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Dometic Waeco CF Series
CF-50, CF-40 (41 L), CF-18 (18 L), etc...Pros
Easy to use
Affordable
Very mobile and portable
Cons
Less durable and robust than other fridges
Some reviewers notice technical failures, especially of digital temperature display
Lynn FIllawarra, NSW
Waeco. 50 Good.
This fridge replaced a 3 way so difference is large.
Cools quickly on 240, quiet running, the fridge section works well, the temp needs to be set a little higher to maintain freezing ie set on 9 or 10
Getting to know it and we love it
Purchased in October 2020 at ALDI for $599.00.
SilverGhost
- 17 reviews
- 18 likes
Waeco Dometic 12V fridges. Mostly good.
I have bought and used four Waeco Dometic fridges over the last 7 years or so. Three have been used in camper vans I've built, and one in a yacht.
Of the three I've fitted and used in camper vans, all have performed faultlessly. Although they've not been used continuously, the vehicles they are in have done many, many thousands of kilometres and been subject to much pounding, vibration and dust.
The owner of the yacht tells me that the electronics unit of the fridge I fitted to his yacht failed after a couple of years.
I'll buy another Waeco Dometic when I next need a vehicle fridge.
RobertHunter Region, NSW
- 4 reviews
4 years of life and $400+ to repair.
The fridge kept great temperature, that was never an issue. It came up with an error code not listed (3 flashing lights then 3 seconds later it repeated). Took it to local Waeco agent and the compressor had died. This fridge was 4 years old, had not been mistreated and was only used between 3 and 8 months per year. I was advised by the agent I needed to use it more often than that. I don't believe there was anything in the manual regarding how long it needed to be on per year. Not worth repairing and will be choosing another brand. I just hope my 35ltr CFX doesn't give up.
I also emailed Dometic about this fridge on 18/11/2020 at 12.39pm, I received their rote response and to this day 13/12/2020 they have still not replied to me.
Purchased in November 2016 at Tentworld for $1,000.00.
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BrettnJaMid West, WA
- 3 reviews
- 3 likes
Waeco 50 & Dometic Waeco 50
We bought our first CFX 50 about 8 years ago, been running well since. I have been setting up my Navara for travelling Australia and recently decided to buy a second fridge, our obvious choice was another Waeco. We ended up with the Dometic Waeco CF 50. My plan is to run one as dedicated kitchen fridge and the other as beer fridge. The older Waeco is the CFX model with the removable solid wall, which is ideal to use as a dedicated freezer and has been in some extreme hot weather in the Pilbara region of WA without any issues. The Waeco are suit...
Read moreed well to what the Australian climate offers and I would buy another if the need arose. We do alot of camping and beach fishing in WA, the old fridge lives in my ute canopy & the new one is in the house and gets put in the ute for the bigger trips away.Purchased in August 2012.
MattFar North Queensland, QLD
- 4 reviews
- 1 like
- CF-50
- Verified purchase
Great for travelling
Just the right size for long weekend trips without taking up the whole car. Low power draw, will run from a 100Ah battery for at least 4 days when set to 4 degrees.
Russell G.Metropolitan Adelaide, SA
- CF-18 (18 L)
- Verified purchase
4 days in, compressor rattling, told this is normal.
Bought this fridge to come in the truck with me at work. Cools well, although gets a fair bit if condensation inside. After 4 days in the truck I started noticing a rattle, which became a squeaky rattle over every bump. Took it back to place of purchase, thinking they would just swap it over as had really only bought it 9 days before. Was told I'd have to go through warranty to get it inspected, leaving me fridgeless for a week. Atlanta refrigeration came back and said it's all good and normal as the compressor is on springs so it will move aro...
Read moreund. Tried it truck for another trip, rattle still there, so in my opinion it's now useless, and I've spent over $500 On something that's not fit for the purpose. Do not buy this fridge if planning on having it in a vehicle with you.Purchased in January 2020 at Snowys Outdoors for $529.00.
Top fridge
The cf 50 works perfectly on 240 and 12 volts. I've had this fridge 7to8 years and still counting. Never has it failed in hot extreme weather and I'm talking 45 plus degrees c. The power consumption is very good and with Sola set up on the 4wd it never stopped. The con is the Lach can break so be careful you can get a replacement for this. I have read some of the reviews on this fridge and put it down to some people don't know what they are doing. Others just bag it because it's a waeco. All and all it's a fantastic reliable fridge
Purchased in May 2013 at Anaconda for $800.00.
TV TechMelbourne
- 18 reviews
- 24 likes
20+ years and still going strong everyday
Bought a Waeco CF-35 secondhand 11 years ago, the previous owner had it for 10years before me.
The unit has operated as expected every time
Have never had a fault with it, even when i did flood it with the garden hose once while cleaning it post trip... A quick dry out and operated good as new.
The CF-35 is very friendly on power consumption
I can run it for 3 days in 38 degree heat, and not run a 100Ah batter below 50% SoC.
This is while camped with no charging of any kind taking place.
The old CF i have doesn't a temp set point, but rather it has 6 settings.
It is light, very handy when moving to and from multiple vehicles
The only downside, is this model doesn't have the built in 240volt adapter so you must use a external transformer ...
Purchased in January 2010 for $450.00.
Lyall
- 2 reviews
- 1 like
Very good and well priced fridge freezer
Bought mine back early 2017 and I must say its been very good since and no problems. I've had it in some very hot Qld weather and seems to run at -2 or-3 degrees without problem eventhough its using more power, drinks are still icy! It came with the insulated cover and I purchased extra warranty from tentworld. Overall I love it. I use it about every 6 months, If I was in the market for another fridge it would be great to have a dual zone fridge freezer.
Purchased in April 2017 for $700.00.
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Very good but not perfect
I have had the CF50 for approx 12 years. It has run off a second battery in my ute or as a second fridge at home. Basically very reliable but had to overcome 2 issues. I now have the fridge wired to the 2nd battery with Anderson plug connectors. Much better than the Waeco socket. Recently, the thermistor failed (which is common) which meant that the digital readout showed 60C degrees while the fridge was actually working overtime and freezing. I took the punt and followed a You Tube clip to cut open the base of the unit to find the ther...
Read moremistor. A friend then spliced in a replacement thermistor which cost about $50. It now works perfectly on 240 and 12v. The bottom of the case looks crappy but function over form is my motto. Put the fridge cover on and there is no sign of violence.Purchased in March 2007 for $600.00.
PeterBrisbane
- 31 reviews
- 12 likes
Good Camping Fridge
This was a birthday gift, as we go camping all year round and have for the last 30 years relied on ice and eskies. So first trip was a good test. I pre-cooled it overnight and stacked everything properly. I have an old ute which has a 120 Amp Hour 12 volt deep cycle battery, so power would not be an issue. It worked a treat, kept the food and drinks at a constant 3 degrees and had plenty of storage space. It came with a insulation blanket to keep it cooler in direct light, and we had 3 days of 29-33 degrees. So far I can recommend it.
Purchased in February 2019.
LindsaySouth East Queensland, QLD
Great Product - highly recommended
I bought my CF50 on sale for $699 at BCF. I have had it for over 18 mths and have been running it 24-7 - 50% on 12volt on 1 x solar panel & 1 x 120 amp battery in my caravan for weeks on end & 50% on 240v. Always maintains my preferred temperature -3 deg C and gets there fast, Best $699 I have ever spent.
Purchased in November 2017 at BCF Physical Store for $699.00.
Mark SSydney
- 17 reviews
- 10 likes
- CF-40 (41 L)
- Verified purchase
Excelent Fridge/Freezer
I've only had it a year but has worked well each time we've used it. It does what it's designed to do and keeps food cool/frozen depending on the temperature you choose. No complaints and if you are in the market for a fridge can say I'm happy with mine and recommend you consider this unit.
The only issue I can think of is that the lid feels a bit wobbly when you open/close the unit. This is because with a removable lid the hinges aren't very tight. That's a small issue in the scheme of things and I can once again recommend this unit with a five star rating.
ignasSydney
- 5 reviews
- 6 likes
2nd Waeco Freezer. Old one was the 50L & still working.
Wanted a smaller freezer for smaller car use. Have the old CF-50 for the big 4WD. I do a lot for road trips now in the car & keep the CF-18 on the folded down rear seats behind the drivers seat. It's set up so the front passenger can reach in easily when I'm driving & get a cold drink etc. My thinking was the CF-11 was just too small & the CFX-28L too big for this type of use. I am careful not to overload it & ram the lid down so as to not break the hinges/latch. The CF-18 is working wonderfully after 2x 10 day & 1x 4 days trips & is now about ...
Read more6mths old. It's very easy to carry into a Motel if no fridge is available. The CF-18L are not a common unit so I couldn't see one in a store before purchasing online. The storage area is sort of divided into two adjoining compartments, one higher, one lower. The small & quite deep section has no freezer tubes inside the walls. The tubes are in the higher section & cold air falls into the deep section which freezes very well. There is just enough room for 2x 1.25L & 2x 1L bottles if one inverts some of the bottles. The other higher section can fit 4-6 shorter stubble 600ml water bottles lying down. You can use the higher section as a fridge esp. if the sun is beating down on the lid & in my case I only have it on half the time (say 2hrs on, 2hrs off) while driving & using the cig plug to charge other devices. It is suitable for a couple &/or a small family. This suits my needs perfectly. If it's rigged up properly to a dual battery system like in my 4WD this little unit will fully freeze if running 24/7 easily. Unless I'm doing a round OZ trip with the 4WD & a camper trailer or staying in remote areas for a long time I can't see the 50L Waeco getting much use now.Buy an Engel - What I should have done.
Barely lasted and the compressor went.
When it worked it would drain my 135Ah battery in 1 day. Not really acceptable when you're running off battery and solar power. Jump the fence, spend the coin and you won't be disappointed with an Engel. As they say, a poor man pays twice and I've learned my lesson with Waeco
Find out how Dometic Waeco CF Series compares to other Portable Fridges / Freezers
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NeilKCMetropolitan Adelaide, SA
- 5 reviews
- 3 likes
16 Years old and still running
What a great fridge, never had an issue with it.
In the 16 years I have owned it it may have been turned off for 3 months in total.
"It has been every were man".
My missus broke the handle lock once, brought one from WA (Broome) on the net, they have all the spares.
Never had a cover for it, it just keeps going and going.
I have three other fridges, two Engels and a Lumix.
The Engels are over 35 years old and do short cycle a bit but still run well..
Cools well and good on power BUT
I have purchased this unit and have been testing it for several days under different conditions. Everything about it seems a good product, except for the closing mechanism on top. On the basis of this alone, I would caution anyone against purchasing this or any similar waeco products. To click it shut I have to apply a fair amount of force and sometimes it pops open on its own. This is not a one off defect, it is a serious design flaw that can easily lead to food wastage and flat batteries. The only way to fix this would be to modify the toolin...
Read moreg and or use a higher grade of plastics. I regret rushing into this purchase, reading through other stories online and the wording in the warranty, I am not expecting them to be easy to deal with when i inevitably have to make a warranty claim.ignasSydney
- 5 reviews
- 6 likes
Most Waeco's are fine. Engels also breakdown but not as often.
My 40/50L is 7-8yrs old. Can't remember which size, where I bought it. It works but it's not a home fridge/freezer on 240V. No mobile fridge is perfect. Waeco’s are not as robust as Engels but are smaller, probably more efficient size wise, use less power, easier to carry around, softer rounder corners but still tough. Engels are better for more extreme conditions, larger, more permanent installations & for the more particular/fussy person, ugly (fridge, that is), easily dented sheet steel sides, more pointy corners. My unit gets carried from m...
Read morey Troopy (big ugly Landcruiser) to the Hyundai to the Audi. Will buy a Waeco CF21L for the Audi & a newly purchased tiny AWD (Diahatsu Terious) Engels aren’t suitable for placing on leather seats. (Yes, I know it should be tied down) Put in frozen bottles of water, softies, meat etc. from the home freezer before a trip. Use the corners (the coldest/fastest cooling areas) & sides to freeze water bottles, quick chills beers (glass bottles), recent purchases esp. meat/seafood. Put less cold temp. fridge items like fruit, bananas, butter in the fridge section which doesn't always get too cool on super hot days. Always monitor your fridge/freeze esp. in differing outside temps & in a locked car on 40C days. Put colder fridge items cold meats, your thawing meats higher up in the middle where it’s cooler. Use corners to freeze water bottles & use them in a small soft cooler bag for day use, picnics, walks etc. Set it at the lowest temperatures on hot days & when driving & turn to a warmer settings when parking to save your battery & overnight to avoid excessive freezing. Rotate your items, don't open the lid too often, supervise children & drunks scavenging it's depths for beer, both who don’t shut the lid properly. Latches can fail, so clamp it down or put something on top. Be nice to Waeco people, they gave me a new latch but I never put it on as the lid sits tight naturally.AY AAU
- 8 reviews
- 12 likes
Dometic Waeco CF-40
For the price what you get is OK. A CFX model is obvioulsy much better and nearly double the price.
I can live with fluctuating temps as we only use as a drinks fridge and use an Opposite Lock for the food.
It does a great job for the drinks. I probably would not use it to keep my food in but I havent tried it in freezer mode as yet though.
Dannii.B
- 6 reviews
- 3 likes
Perfect addition to my camping equipment.
This was the best thing I purchased to travel oz with,it kept all my food and drinks nice and cold when crossing from coast to coast and camping out on the Nullarbor.
A great design,easy to use controls and with the insulated bag you can’t go wrong.
Fits enough food for a family of 4 for 4 days.
Questions & Answers
Alan F.asked
What is the temperature range
No answers
GREGasked
I have a cf50 its temp is erratic It gets down to temptation its still on the green light and it doesn't appear to have the compressor going but the fan is going I unplug it and re plug it and the compressor starts than it seems to stop all power than starts again it is really weird
No answers
johnasked
I have a cf50 waeco fridge I have been running the fridge on 240v electricity for a bout 4 years. It’s been camping and running on 12v battery power when camping. It stopped working yesterday and was showing spasmodic digital half number. So I have tried a different power cable with the same result. I plugged it into my 12v camping battery and seems to be working fine again. How can I get it to run on 240v house electricity again?
I just pulled the fuse out and gave it a flick,as it looks fine, I but it back in, now as the fridge has been running on 12v and was down to 4 degrees I changed back to the house 240v power and it is now running/I no this isn’t fixed so what can it be?
No answers
Details
The Dometic Waeco CF Series are a line of affordable, easy to use, portable dedicated fridge and freezers. They run on 12V or 240V electric power and come equipped with an internal light and digital temperature display. They're made of plastic and come with a protective cover that improves insulation.
Reviewers are divided on the Dometic Waeco CF Series. Some people liked its energy efficiency, ability to work in hot temperatures and lighter-weight portability, but others cited trouble with the digital temperature display and had doubts about the efficiency of the compressor. Its a less durable and robust portable fridge than others on the market, though it is considerably more affordable.
Dometic CF-40 (41 L)4.1(20) | Dometic Coolfreeze CF-11 (10.5 L)No reviews yet | Dometic CF-18 (18 L)2.6(11) | Dometic Waeco CF-503.0(33) | ||
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Category | Portable Fridges / Freezers | Portable Fridges / Freezers | Portable Fridges / Freezers | Portable Fridges / Freezers | |
Price (RRP) | $499.00 | $599.00 | $699.00 | $699.00 | |
Type | Dedicated Fridge + Freezer Combo | Dedicated Fridge + Freezer Combo | Dedicated Fridge + Freezer Combo | Dedicated Fridge + Freezer Combo | |
Capacity | 39L | 10.5L | 47L | 50L | |
Power Source | Car (Cigarette Lighter) and Wall Outlet | Car (Cigarette Lighter) and Wall Outlet | Car (Cigarette Lighter) | Battery and Wall Outlet | |
Features | Interior Light | Digital Display Panel and Interior Light | Interior Light and Reversible Lid | ||
Weight | 17.2 kg | 8.5 kg | 12 kg | 18.5 kg | |
Dimensions | 445 x 360 x 580 mm | 358 x 235 x 540 mm | 414 x 465 x 300 mm | 480 x 630 x 360 mm | |
Construction Material | Plastic | Plastic | |||
Manufacturer Warranty | 3 year(s) | 3 year(s) | 3 year(s) | 3 year(s) | |
Manual | Download manual |
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