Compressor Fridges
We're going to have to replace our Dometic caravan fridge and it's been suggested to us that we could look at installing a compressor fridge instead. Anyone got any experience of these, what is the noise level and general experience in comparision with a
Dometic/Thetford adsorption model?
Regards.
TERRY GALE
Comments
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I am sure you will get many responses on this (power consumption, noise) but I would just mention that for many years we complained about absorption fridges in hot weather, resorting to fitting one fan then two with little improvement. Until we bought a new motorhome this year with the latest absorption fridge (Thetford N3000). After touring Europe for two months and experiencing temperatures up to 35 deg. C we found the fridge performed superbly.
I think the technology must have improved immensely.
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Had a Compressor Fridge for 2 years plus now, apart from the first one failing & having to be replaced I find it superior to the absorbtions I have had previously.
The new one, a direct replacement, is quiet, well controllable and has lasted for 2 days when "Off Grid" but without any upgrading of the battery.
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P.S.
One thing I forgot to mention is that, with the fridge being totally electric, there is no need for the external vents as such, 'cos there is no CO or CO2 generated
The vents are to get an airflow across the back of the absorption fridge ..... the gas bit has its own flue/exhaust
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Quite agree MM, but mine, being a compressor & totally electric has two vents but they are not external, they just use the Cooling fan to create a draught within the van, but not one that causes me any problems, in fact I never notice it except when I've opened the rear doors.
Brian
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"Totally electric" says it all.
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Compressor fridge = moving parts = noise.
Adsorption fridge no moving parts = no noise. This is why you will find it is adsorption fridges that are fitted as minibars in hotel rooms.
Write your comments here...we have had a Waeco MDC90 compressor fridge in our PVC MH since new in 2009.It has been troublefree so far,the noise is so slight as to be virtually imperceptible.It runs from twin 110ah batteries fed by a roof mounted 100 watt
SP and lasted five days off grid at Steamer Quay without moving the vehicle ,with plenty of power still in the batteries.Our six kg Calor propane is now in its third season of use as compared to 1.5 bottles per season in our previous MH which had an absorption
fridge.When on grid we do use our microwave and an electric hob which all contributes to minimal gas use- as an aside we are currently researching a new PVC but salesmen are now wasting their time on me when trying to persuade me that I need a built in
gas tank unit.We do want another compressor fridge in the next van though.0 -
The OP was not asking about a compressor fridge for a MH but for a caravan, here the consideration can be somewhat different. It is unrealitic with most caravans to carry twin 110 Ah leisure batteries, so unless the van's use is going to be either very short stay or on an EHU it is not viable to supply the required energy to operate it. The much greater typical payload of MHs plus their normal frequent moving on useage style make carrying a lot of battery capacity and recharging them an option. With those features comes the viability of considering compressor fridges, over gas powered ones.
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OCSID,the OP's wording is slightly unclear because "caravan fridge" is the term used not"caravan's fridge".I took this to refer to be a generic term for fridges commonly fitted to caravans/motorhomes-absorption fridges.ABM is also a motor homer ,I note.Your
point about payload in a towed outfit is valid0 -
kenexton; a point but being in the "Caravans" section and specifically saying "to replace our Dometic caravan fridge", I can't see "Dometic caravan's fridge" reading correctly and thought as written it was quite
specific. Therefore prudent to point our the significant difference in the application, to a caravan than it is to that in a motorhome.0 -
Had warm fridge in Italy over the summer and looked briefly at cost of compressor fridge - wow they're expensive
Thankfully our freezer was cold so will just cope with the odd hot day
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I recall quite a few years ago that there was a daily visit by the 'ice man' and that some French caravanners would buy a large block of ice to place on or in their fridges to aid efficiency. Some had brought a full-sized domestic one to go in the awning too.
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A lot of sites we have stayed on in France rent fridges out thinking about it - we used to hire them for the week when we were camping pre van!
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