camping fridges, they include some of these features which set it apart:

  • roll around evaporator design on all inner walls of the fridge (this takes the load off the compressor to save power)
  • removeable lids
  • drop down handles (not fixed)
  • Wifi / Bluetooth enabled + USB outlets
  • a VMS03 in-house compressor, which is variable speed and has a soft start up to maximise efficiency

  The Dometic CFF fridge range is less spec'd (they do not include the above listed features) and are cheaper. The CFF models uses a common compressor. So overall the CFF models have slightly less bells n whistles than the CFX3 range, but are still an excellent high quality & efficient camping fridge option from a leading global brand in the RV/Outdoor market.

  Both ranges are very popular with Australian travellers, with the CFX3 range being slightly more popular with our customers. 

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