Dometic CFX5 75L Dual Zone Electric Cooler (97000050757)

Overview: who is the CFX5 75DZ for?

The Dometic CFX5 75DZ is a 75-liter, dual-zone compressor fridge-freezer: one cabinet, two compartments, two lids and two independent setpoints, cooled by one Dometic VMSO3.5 variable-speed compressor. It is the largest dual-zone box most vans can realistically fit, and it sits at the premium end of the market. Dometic adds vacuum insulated panels, Bluetooth app control and a weatherproof color display.

This review is for builders who want a real freezer next to a real fridge, for a couple or family who shop once a week or less, and who have the floor space and the battery bank to carry a large box. If you want one zone, or you have one 100 Ah battery and little solar, this is the wrong fridge, and the reasons are in the power section below.

Choose this if:

• You want a fridge and a freezer running at the same time, with about 45 liters on one side and 30 on the other.
• You have roughly 40 x 24 inches of floor space, including the ventilation gap Dometic asks for.
• You have 200 Ah or more of lithium and reliable solar or alternator charging.
• You want to check and change both zone temperatures from your phone.

Skip this if:

• One zone is enough. The Dometic CFX5 55IM or the ICECO VL45 ProS use less space and less battery.
• You lift the fridge in and out often. It weighs about 60 to 67 pounds empty, depending on which Dometic figure you use.
• You want a lower-cost dual zone. The ICECO VL60 Dual Zone costs considerably less and is smaller.

What the Amazon link sells: "Dometic CFX5 75L Dual Zone Electric Cooler" (ASIN B0DVM1HDV6, model and part number 97000050757). That part number matches Dometic's US product page for the CFX5 75DZ and the CFX5 operating manual, which covers the 25, 35, 45, 55IM, 75DZ and 95DZ.

A note on method: VanLifeKitchens researches products rather than testing them. Specifications below come from Dometic's US product page, the CFX5 operating manual and the Amazon listing, all listed under Sources. Where Dometic's own documents disagree, we say so. See how we research.

Bottom line up front: the CFX5 75DZ is the premium answer for a full-time fridge and freezer in a van with room for a big box. Dometic's published draw is the highest in our fridge lineup, but it's also the only one measured with a freezer zone at a stated hot ambient. Size the battery for it honestly and it will do the job.

Specifications and sources

Two numbers conflict. Dometic's US page lists 27.04 kg (59.62 lb) net, while the technical data in the operating manual gives 30.5 kg (67.3 lb). Plan a slide, a lift and your payload around the heavier figure. The US page also says 121 cans while the Amazon listing says 113; treat either as a rough guide.

Size, clearance and fit in a van

External size. Dometic gives 892 x 495 x 472 mm, or 35.12 x 19.49 x 18.58 inches, including the handles. That is about 4 inches longer than the ICECO VL60, at a similar width and height.

Ventilation clearance. The manual is direct: "Ensure at all times that there is a minimum of 50 mm (1.97 in) ventilation on all sides of the cooling device." Add 2 inches all round and you need about 39.1 x 23.4 inches of floor space, plus room above to open the lids. Dometic also warns against using or storing it in closed compartments with little or no airflow. A 75-liter box packed into a tight cabinet is the classic way to make a compressor run all day.

Two lids, two zones. The CFX5 75DZ has a separate lid over each compartment, so opening the fridge side doesn't dump cold air out of the freezer. The manual shows a procedure for the 75DZ and 95DZ that swaps the lid hinge side, so you can set the lids to open toward the galley or the side door. Each zone can be switched off on its own, which is the single biggest energy lever you have with this fridge.

Weather and angle. Dometic's manual says the cooling device "shall not be exposed to rain" and can withstand only a short-term 30° inclination. The display is weatherproof, but the fridge is not a truck-bed box to leave in the rain. Keep it inside the van or under a canopy, out of direct sun.

Mounting. Dometic sells a slide for this model, the CFX5 SLD75 (ref. 9610000653), and a protective cover, the PC75 (ref. 9620012811), per the manual's accessories table. At this weight, a slide is close to essential if the fridge sits under a counter. Strap it to solid anchor points or use Dometic's tie-down kit, not bungees.

For the bigger layout question of where a large chest fridge goes and how much lid clearance it needs compared with an upright, see the chest vs upright 12V fridge guide and van kitchen layouts.

Power consumption

This is the section that decides whether the 75DZ belongs in your van.

Published energy figure. Dometic's US product page lists 2.76 Ah per hour at 12 V DC, measured with the large zone at 4°C (39°F), the small zone at -15°C (5°F) and 32°C (90°F) ambient. Over 24 hours that's about 66 Ah at 12 V, or about 795 Wh. On a 12.8 V lithium house bank, the same energy is about 62 Ah per day.

That is the highest published figure in our 12V fridge lineup, but read the conditions before comparing. It is a dual-zone fridge with a real freezer zone, tested at a warm 90°F ambient. Many brands publish a lab figure with no ambient or setpoint at all. ICECO's VL60 lab figure of 0.545 kWh per day, for example, comes with no stated conditions, so the two can't be compared directly.

Nameplate figures are not daily figures. The 9.7 A at 12 V is the maximum current, for sizing the fuse and wire. Dometic's 61 W AC figure is the rated input on mains. Never multiply either by 24.

Assumptions for our rows: a 12.8 V lithium bank, a few lid openings a day, groceries loaded cold, and Dometic's 50 mm clearance respected. The mild row assumes either one zone switched off or both zones running as a fridge in cool shoulder-season weather. The hot row assumes a cabin warmer than Dometic's 90°F test, which happens in a parked van in sun. Daily consumption on any compressor fridge roughly tracks the gap between ambient and setpoint, and a freezer zone widens that gap a lot.

Low-voltage cutoff

The CFX5 has a three-level battery monitor. The manual's battery-protection table gives these switch-off and restart voltages at 12 V:

• Low: off at 10.1 V, back on at 11.4 V
• Medium: off at 11.2 V, back on at 12.2 V
• High: off at 11.8 V, back on at 12.6 V

Dometic says to use HIGH when the fridge runs from a vehicle starting battery, and that LOW "will suffice" on a separate supply battery. On a LiFePO4 bank, whose voltage stays high until it's nearly empty, LOW is usually the right choice, but check your battery maker's minimum voltage. The manual also notes the display may show "Voltage low" alerts between 8 and 12 V depending on the setting.

Battery sizing

• 100 Ah lithium: not enough for both zones in summer. At about 62 Ah a day it empties a 100 Ah bank in under two days with no charging, before lights, fans and phones.
• 200 Ah lithium with 400 W of solar or a DC-DC charger: our realistic minimum for running both zones full-time.
• 300 Ah or more: comfortable for hot climates, cloudy stretches and a freezer held near 0°F.

Run your own climate and loads through the fridge battery calculator and the power calculator. Our battery bank guide and van kitchen power budget explain the wider system.

Features and build

Dometic lists vacuum insulated panels combined with polyurethane foam, a weatherproof color display with soft-touch buttons, Bluetooth control through its Mobile Cooling app, an 18 W Quick Charge 3.0 USB port, an LED interior light, a drain plug, an anti-condensation coil, self-folding aluminum handles and a removable non-slip lid surface. The manual's USB note says connected devices must be compatible with 5 V and 2.5 A.

The refrigerant is R1234yf, which Dometic lists with a GWP of 0.5. That doesn't change performance, but it is the lower-impact refrigerant.

The manual's technical-data note matters for freezer users: the minimum temperature "may not be attained if the ambient temperature is above 32°C (90°F)." In other words, don't expect -8°F in a hot cabin. Expect the freezer zone to hold food frozen, and check it with a standalone thermometer.

Limitations

• Battery demand. This is a big-system fridge. Our power section shows why.
• Weight and length. About 60 to 67 pounds empty and over 35 inches long. Loaded, it's a two-person lift.
• No rain exposure. Dometic's manual rules out rain and allows only a short-term 30° tilt.
• Weight figures conflict. The US page and the manual differ by over 7 pounds.
• Warranty term. The Amazon listing shows a 2-year manufacturer warranty, and the manual points to Dometic's US limited warranty online. Confirm the term before you buy.

How it compares with fridges we cover

• ICECO VL60 Dual Zone: 60 liters, a Secop compressor with a 5-year compressor warranty, and a considerably lower price. ICECO's lab energy figure is lower but has no stated conditions. The CFX5 adds 15 liters, vacuum panels, an app and a colder minimum temperature. See the CFX5 75DZ vs VL60 comparison.
• Dometic CFX5 55IM: a single-zone 55-liter box with an ice maker. Dometic rates it at 1.55 Ah per hour with the ice maker on, which is much less battery than the 75DZ's two-zone figure.
• Dometic CFX5 35: same family, same compressor and app, a third of the volume. Compare both on the CFX5 35 vs ICECO VL35 page if a small box is enough.
• Dometic NRX 50S: a built-in upright for cabinetry, if you'd rather have a front door than a chest lid.

For sizing by people and days between shops, the what size 12V fridge guide has worked examples. The 12V fridge complete guide covers compressor types, insulation and clearance.

Value

The CFX5 75DZ is a premium fridge and costs considerably more than mid-range dual zones such as the ICECO VL60. The extra money buys 15 more liters, a published energy figure measured at stated hot conditions, vacuum insulated panels, app control, a color display and a slide and cover designed for this exact box. It doesn't buy a smaller battery bank. Budget for the fridge and the electrical system together. Check the current price on Amazon, since it moves often.

Final verdict

The CFX5 75DZ is the dual-zone fridge to pick when you have the floor space, payload and battery bank for it, and you want Dometic's app, insulation and accessories. Its published draw is high, but it is also clearly stated: 2.76 Ah an hour at 90°F with a working freezer. Respect the 2-inch clearance on every side, set the battery monitor to suit your battery, and switch one zone off when you don't need it.

FAQ

How much power does the Dometic CFX5 75DZ use?

Dometic's US page rates it at 2.76 Ah per hour at 12 V, with the large zone at 39°F, the small zone at 5°F and a 90°F ambient. That's about 66 Ah or 795 Wh a day at 12 V, or about 62 Ah on a 12.8 V lithium bank. Our estimate is about 27 to 35 Ah a day with one zone off or in mild weather, and 74 Ah or more in a hot van.

How big are the two zones?

Dometic's manual lists 75 liters total, split 45 liters and 30 liters. Dometic's test runs the large zone as the fridge and the small zone as the freezer, which suits most van kitchens.

How much clearance does the CFX5 75DZ need?

At least 50 mm (about 2 inches) on all sides, per Dometic's manual. With the 35.12 x 19.49 inch body, plan on about 39.1 x 23.4 inches of floor space, plus room to open the lids.

Which low-voltage cutoff setting should you use?

Dometic's settings at 12 V are Low (10.1 V off, 11.4 V restart), Medium (11.2 V off, 12.2 V restart) and High (11.8 V off, 12.6 V restart). Use High on a starting battery and Low on a separate house battery, within your battery maker's limits.

What compressor does it use?

Dometic's US page lists the VMSO3.5 with Variable Motor Speed Optimization, Dometic's own variable-speed DC compressor.

Can it run on a 100 Ah battery?

Not well with both zones running. Dometic's figure works out to about 62 Ah a day at 12.8 V, so a 100 Ah bank lasts under two days without charging. Run one zone, or plan on 200 Ah or more with solar.

Can the CFX5 75DZ sit outside in the rain?

No. Dometic's manual says the cooling device shall not be exposed to rain. Keep it under cover and out of direct sun.

Sources and verification

• Dometic CFX5 75DZ US product page, https://www.dometic.com/en/product/cfx5-75dz-electric-cooler-97000050757: part number, 75 L, 27.04 kg net weight, dimensions, -22°C to 20°C range, 2.76 Ah/h at 12 V with 4°C/-15°C zones at 32°C ambient, 9.7 A at 12 V, 61 W AC, VMSO3.5 compressor, vacuum insulated panels, Bluetooth app, 18 W QC 3.0 USB, R1234yf, climate class N/T, 121 cans (checked 2026-10-13).
• Dometic CFX5 operating manual (AMER), https://media.dometic.com/externalassets/07-0703-070328-070328006_97000050757_205076.pdf: 45 L / 30 L zone split, 30.5 kg (67.3 lb) weight, dimensions incl. handles, 50 mm clearance on all sides, no rain exposure, 30° short-term inclination, lid-reversal procedure for the 75DZ, battery-protection voltages, HIGH/LOW guidance, 15 A DC fuse for dual-zone models, USB 5 V/2.5 A note, slide SLD75 and cover PC75 references, minimum-temperature note above 32°C ambient, warranty reference (checked 2026-10-13).
• Amazon listing, ASIN B0DVM1HDV6: title, model and part 97000050757, 113-can claim, 2-year manufacturer warranty field, availability (checked 2026-10-13).