Hi I have the Kampa Aqua 26 L Fridge and I couldn't find a review before I bought it so here goes.
There is no doubt at all this fridge cools well. In temperatures of 35-40 this year in spain, as long as we kept it shut or took stuff out quickly it could keep between 0 and 4 degrees. This was running on the mains. Really impressive when the electrolux fridge in our folding camper struggled to get below 15 and was sometimes over 20.
The way the power cord goes in is begging to break because of the leverage and the way it sticks out, and true to form it did so I had to open the fridge up and do a little rewiring -- doubtless I have invalidated the warranty to deal with a problem they need to do something about -- but I couldn't exactly take it back to the shop when I was in Spain.
Current draw on 12 v is something like 15Amps and this melted the split charger I ran it through, so it needs to be wired straight to the battery -- I believe from the manual it cuts out if battery voltage gets low so no real need for the split charger I guess.
Another issue is that it is a bit noisy -- it has two hefty fans and the power supply also has fans in it. I put it in the car for the first two nights but on the next campsite couldn't keep the car by the tent, so had to have it outside. But actually, it didn't keep us awake so it can't be that bad. Either that, or its sound was drowned out by the sometimes rather selfish partying of other campers!
But all in all, the important thing is the cooling power. We took a full tub of margarine with us, stayed 3 weeks in Spain at up to 40 degrees and when we returned there was still some of that margarine left, which we used back in the UK till it ran out. In the camper fridge, it would not have lasted a day. Next year, we might splash out and have real butter...
I should also had done a review of the Kampa aqua 36
Before boughting mine I`ve been looking for reviews and didn`t find any so I bought it.
I think you have choosen the best of the range - and I say this because the "engine" is the same and cooling a smaller box makes its much more performante. the 14 L should be even better but the box its a bit small
On the 36 bigger box it makes less 32/35º but takes a lot of time. But its far the best thermoelectric coolbox outhere.
Costumer service from Kampa is the best I have ever seen, I´m in Portugal and when phoning always have been hable to talk with a technitian and even when the fridge needed to go to UK to be serviced they were fantastic.
The cooler consumers a lot - 12,5 Ahm/ hour. after reaching the set temperature he stops a bit and the satrts again, but you can espect 11/12 Ahm spent by hour;
Its very important beeing aware that with those AHms the transformer must be really strong - and the cables also.
I didn^t bought the Kampa one, and proved to be a big mistake - my 12,5 Ahm transformer nearly melted - I bought after that a 25/30 Ahm transformer and was the best option, at 12 Ahm doesn`t even get hot...
and if you are going to connetc the plug to the cigaretee car plug, you probably will not be able to put it working - the car wire isn^t going to hold those ahm nither the fuse. I`ve needed to change mine to a 6mm wire - after that worked with no problemm.
it makes a bit of noise due to the 2 fans - with my transformer I can take a bit of the voltage out and with that the cooler makes a bit less noise ( the cooler can work from 10,5 volt to 15 and 21 to 30)
Building quality its acepptable - but it looks stronger then what it really is - In pair with most of the best thermoelectric coolers but some steps far from waeco.
In daily usage, when getting 40º outside ( this year here its been very easy to get it here - my firts unit struggled a lot to go below 9ºC ( and didn`t went) - Kampa replaced me by a new one that could go 4/5º bellow, so I think its feaseble to get 5º with 40 outside - the 26 could do a bit better I supose... ( remenber that food should be kept betwwen 3/5º C so its a bit frustanting missing that by just 4 º...
Would I by it again? No - For portugal you need a compressor unit. My waeco CF40 allows me to leave home with 40ºc outside. connecting it on the go to -10 and after an hour and a bit I´m with the set temperature buying a box of Icream to eat at the beach - I´m sure that if set it at home for -18 and put on the car with that tempearture already reached - the cooler would stand it with no problem.
Would I buy from Kampa UK again? Yes !!! They are simply great !!!
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Topic: Kampa Aqua 26 L fridge
