Earlier today I was shopping for a duvet cover on Amazon. (I’m redoing the van’s bed yet again.) I found one that looked good and when I scrolled down through the review section all I saw were a bunch people who hadn’t even opened the package talking about how great it was. I literally watched a woman talk about how warm and comfortable the duvet cover was with the product sitting next to her on her bed, unopened. I hate that!
I wrote that to write this: I’ve been using SetPower’s PT45 for almost a month now. I think it’s a great fridge and a good deal, but more importantly, that’s coming from someone who has, you know, actually opened and used the thing!
It’s difficult to come up with something profound to say about a refrigerator. Once you establish whether or not they work well, you can compare options and features with other refrigerators in the same price range and decide whether or not you think it’s a good deal.
So, let’s get the basics out of the way. SetPower’s PT45 is a 45-liter refrigerator designed for use in vehicles and at campsites. The refrigerator comes with both 12v and 120v adapters, meaning it can be used almost anywhere. From the outside it looks similar to other 12v refrigerators. There’s a control panel on the front and two flip-up lids, one for each of the refrigerator’s two compartments. It’s a dual-zone fridge, meaning you can set the temperature of either side anywhere between 0F-50F. The compressor sits underneath the left compartment, making it about half the size of the one on the right. Combined and with them packed as tightly as possible, the PT45 will hold 66 12oz cans of soda so if you go to the grocery store and pick up two cases, a twelve-pack, and a six-pack, you’re covered.
For what it’s worth, SetPower almost makes a PT35 (slightly smaller) and a PT55 (slightly larger), depending on your needs. All three have the same footprint of roughly 16″x24″, with the only difference between the three being the height. Not only is the PT45 the right capacity for my van, but it’s also the perfect height to sit on. If nothing else, know that the PT45 can handle a guy nicknamed “Big Rob” sitting on it.
The first thing I noticed after opening the lid was how well the walls are insulated. They’re a little over 2″ thick, which means once this thing cools down (and it doesn’t take long), it uses very little electricity to stay cool. Obviously keeping things frozen takes more power than keeping things cool, but in both cases I found SetPower’s PT45 used less electricity than my old fridge. Inside each compartment is an LED light that turns on when the lid is lifted, which is super useful inside dark vans and nighttime campsites.
On the outside of the fridge is the control panel. Each side has up and down buttons that are used to adjust the temperature of each side. There’s a regular/eco button that will limit the maximum amount of electricity the unit can draw, and a battery cut-off option that will monitor your battery’s voltage and turn the unit off if your battery gets too low. Full disclosure, I had to set mine to the lowest setting to get it to work with my AllPowers power station, but once I did that everything worked as expected. I suspect the intention is more for making sure the unit doesn’t drain your starter battery, in case you connect it to your vehicle’s 12v system.
So what makes the PT45 a “budget” refrigerator? One, the outside construction contains a lot of plastic. The handles are also plastic, which appears to be a big deal to people who strap their coolers down by the handles in their back of their off-road Jeeps, and not an all an issue for me. The refrigerator doesn’t have any wheels or a drain to empty. The final thing the PT45 is lacking that some more expensive units have is a Bluetooth app. I have to admit, with my old fridge I was constantly checking the app to see the current temperature. After about 48 hours of using SetPower’s 45L… I forgot all about the app. Once you set the temperature, there’s really no reason to check it a dozen times a day.
Sure, some of those features are nice to have, but you’ll also pay for them. I found a comparable model from another company with all of those features and it sells for $200 more on Amazon. I’m not saying wheels and a drain don’t come in handly; I’m saying they don’t come for free.
The last thing I should mention is that SetPower offers a three-year warranty on the compressor. This is pretty unheard off, especially in this price range. If the compressor goes out on any of these refrigerators, they’re trash. The back of my 3/4-ton van rides like a wooden crate falling down the side of the hill. I worry about my electronics and appliances getting beat up, and having an extended warranty like this is worth something.
So what’s the final verdict? I like it. I like it so much that long after my obligated review period ended, I have kept the SetPower PT45 in my van. My previous refrigerator was slightly larger (50L), had all the features this one is lacking (Bluetooth app, wheels, a drain)… and yet, this one fits the physical space in my van better. Turned sideways, it is almost the same width as my passenger seat, making is easier for me to move from the driver’s seat to the rear of the van. With thicker insulation, this unit uses less electricity than my previous one — especially when using the smaller of the two compartments as a freezer and keeping the other side as a refrigerator.
I recently added a second solar panel to my van and now have a total of 400w coming in. Even with 200w, I think you could run this refrigerator indefinitely without every needing shore power or to run it from your car’s electrical system.
The SetPower PT45 is currently priced at $389 on Amazon, but there’s an instant $30 discount being offered. I also have a discount code if you want to order it direct from them. (Check which way’s the cheapest; that’s what I would do!)
Link: https://www.setpowerusa.com/discount/BigRobVan
Link: https://amzn.to/3GqQpAB