Coleman stirling powered cooler

Hey, I found this on Ebay and thought I would post it. If someone wants to upgrade the fridge/freezer I would recommend this. ebay listing The compressor works on thermodynamics and is extremely efficient. It uses a little bit more energy than the Engel, but is about half the cost. I have two of them and so far, I am very happy. They are hard to find since Coleman stopped making them a few years ago. -Skeeter

Holy crap...

Also on Amazon

Wow, didn't know coleman ever made a version. Good thing I chopped up my credit cards or I'd be ordering one now.

Ive been debating between buying a used three way fridge or buying the Coleman and turning the fridge area into storage. I measured out the area in the forward area between the couch and cabinet and the coleman will fit in there just, but just barely. I just picked up my Hawk so I'm not sure whats the better option. I like the idea of having a propane powered fridge in the stock location, but for the money maybe one of these 12v coolers is the way to go... I won't be running any solar just charging the battery while driving so I'm not sure how long I can run fridge before I wipe out the house battery. I know it draws 4amps but I have no idea what my total amp load is going to be at this point. I'm still new to the game. Anyone had both that can comment on what they would do if they had the choice again?

Hey Slojet,
I had the three way fridge when I bought my FWC. After going through all the threads about which fridge option would be the best, I decided to go completely electrical. I just didnt like the idea of sleeping above a tank, and living out where the sun shines almost everyday was a no brainer. The Engel is a great product and has been around for a while. During my search, I came accross the Coleman, which is about half the price and works on the same technology. Coleman does not produce this product but I assume and hope they will support it. Both products work on the same principle of thermodynamics and are extremely efficent. The also use very few moving parts. Some people love the three way fridge and they are very happy with them. I wanted an Engel and just happen to find the Coleman during my search. I am very happy and would never look back. Another important consideration is the size of the cooler. It is only 27 quarts and is perfect for a three/four day trip. If your needs are greater than I would consider a larger Engel model which will cost you twice as much.

As far as numbers go here is what I came up with. The Coleman has 5 settings versus the Engel which I believe is varible. The power consuption of the Coleman is .66 Amps for the lowest setting to 4 Amps on the freezer. The temps for the 5 settings are;
1. Cool one- 50 degrees 8 watts/.66 Amps
2. Cool two- 43 degrees 16 watts/1.33 Amps
3. Cool three- 37 degrees 27 watts/2.25 Amps
4. Freeze one- 19 degrees 42 watts/3.5 Amps
5 Freeze two- -.4 degrees 55 watts/4.1 Amps

So if you had a 100 amp battery you could run on Cool 3 for 44 hours till your battery would die (not recommended). I use a 65 watt solar panel and a 100 amp battery and during the summer months I am good to go. The money I saved from buying the Coleman over the Englel I used to buy a 45 quart Yeti cooler. If I am on the road for more than a week and I dont feel like driving to town to buy Ice, I just make some with my cooler overnight and throw it in my Yeti which can hold cubes for over a week. I would have given my old fridge to you, but I traded it in for a Fantastic fan at the local RV salvage yard. Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any questions. -joel
p.s. Here is a link for a company that sells the stirling cooler.
My link

Wow... great link...

Hey Slojet,
I had the three way fridge when I bought my FWC. After going through all the threads about which fridge option would be the best, I decided to go completely electrical. I just didnt like the idea of sleeping above a tank, and living out where the sun shines almost everyday was a no brainer. The Engel is a great product and has been around for a while. During my search, I came accross the Coleman, which is about half the price and works on the same technology. Coleman does not produce this product but I assume and hope they will support it. Both products work on the same principle of thermodynamics and are extremely efficent. The also use very few moving parts. Some people love the three way fridge and they are very happy with them. I wanted an Engel and just happen to find the Coleman during my search. I am very happy and would never look back. Another important consideration is the size of the cooler. It is only 27 quarts and is perfect for a three/four day trip. If your needs are greater than I would consider a larger Engel model which will cost you twice as much.

As far as numbers go here is what I came up with. The Coleman has 5 settings versus the Engel which I believe is varible. The power consuption of the Coleman is .66 Amps for the lowest setting to 4 Amps on the freezer. The temps for the 5 settings are;
1. Cool one- 50 degrees 8 watts/.66 Amps
2. Cool two- 43 degrees 16 watts/1.33 Amps
3. Cool three- 37 degrees 27 watts/2.25 Amps
4. Freeze one- 19 degrees 42 watts/3.5 Amps
5 Freeze two- -.4 degrees 55 watts/4.1 Amps

So if you had a 100 amp battery you could run on Cool 3 for 44 hours till your battery would die (not recommended). I use a 65 watt solar panel and a 100 amp battery and during the summer months I am good to go. The money I saved from buying the Coleman over the Englel I used to buy a 45 quart Yeti cooler. If I am on the road for more than a week and I dont feel like driving to town to buy Ice, I just make some with my cooler overnight and throw it in my Yeti which can hold cubes for over a week. I would have given my old fridge to you, but I traded it in for a Fantastic fan at the local RV salvage yard. Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any questions. -joel
p.s. Here is a link for a company that sells the stirling cooler.
My link



Skeeter,

Thanks so much for writing that up. I think the cooler is looking like great alternative for the 3way fridge. I appreciate you taking the time to do that!

Dave

Hi SOLJET, I have the 3way refer and I like it. My learning curve isn't what it used to be but once I figured out which settings to use and when it has worked well for me. As a long time tent camper being able make my own ice has not lost it's sense of wonderment.
Which ever type you get should depend on your camping style. If you are going to use your camper as a base camp perhaps a 3way would be best. You can run the refer for weeks on propane, rain or shine, sun or shade. But if you like to move to a new camp every day or two the 12V may be a better choice.

I like to move to a new camp each night so the 12V would be the way I would go if I was going have a new camper built from scratch.

On a side note. My good friend Ike likes to drive around with the refer on propane. Recently he was told this was dangerous. Pulling into a gas station with a open flame is not the best idea. Let alone careening down the highway with a small propane fire in your camper. But so far so good. Hope this helps.

Mike

Hi SOLJET, I have the 3way refer and I like it. My learning curve isn't what it used to be but once I figured out which settings to use and when it has worked well for me. As a long time tent camper being able make my own ice has not lost it's sense of wonderment.
Which ever type you get should depend on your camping style. If you are going to use your camper as a base camp perhaps a 3way would be best. You can run the refer for weeks on propane, rain or shine, sun or shade. But if you like to move to a new camp every day or two the 12V may be a better choice.

I like to move to a new camp each night so the 12V would be the way I would go if I was going have a new camper built from scratch.

On a side note. My good friend Ike likes to drive around with the refer on propane. Recently he was told this was dangerous. Pulling into a gas station with a open flame is not the best idea. Let alone careening down the highway with a small propane fire in your camper. But so far so good. Hope this helps.

Mike


Hey Mike,
Thanks for the rundown. I will mainly be moving every day or at the very least every other. My main worry is the leveling issue with the propane. I've been told around 3 degrees out of level is it's tolerance? How bad is the leveling issue in day to day use. I will hopefully be out of established campgrounds most of the time so that's why I was leaning towards the 12v. I found a good deal on a three way and other than having to cut the siding and install the thing, it's a much cheaper option than going 12v. I'm having a hard time balancing the pros and cons of both having never used either...

What about just running on the 12v when you're parked a little sideways? Anyone know how many amps the Dometic 3 way's draw?

And yeah driving around with a fire burning might make me a bit uncomfortable!

Thanks,
Dave

The Dometic fridge consumes 115 watts at 9.5 amps per hour. More than twice as much as the Coleman. Here is a link for the manual; Dometic manual
It states that "the engine should be left running while in the 12v mode". Page 6, section 14,b. You need to run on propane when your in camp, the 12v is for enroute. -joel

The Dometic fridge consumes 115 watts at 9.5 amps per hour. More than twice as much as the Coleman. Here is a link for the manual; Dometic manual
It states that "the engine should not be left running while in the 12v mode". Page 6, section 14,b. You need to run on propane when your in camp, the 12v is for enroute. -joel


The way I look at it the Coleman uses less than 1/4 of the power at least at 37 degrees. I guess it doesn'tneed to be so level either.

The power consuption of the Coleman is .66 Amps for the lowest setting to 4 Amps on the freezer. The temps for the 5 settings are;
1. Cool one- 50 degrees 8 watts/.66 Amps
2. Cool two- 43 degrees 16 watts/1.33 Amps
3. Cool three- 37 degrees 27 watts/2.25 Amps
4. Freeze one- 19 degrees 42 watts/3.5 Amps
5 Freeze two- -.4 degrees 55 watts/4.1 Amps

The way I look at it the Coleman uses less than 1/4 of the power at least at 37 degrees. I guess it doesn'tneed to be so level either.

The power consuption of the Coleman is .66 Amps for the lowest setting to 4 Amps on the freezer. The temps for the 5 settings are;
1. Cool one- 50 degrees 8 watts/.66 Amps
2. Cool two- 43 degrees 16 watts/1.33 Amps
3. Cool three- 37 degrees 27 watts/2.25 Amps
4. Freeze one- 19 degrees 42 watts/3.5 Amps
5 Freeze two- -.4 degrees 55 watts/4.1 Amps


Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it. Any feedback on leveling issues with the 3 way? My driveway has more than a three degree slope so I can't figure I'd be able to do much better on the trail....Skeeter, where do you keep your coleman? In the camper or truck. I thought I could get it in between the couch and cabinets but it won't quite fit. I suppose I could always keep it in the extra cab of the truck but I'd like to find a good spot to put it in the camper. ideas?

Hey Dave, I keep it in the camper on the floor. I have a shell model so I can load up what ever I need depending on what kind of trip and where Im going. I have a regular cab Ranger which is underpowered and has no room, so where in the process of moving up to a Tacoma or Tundra. Good luck on your fridge decision, I dont think you can go wrong either way. If you install a three way, your resale may be better also. Someone posted a Engel install with a custom platform that goes behing the driver in an extra cab. They took out the seats and it looked liked a good idea. You can raid the fridge while your enroute. - Joel

Hey Dave, I keep it in the camper on the floor. I have a shell model so I can load up what ever I need depending on what kind of trip and where Im going. I have a regular cab Ranger which is underpowered and has no room, so where in the process of moving up to a Tacoma or Tundra. Good luck on your fridge decision, I dont think you can go wrong either way. If you install a three way, your resale may be better also. Someone posted a Engel install with a custom platform that goes behing the driver in an extra cab. They took out the seats and it looked liked a good idea. You can raid the fridge while your enroute. - Joel


I've decided to go back in the stock location with a 3-way. Thanks for all the advise.

I've never had leveling problems with my 3way. If the camper is level enough to sleep in, the refer has been level enough to work.

Mike

I've never had leveling problems with my 3way. If the camper is level enough to sleep in, the refer has been level enough to work.

Mike


Thanks Mike,

Dsrtrat was nice enough to offer up a used dometic 2191 and I now have it sitting in the garage. After a couple trips in the camper now, I realize anything much over 3 degrees tilt is annoying to sleep with, so the hopefully the leveling issue is a non issue.

I'm luvin it so far. Just returned from an nine day trip and all is muy bueno.

marc

Hey Marc, what kind of electrical setup do you have? -Joel

Everything sounds great except the size. It says 36 cans, or 3 12 packs, while the dimensions are 13 X 13 X 8, that seems quite small, not 3 12 packs. In my mind that seems more like 1 12 pack.

Again, it's 1/2 the price of the Engel.

Hey Marc, what kind of electrical setup do you have? -Joel



Hi Joel

I just have a single 100AH house battery that charges off the truck run through a Battery Seperator/Smart Solenoid made by Sure Power Idustries. I can run everything I use for two solid days, or three days with just fridge and lights.

marc