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Hi alex, like me you got lucky with your bargain compressor 12v fridge/freezer find.

I can only think that the main reason why these portable 12v compressor fridges is so high is that they are aimed at the yachting and expedition community, were money is almost no object.

If the Mobicool C40 can retail for £135 from Obelink in Holland, I would argue that to have a proper 12/24v or 240 mains version would only bring the retail to £200.

But I guess if this was the case, the pukka Waeco CF and Engel equivalents would loose many sales.

In fact even the Mobicool C40 is just like a domestic table top, but in a more compact box, and when you consider that most table top fridges sell in retail for around £80 then there really is no reason why these portable camping type fridge's should be cheaper and also be made to run on 12/24v as well.

Our icle Waeco CF25 has been perfect for use in the car and for days out, but even though we have been using it for 5 years, 23lt is a challenge for when on the main campsite for a fortnight, so it will be nice to have the extra 40lt volume that the C40 has, in fact our total fridge capacity now at 63lt we are well sorted.

Here is a photo of our Waeco earning it's keep, in the South of France July 2013.

We have the Waeco 40L mains only compressor freezer /fridge.  We have used this many times on long trips ( Londonish to Lake District, Londonish to Loire Valley, Londonish to deep Cornwall)  and on each trip we fill the thing with all the food and set it to MAX the days before. This is placed in the trailer and driven for hours and hours in camping weather and only re connected to EHU on arrival and after erection of the tent. We have never lost food on a camping trip.

The only thing we did note is that with the CF 40  ( if that the correct identity.... cool fun 40 )  you must keep the food up into the upper cavity. The cooling strip is in the upper two thirds and if you only place one small item at the bottom , below this level, it is not so efficient. When only placing a few things in it , we put a folded towel into the freezer thus raising the few items to the area of the cooling strip.  have to say this is the finest accessory we have bought for camping. We can go away with almost two weeks of frozen home made food, meat etc, and never really need to go shopping. we did however buy a good cool box for the daily defrost, milk, cheese etc. and the Waeco and its frozen food and blocks helps to keep this coolbox cool without need for an access to site fridges.