Dometic CFX Portable Electric Cooler and Freezer, Powered by AC/DC or Solar

This is a review of the Dometic CFX45. This is a quality cooler at a high price point. The build quality is excellent, the controls are simple, easy to use, and the cooler is whisper quiet. Because it uses compressor technology it’s on the heavy side, but the handles are robust making a loaded cooler an easy carry for two. The cooler functions well under both AC and DC power. There’s plenty of room for canned drinks and other food items such as fruit and veggies. I’ve owned several portable AC/DC coolers and the Dometic is by far the best in terms of quality and functionality,

I'd been using a $250 Chinese cooler for sometime - ran fine on 12V from my truck forever and then when I needed it, it died. I did all the research and discovered that the Dometic - while more money than most - was simply the best and most reliable fridge / freezer available. It's evacuated walls insulate the cooler without added weight and keep my food cold...I set it at 36 degrees and walk away. It's a perfect size for me (45L) and I can store food for 2 people for a week without issue. It's very simple to use, with connections available via Bluetooth to monitor the fridge from around the truck. It comes with a divider that helps keep things organized - and I chose to equip mine with an optional durable protective cover (sold separately) to keep it from getting dinged and scratched. It's very quiet - and uses almost no electricity (15-25w when running cold. )

I've owned six Dometic electric coolers and the keyword would have to be "reliable".They seem like the "Toyota" of electric coolers. Whether or not they have all of the features desired by any particular user, THEY WORK.I'm currently using three of these coolers (I've given three others away). One is a small CDF-11 model (now discontinued) offering just 11 liters of space, that I use in my car for transporting small grocery purchases.The other two are a CFX3 55IM and a CFX3 25 that I use in my house for supplementary refrigeration.The CFX3 55IM has been running continuously as a "deep freeze" unit for three years uninterrupted. No issues. (I don't use the ice-maker.)The CFX3 25 has been running for just over a month. I was previously using a CFX3 35 but downsized to save space.As at least one other reviewer has noted, the digital temperature controls on these units can be a bit finicky. On the Fahrenheit scale, you might plug in a certain setting and the unit might change it. I'm still trying to figure out the pattern.Also, I don't rely on the "current" temperature readings as displayed on the control panels. Inside each of my CFX3 units, I have two ACU-RITE temperature sensors placed at or near the center of the interior, to allow me to monitor current temperatures as well as histories (watching for any significant "excursions").The CFX3 55IM unit is set to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and I get very consistent -2 to +2 degree readings from the two interior sensors. The CFX3 25 unit is set to 34 degrees Fahrenheit, and I get very consistent 39-43 degree readings from the two interior sensors.There does seem to be some temperature variation within the interior of the CFX3 units. Temperatures on/near the upper shelves seem a bit higher than in the centers of the units, which perhaps is not surprising since the shelves are higher (warmer air rises) and are above the compressors.I do use ballast to help moderate the temperature variations but more importantly to provide added protection during power outages. Specifically, I use various combinations of YETI ice and the newer YETI thin ice, which fit neatly along the walls of the coolers. It's true, some space is thereby sacrificed, but the tradoff seems worth it.Of note, these electric coolers don't seem particularly effective at actually cooling (or freezing) items, and it doesn't appear that they're intended to do that (maybe with the exception of the small ice-maker in the CFX3 55IM model). However, they do seem quite effective at keeping items cool (or frozen) that are already cool (or frozen).Lastly, these units will accumulate frost/ice with prolonged use, but it doesn't seem to be a major issue.

I tried two separate times, and neither unit worked properly. The first unit worked fine using AC power, but it blew out one of the zones immediately when I switched to using DC power. The replacement unit worked fine with DC power, but was DOA when I tried to use AC power. To add salt to the wound, I replaced it with a cheap, no-name Chinese knock off which, of course, works flawlessly. It’s frustrating when American companies make junk like this and charge a premium for it.