Dometic CFX3 35 Portable Fridge/Freezer 36L

[@mirembaYT]

Finally a video that actually shows the height of what can go in it. Watched so many useless "review" videos before this one. Thank you!!

[@SnowysOutdoors]

I'm glad we covered off on what you needed to know, miremba79. Happy camping! ~ Ben

[@stimulatemyexistence5669]

Yes not many helpful video, this one's great

[@voltron5128]

Great review as usual....just picked up a Dometic 45 and it's wonderful. Only thing I've noticed while researching is that I've never found a video that simple shows a side by side comparison video of all the Dometics ....I'd like to see a video simply putting the 25,35, 45, 55, 75, and 95 in a row....this would be extremely useful for perspective buyers....tks much!!!

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Thanks for the feedback, we'll pass it on!

[@martijnhoutvan6419]

The most complete and clear review I’ve ever seen. Awesome!

[@SnowysOutdoors]

I'm glad you found it useful, Martijn. ~ Ben

[@DSD]

You guys have the best reviews and information - too bad you're not in the US. Thanks for a great review!

[@SnowysOutdoors]

You're welcome, DSD, and thanks for the compliment. We are solely Australian based, sorry, but I'm sure you'll find these fridges in the US somewhere. ~ Ben

[@paulgorman8097]

Thanks for an excellent demonstration of this item. You have answered many questions.

[@SnowysOutdoors]

I'm glad it was useful, Paul, thanks for your comment. ~ Ben

[@jaig2528]

Well articulated and well presented by Kevin!!!

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Thanks, Jai. ~ Ben

[@cycletouringoz5760]

You can cut the 12v lead and hard wire it to a fuse block with a 10amp fuse installed ? Good review btw

[@SnowysOutdoors]

@Cycle Touring Oz that could be an option, but usually any modifications to supplied cables/parts can void warranty. We can't recommend it, but it'd be down to the individual to make that choice. ~ Lauren

[@rodolfoherrera1409]

Best review I've ever seen 👌🏾😅

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Thanks @Rodolfo Herrera, I'll pass on your feedback to Kevin! ~ Lauren

[@tovsteh]

Great presentation!

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Thanks @toasteh, I'll let Kevin know! ~ Lauren

[@AliciaInJeep]

Great information, thank you very much for sharing

[@SnowysOutdoors]

You're welcome, Alicia, I'm glad you found it useful. ~ Ben

[@AliciaInJeep]

@@SnowysOutdoors 👍

[@bluesea845]

Is the cfx-35 refrigerator rechargeable? I mean, is it possible to charge it at home and it works for four or five hours without being connected to a car cigarette lighter?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

No, there's no integrated battery in these fridges, Blue Sea, you need an external battery source or 240V outlet to run the fridge. ~ Ben

[@KnowTheNewOfficial]

Is this usable with 100w or 200w solar 12v dc line?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

You won't be able to connect solar directly into the fridge, Know The New, you'd need to use the solar panel to charge a battery which can then power the fridge. ~ Ben

[@KnowTheNewOfficial]

@@SnowysOutdoors OK. Thanks for good response ☺️

[@josemariasudi]

a cinsukta, does the upper drawer cool the same as the lower one? I have an older Dometic CDF and the top drawer only keeps the food fresh but not cold, it is for fruits, eggs, etc. and I have that question if it is still the same as before or does it cool just like the basket part?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

They are much more than an inflatable bladder with a case over the top, these are well thought out and comfortable. ~ Ben

[@simonargall5508]

Thanks for the great video. Can you recommend a power bank to keep this thing going for a long weekend?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

G'day Simon Argall, to keep this running for a weekend I'd suggest a combined solar and battery setup. Variables such as the temperature you want to run it at (fridge or freezer) and ambient temperature, will determine the size of the setup that's needed. Dometic have tested this to draw an average of 0.98 Amps @12 V, set to 12 degrees in 32˚C ambient temperatures with Bluetooth on and WiFi off. The maths is never exact, but on paper you could possibly run the fridge for 40 hours on the Dometic PLB40 (40Ah) before the battery was flat. However, it can draw a maximum of 7.5 A, so if it was running non stop at max draw you may only get 5-6 hours. I hope this helps! Cheers, Sonia

[@Rizaldi112]

Do the dometic fridges have the engel plugs also?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

@Rizaldi Radityo - yep, I've just had a sus of the Dometic CFX range we have here, and they have the posi fit connection as an option. You just have to screw the cigarette terminal off. ~ Lauren

[@Rizaldi112]

@@SnowysOutdoors thank you cos its actually for my companion 70ah battery

[@UncleT0ny]

Whats the difference between this and the CFX35W Version?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

This is the latest model UncleT0ny, i.e. the CFX3 is the upgraded version of the CFX35W. It's got a completely new outer, redesigned display/control panel, new app to control the fridge and a whole host of little improvements on performance and usability.

[@UncleT0ny]

@@SnowysOutdoors price upgrade too heh

[@mjpt57]

I have this unit. I'm trying to work out average energy consumption (watt/hours) over a 12hr period. I use this in the back of my ute to supplement the fridge in the caravan. However, I want to run it off of a battery when the ute isn't running. In the start of the video you mention power consumption in amps. 2 values are mentioned. 0.98a and max draw of 7.5a. Are these values at 12v or 240v? I want to run it via a battery so that overnight it can continue to run when the Ranger is parked up. The manual doesn't mention average energy consumption, only a value of 85kw/a year which to me is meaningless. Are you able to clarify this, please? Thanks. Oh, the CFX3 35 is an excellent unit, too.

[@SnowysOutdoors]

There are so many variables that effect a fridges power consumption, so manufactures are steering away from giving definite ratings. Things like ambient temp, fridge set temp, how full it is, what kind of stuff is in it, how often you're opening it, if its got a cover, if its in full sun or under a canopy, if you're using bluetooth and/or wifi functions, etc will all drastically effect consumption rates. Two people with the same fridge will get different results depending on usage. All values for 12/24v fridges are based on 12v supply, even if they also have 240v compatibility. I would say you could easily work of a ballpark for this though. Generally for a fridge this size, assuming set at 4°C degrees on a 32°C day, I'd work off an average 1-2Ah. If its overnight and temps are dropping, and the fridge isnt being opened, it may even drop below 1Ah. Hope that helps! ~ Lauren

[@jaxmonastra8682]

Hey guys! When using this as a fridge only - what items are best to be packed on that little shelf on the side? Is this better for butter, fruit and vege? Is it cooler or warmer than the main basket area? Thanks!

[@SnowysOutdoors]

It's all part of the same compartment, Jax, without any dividers, so theoretically it will be the same temperature as the rest of the fridge. What you will find though is that items on that shelf will not be as cold as the items deep down in the basket as they are exposed to the warm air more often when the lid is opened. In saying that, I'd say it would be the best place for fruit and veg or dairy items. Hope that helps. ~ Ben

[@jaxmonastra8682]

@@SnowysOutdoors awesome - thanks so much Ben. Love your videos!

[@theresahealy6176]

Thanks. I had the same question. Great clear no-nonsense video. And I find this a great product. Is also whisper quiet. So even sleeping near it in a campervan or similar, its not disturbing.

[@PimentelPortfolio]

Have you ever checked the actual temp of that cooler with a infrared therm? Wonder if that ledge is warmer then the bottom ?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

No we haven't, Drone Dogz. I have used remote thermometers in fridges before, and the temp does vary in the fridge based on a lot of variable factors, but overall the readings are as accurate as they need to be for this sort of fridge. ~ Ben

[@On3legs]

Does the 694 length include or exclude the handles?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

694 mm includes the handles, Ben, it's 630 mm not including handles. We are currently trying to get this information on our website, Dometic have all the dimensions on their site at the moment.~ Ben

[@tonylo6200]

Hi great review! Re the dimension, may I ask the width of 69.4cm including the handle? Thank you!

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Apologies for the delayed reply, Tony. Just confirming that the 69.4cm does include handles, it measures about 63cm without the handles. You can see more details on our website here - www.snowys.com.au/cfx3-35-portable-fridge-freezer. ~ Ben

[@tonylo6200]

@@SnowysOutdoors thanks soooo much !!!

[@grahamerae3502]

Can this fridge take being plugged in to 240 while still connected to 12v

[@SnowysOutdoors]

You can have both cables plugged at the same time @Grahame Rae, but it wont be drawing power from both. There's an isolator inside and I'm pretty sure it preferences 240V power when there's an option. ~ Lauren

[@tj-scott]

Do fridges still run on gas? It use to be that camp fridges run from lpg gas be nice if y ou could still get them. Can't just plug into the power if your camping on the river out woop woop

[@SnowysOutdoors]

They do, TJ, we have had them in the past but with 12V fridges becoming more efficient they are in lesser demand. Gas powered fridges are very efficient when run on gas, you can over a week of run time from a 9kg bottle, but they tend to consume a lot of power when running from 12V. Gas fridges also need to be level making them less suitable for use in a 4WD where they would have to be powered from 12V until the campsite is reached where they can be switched to gas. Gas powered fridges are good for those setting up camps in one location for long periods, and with the capacity to power the fridge from a battery as well as carry gas for the campsite. ~ Ben

[@rongilbert3067]

How many watts per hour on DC does the Dometic CFX 3 35 consume? I have tried to find the answer to this question all over the internet, and the answer has alluded me.

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Hey Ron, the only info we have on power consumption is the average Amp draw, which is an average 0.98 Amps per hour with the fridge running on12 V at 4˚C in 32˚C ambient temperatures with Bluetooth on and WiFi off. But we can convert this to Watts easily with this formula - Watts/Volts=Amps, or Watts = Volts x Amps, so in this instance, we multiply 0.89 x 12 giving us 10.68 Watts per hour average. You may find this article of interest - www.snowys.com.au/blog/solar-formula-for-your-4wd-setup/ ~ Ben

[@ptescreen18]

@@SnowysOutdoors thanks a lot

[@reneharding1943]

Can the fridge be charged? Like a phone or a tesla. Or does it have to be plugged in at all times?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

This fridge runs from a 12v or 240v power supply, it doesn't have a built in battery. Check out the Companion fridge instead, it does have a built in battery supply: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q32VqoKbnd6npas ~ Lauren

[@marcelogarcia5094]

Excellent thanks

[@SnowysOutdoors]

No worries @Marcelo Garcia! ~ Lauren

[@davidsmith-ws4bz]

Would a 1000watt Yamaha generator be able to power this fridge freezer?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Should be ok, David, but I'm no expert on inverters so it may be worth consulting the manual or an auto electrician. ~ Ben

[@vtxadventures6598]

İ live in Victoria and only shop from Snowys! Sucks they don't have any stores here

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Sorry, Vahit, we only have stores in Adelaide and Brisbane. You never know what the future holds but for now we are focused on our online service for Vic and NSW customers. Thanks for being a loyal customer. ~ Ben

[@georgetorres4158]

Just want to know where are dometic fridges manufactured?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Good question, George. The only info I can find s a statement from Dometic saying that they operate 27 manufacturing sites across 12 countries, so it's likely that a Dometic Fridge originate from more than one of these sources. ~ Ben

[@georgetorres4158]

Thanks for responding.

[@MitchelStewart]

If the dometic is in the vehicle in the winter, will it warm and keep it at a cool temperature but stop drinks and food from freezing?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

I'm not sure I understand what you are asking sorry, Mitchel. I'll assume you are from overseas and you experience temperatures much lower than we do in Australia, and you want to protect the contents inside the fridge from the freezing temperatures on the outside? I can't talk from experience here, but the fridge would insulate from cold temperatures outside for a while, but if it is so cold on the outside so as to start cooling the contents inside, the compressor won't raise the temperature, it simply won't run until the temperature drops below the set temp on the fridge. I hope that makes sense. ~ Ben

[@MitchelStewart]

@@SnowysOutdoors haha yes! I'm from Canada so we can see -20 or more at times and basically everything freezes solid. The electric cooler my buddy has actually has something in it to heat up so in those situation you can actually keep your things warm instead of cold. But I wasn't sure how it did it and if they all had the same feature.

[@SnowysOutdoors]

@@MitchelStewart ah, that makes sense... I don't think our freezers get that cold down here in Oz. I reckon your mate could have a thermoelectric cooler, which don't have the same cooling/freezing capability of a compressor driven fridge. Thermoelectric coolers are not as popular in Australia as they will only cool to about 20 below ambient, which means our drinks are still about 10 degrees at best, but they could have a better use case in colder countries to keep things warm because they can also warm the air inside to about 65 above ambient. Example of one here - www.snowys.com.au/bordbar-tb08-heater-cooler. ~ Ben

[@nachojr99]

@@MitchelStewart It could also be the case that they have a cooler with a heat pump, meaning that the operation can be reversed and instead of pulling heat out, it will pull it in.

[@KaizenOz]

how long would this run off the dometic 40 lithium pack?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

This is going to depend on a lot of variables, DieRunning 1. Dometic have tested this to draw an average of 0.98 Amps @12 V, set to 12 degrees in 32˚C ambient temperatures with Bluetooth on and WiFi off. The maths is never exact, but on paper you could possibly run the fridge for 40 hours on the Dometic PLB40 (40Ah) before the battery was flat. However, it can draw a maximum of 7.5 A, so if it was running non stop at max draw you may only get 5-6 hours. Add a solar panel into the mix and this all changes again. Have a read of this article to make this a little clearer for you, and keep in mind that you can discharge a lithium battery past the 50% recommendation of the batteries mentioned in the article - www.snowys.com.au/blog/solar-formula-for-your-4wd-setup/. I hope this helps. ~ Ben

[@JonathanVaucher]

Is this Peltier based technology or does it work off a compressor ?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

These run from a compressor, Jonathon, so it's capable of pulling temperature well below ambient. ~ Ben

[@JonathanVaucher]

@@SnowysOutdoors Nice ! Much more cooling and much lower energy consumption. I get why the cost premium price. Quality !

[@dmullinax1000]

All of these portable units are advertised to store cold drinks. What about frozen meats?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Yep, that will work. Some are dual zone so you can have a fridge side for drinks and a freezer side at the same time, others are single zone which means you need to run it as a fridge OR a freezer. ~ Ben

[@shawnmoore9714]

I'm interested in something that can freeze loaded fish fillets when out on multiple day trips, would this be possible with a unit like this?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

It would, you'd want to make sure you have plenty of power to keep it running as the compressor will run more when operated as a freezer, and if you are wanting to freeze fresh fish then it will need to work even harder. I'd suggest either having 240V power, or a good solar and battery setup. ~ Ben

[@hadjavbudaa5628]

I got my cfx3 35 today .How can turn it on? My fridge cant turn on. I pressed power button (long), its not working , already plugged in DC. What should i do? I checked fuse its was ok

[@SnowysOutdoors]

I'd suggest getting in touch with the place you purchased your fridge, hadjav dudaa. Hopefully this was us, if so then send us some information via this page - www.snowys.com.au/warranty, or give us a call on 1300 914 007. ~ Ben

[@ahhhhhderf1]

May someone tell me the difference between the CFx and the cfx3? Is it a better compressor on the cfx3?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

The CFX3 is just the latest version of the CFX fridge range, derf a. The compressor is the same and while you'd need to compare specific models to work out if one performs better than the other, the performance is largely on par. Have a read of this article which summarises the upgrades - www.snowys.com.au/blog/dometic-cfx3-fridge-freezers/. ~ Ben

[@stefanov92]

what's the wrist watch?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

If I can find out from Kev, I'll let you know, Georgi. ~ Ben

[@etchasketch4]

I'd like this in a 20 litre model. Maybe 7 cm smaller for each dimension.

[@SnowysOutdoors]

There is a 28L version in the previous style, etchasketch4, it doesn't have all the latest features but it's still a great fridge. Check it out here - www.snowys.com.au/cfx-28-portable-fridge-freezer-cover. ~ Ben

[@nachojr99]

There's also a 25L version in the CFX3 line,

[@TobyCostaRica]

Is that the 45 right next to it?

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Good question, 2A556FMJ. I am pretty sure it is the 45 but I can't be 100% confident on this sorry. ~ Ben

[@perpelle]

Does a champagne bottle fit? The inner dimensions are quite hard to find.

[@SnowysOutdoors]

You can see the internal dimensions on our website here, pelleper - www.snowys.com.au/cfx3-35-portable-fridge-freezer. Inner height is a bit over 32 cm, which, depending on your preferred bubbly there should be enough height for a champagne bottle. ~ Ben

[@XochitlBurkart-v5q]

Talon Crest

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Not sure what this means sorry ~ Lauren

[@australianmade2659]

The efficiency of a fridge is determined by how often it breaks down. Just get an Engel

[@SnowysOutdoors]

Haha, like Ford and Holden, the debate rages on. Engel certainly live by their "Legend In Reliability" tagline, hence why their fridges are largely unchanged from the original. Dometic on the other hand are pushing the boundaries with all the cool features, I guess time will tell if they stand up to Engels reliability. ~ Ben

[@australianmade2659]

Snowys Outdoors that’s true. I go camping to get away from iPhones so WiFi is no something that interests me. I just want the fridge to be a fridge.

[@elscruffomcscruffy8371]

@@australianmade2659 tough to make the call between Dometic and Engel, but I just can't justify spending almost $400 more on something that will do that same. Engels set the standard, thus the price, yet they don't exactly offer anything more, whilst the competition has changed. So why charge $400 more? They may be reliable, but they've still had the usual problems. I agree with the pointlessness of using Bluetooth and using your phone. I too camp to get away from technology...seems stupid. My biggest concern is efficiency and lower draw, and both fridges are on par. So the decision would come down to price, thus the Dometic wins

[@neilprtr]

Metric 🤙

[@SnowysOutdoors]

No imperial in Australia - unless you're a knitter! ~ Lauren

[@tangosucka2000]

Just visited the website and seen the price for that 35 litre......Is that price for 4 fridges? Damn! I'll just stick to a Kmart Esky. Looking around $40 and will be good for around 4-5 days of camping.

[@SnowysOutdoors]

They are by no means cheap, Tango Sucka. We are hoping the price from our supplier will come down, we have no idea how long this will take though. The latest releases always come at a premium price. ~ Ben

[@elscruffomcscruffy8371]

@@SnowysOutdoors Agreed, the price is expensive! And considering they haven't brought out a new model since the CFX series for a few years, I can't see the price dropping at all. I'm wary of purchasing second hand or used CFX series fridges as they have run out of warranty. Second hand Engel are still stupidly expensive to buy too. Just can't justify spending that much money on fridge. Hoping Easter sales will knock of few hundred dollars

[@mysterylovescompany2657]

Camping fridges are a luxury item, in fact they're one of the most expensive articles an average camper will ever consider buying. There are no reliable brands (you might find something brandless on eBay, but don't trust it) for less than hundreds of dollars. If you need something reliable to keep perishables safe for a long weekend - short week camping trip, on the cheap, I'd save up $100 or so + buy a really primo esky instead. Dometic do some fantastic eskies, not just fridges (they have a "labyrinth" pattern to their seal, which makes it more effective than the standard type). I have one myself, & with the proper chilling (which consists of cooling it for a night _before_ using it [party ice is fine for this]: then using large slabs of milk-carton ice at the bottom [+ dry ice, if I can get it]: topped with a mix of party ice + ice bricks + freezer packs around the food: filling every nook + cranny, with food stacked from the bottom in descending order of perishability [so the most fragile stuff is the lowest down, under the most ice]: & _then_ making sure at the campsite I store it out of the sun [moving it as the time of day requires]: & keep it wrapped in silver bubble wrap + then a layer of heavy [wool is good] blankets: & opening it as seldom as possible*), I trust it to keep pre-frozen chicken safe for 5 days. Evakool + Outermark are also good brands. Tundra are also great, but they get exxy _very_ quickly. $40 K-Mart eskies + the like do still have their place; chilling your drinks, or keeping food safe for at maximum a weekend. They just shouldn't be trusted with high-sensitivity perishables like meat + dairy for more 2 days. And no matter how expensive or cheap the coolbox you're buying, you should _always_ have a second one for your drinks - however brief the trip, if you're taking perishables at all, then they need to have their own box, because every time you open a cooler, some of the cold escapes. The good news? Since it's just for your meat, milk + eggs, you only need to fork out for a small size in the expensive one. I realise that the OP probably won't see this, but I figured it was worth posting, in case it helps someone else. :-D *Yes, this is a lot of work. Yes, you should do this with _all_ eskies you're planning to put perishables into. Yes, it is worth it to have security that your second-morning bacon sarnie won't give you salmonella.