New fridge freezer on the market.

[Woodsman]

Ok pardon my ignorance, but how is it a compressor is even a "knock-off" and not just another brand?
There are MANY different brands of compressors out there... Danfoss just happens to be one of them. (unlike iPads... Very poor example).

Actually I take that back, there are infact several brands of "tablet computers" out there also.

Two words "quality control".

As a woodworker I see this all the time with big name brands made in China such as Delta and Powermatic. Their stuff is coming out of a plant that is also producing "economy" machines that are painted a different color and a different brand but somehow the Delta and Powermatic quality is always much better than the others. They have quality control staff in plant to help make sure that their stuff gets the best bearings, best castings and most accurate machining. The other guys just take whatever junk the Chinese pack in a container for them.

[4x4junkie]

Ok, so lets say that is what the Edgestar's (and possibly this fridge's) compressor is (though I'm not convinced it's quality is infact lower... yet), how does that make it a "knock-off"?? Wouldn't that just simply be a different product line? (such as Yukon axle gears vs. USA-Standard gears as an example?)

Have I unknowingly been living the last 30-something years of my life with the wrong definition for "knock-off"??? (a cheap illegitimate or counterfeit copy)?

[Woodsman]

I personally don't know anything abut the differences in the compressors in the various fridges. I was only commenting on the potential differences between the parts/components sourced from China.

I have an Edgestar which I purchased as scratch and dent for $330 shipped and it has worked fine so far.

[Utah KJ]

Ok pardon my ignorance, but how is it a compressor is even a "knock-off" and not just another brand?
There are MANY different brands of compressors out there... Danfoss just happens to be one of them. (unlike iPads... Very poor example).

Actually I take that back, there are infact several brands of "tablet computers" out there also.

It's an excellent example... I'm winning and you just can't handle it... haterz.

[Xterabl]

Pffft. folks asking for "proof", now here's the proof.
Danfoss BD35F compressor for +10 years is the standard for DC fridges.
Here's one version of the spec sheet for the BD compressor series:
http://www.danfoss.com/BusinessAreas..._BD-Series.htm

Danfoss PN BD35F is the model used for most high-efficiency DC fridges.

Edgestar was the first "company" to offer a decent alternative. My wife bought me their product in spring of 2010 (best father's day gift evah!).
So far, I am very happy with it. But it is obvious to even a donkey's *** that the Chinese brand Liyang compressor (link: http://www.liyoung-compressor.com/DC-Compressor-1.html ) in my BELOVED fridge is A Danfoss BD35F knock-off.

I have spent 10's of hours researching this. Maybe you @$$h@t$ should do the same before spouting off.

[roninjiro]

I don't care where most anything comes from... as you will never truly know unless you visit the factories of every product you buy. It is competition and if it has a warranty and a low price... sure I am for it. Looking at this new fridge and the whyter/edgestar version... looks the same but I will always buy the whyter over that one, because for less than $20 I could add a light to mine. It is almost like driving a foreign made truck and saying you only buy American... what is up with that.

[Honu]

. It is almost like driving a foreign made truck and saying you only buy American... what is up with that.

because some so called foreign are made in USA and some so called American vehicles come out of Mexico hahahaha

[General Automag]

There was a post or two on the Expedition Portal home page at http://www.expeditionportal.com/news...ik-schulz.html commenting on this new fridge. (The posts were slightly critical of the unit and it's price when compared to ARBs, Engels, etc. - and these posts seem to have been removed. Censorship?)

Anyway, I have to agree. This unit should be at a $400-$550 price point at best. A search on the internet gets you a new ARB for $785 - $800 delivered. Why would anyone take a gamble on a brand-new product at the same amount for a tried and true product?

[Xterabl]

To all the good folk who can't--or can't be bothered to--find the time for the research: before the Edgestar with the Danfoss KNOCKOFF liyang compressor (hey, I have an Edgestar and it's been a good investment; but a knockoff is still a knockoff), there were only TWO types of compressors found in all the various models of DC fridges (for RV's camping, etc.) below 60 qt capacity. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find the other compressor (besides the Danfoss).

Gen. Automag nails it above. This is a dressed up Edgestar. And actually ARB 50 qt latest price with shipping is <$764.
Link: http://mudflaps.com/i-6724060-arb-4x...e-freezer.html

If you consider $ per quart, same quality 43 qt should cost < $657 shipped.

I love my Edgestar, since I got if for $349 shipped ~2 years ago. But considering the infancy of quality-controlled manufacturing in China, there is still a lot of risk.
Of course, chinese slaves are getting antsy and wise, too, and demanding more wage. Hence cost of chinese-made stuff is/has bottoming/bottomed. Time will tell how that pans out.

[RHINO]

xterabl,, you have made this thread funny. there is at least one fridge based on the edgestar cabinet with a real danfoss compressor, and the one mentioned above might be another, i have yet to confirm it. your trivia Q is way to easy, but i dont feel like getting into the swing of answering it just yet.