Replace fridge/freezer

Bowman · Member

Replace fridge/freezer

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

There are 12 /240v compressor fridges out there . My concern replacing mine is the fitting carpentry of the new one . Getting them out also . In our case through the window .

Bowman · Member

When the van was new, the fridge wasn't working on delivery, so the window had to come out. The fridge was inverted and put back in. Never missed a beat after that.

Bowman · Member

When the van was new, the fridge wasn't working on delivery, so the window had to come out. The fridge was inverted and put back in. Never missed a beat after that.

oldtrack123 · Guru

Bowman wrote:
Our Dometic 3 way full size fridge freezer has died after 12 years. We need to replace it, but the cost of a similar fridge is very expensive. We understand there is a household Samsung fridge that is used in vans, and would appreciate any feedback on these. We have 2 x 120 batteries, no solar. If anyone can comment please Ron

If you are changing to ANY compressor fridge , be regularly away from mains power, you will need an absolute minimum of 200W solar , lots of good sunny days & with little up your sleeve for a few poor solar input days[or a generator as back up]

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Sunday 23rd of April 2017 11:10:37 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes our old Fuso had a fridge and seperate freezer . 12/ 240v. It had 700 watt , 300 A/H batteries . We had a geni but hardly required . Never had any trouble . Mind you most the time we started geni about 3 times a day to heat elect jug . Was enough to charge batteries if required . Newer compressor type are very efficient now .

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes our old Fuso had a fridge and seperate freezer . 12/ 240v. It had 700 watt , 300 A/H batteries . We had a geni but hardly required . Never had any trouble . Mind you most the time we started geni about 3 times a day to heat elect jug . Was enough to charge batteries if required . Newer compressor type are very efficient now .

warhorse · Senior Member

hi ron,at least you have 240ah of batterys that's a start,as for the frig,cant go wrong with a samsung,current prices?best i could find was appliances online...228l white $519....253l white $619 $649 for stainless,i have the 253white running through a 350w victron inverter $225,it all works very well,i also have 500w of solar to feed the batterys,that will be your biggest expense but once over the initial cost of set up you wont regret it.for a full van glass panels/ pop top consider flexible panels,much lighter

all those friges quoted are 555mm wide so should fit through most van doors

Bowman · Member

Thank you for the replies.
If I may continue forward, solar is something I haven't any experience with. Would the panels need to attached to the roof of the van, Roadstar 26', or would portable panels be okay using the Anderson plug. We are using the van about 6-7 times a year, only for 2-6 days duration now, at a time. Any other comment would be appreciated.
Ron

warhorse · Senior Member

Ron, as for solar, 2x200w panels at around $400ish, there are 100s of them on ebay,join the 2 panels on the roof then run one cable down through the roof this will be your only roof penetration, you will also need a decent solar charge controller around $200ish,a few meters of decent cable/connectors etc, jacar or similar, your charge controler should be as close to the batterys as possible to minimise power loss.
fasten aluminium angle to the long sides of the panels using selleys armour flex and screws allowing a min of 50mm clearance under panels for air circulation, to fix the panels to the roof, clean the area with acetone or similar, "don't" screw the aluminium angle to the roof,use double sided tape as spacers and use the selleys armour flex so you have 3mm thick adhesive,once this has set it will never come off, the only penetration through the roof should be for one solar cable down to the controller.
Ron, i never had any experience with solar to start with either, but by following different forums i have been able to work out how to set mine up to now work successfully.

p.s.as for portables you would need a fairly big unit to run a frig,they would be heavy and clumsy to move around and store....easier with solar on roof,set and forget.
if you need an further help just ask, someone will respond to help out. cheers ray

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Search YouTube for Solar panel on caravan or motorhome . The solar cables can be run through fridge roof vent ..

Bowman · Member

Thanks for the advice. There is a lot to checkout, and you have supplied us with very good information.
Cheers
Ron

Tony Bev · Guru

Hello Bowman

May I be one of the first to welcome you to the forum

Others have given better information than I could possibly come up with
I hope that you find exactly what you are looking for

Perhaps when you finalise the pricing of everything, you also get a quote for replacing the sealed section of your 3 way fridge, which may be the cheaper way out
I say this as after 12 years use, you seem to be happy enough with your original fridge

If you can let us all know the final outcome down the track, then that would be great, as I am also thinking of a different type of fridge, when my own 3 was gas absorption one plays up again

Bowman · Member

Hello Tony, thank you for the welcome
We lived in the van for 5 years whilst travelling. Woke up one morning to the smell of ammonia, I guess, and the fridge had ceased working. From what I had read, and have been told, to find that leak and repair the piping, it would likely be impossible. Whether that is true or not, I don't know. Maybe the first thing is to get the fridge out of the van and have it inspected, and that will tell us what needs to happen next. Great fridge but so expensive to replace.
You mention the sealed section maybe able to be replaced, I didn't know that could be done, if that's where the problem is.
Thanks
Ron

oldtrack123 · Guru

Bowman wrote:
Hello Tony, thank you for the welcome
We lived in the van for 5 years whilst travelling. Woke up one morning to the smell of ammonia, I guess, and the fridge had ceased working. From what I had read, and have been told, to find that leak and repair the piping, it would likely be impossible. Whether that is true or not, I don't know. Maybe the first thing is to get the fridge out of the van and have it inspected, and that will tell us what needs to happen next. Great fridge but so expensive to replace.
You mention the sealed section maybe able to be replaced, I didn't know that could be done, if that's where the problem is.
Thanks
Ron

Yes, you can get the entire sealed works replaced, either new or reconditioned .

Need to shop around to find the ones who still do it & compare costs.,depending on condition of cabinet it may not be worthwhile

stoney123 · Senior Member

hi.

i use an engel as freezer only. rareley gets opened so no big drain on battery. i freeze food as well as 4 coke bottle of water. for a fridge i use evakool esky. Prior to a trip i house freeze lots of coke bottles. night b4 i put 2 in esky so it is ice cold b4 leaving. on day of dep put more coke bottles and food in evakool, frozen bottles and frozen food in engel. then every 3 days swap some bottles, works u-beaut.

macka17 · Guru

Most people have huge fridges in vans.
and live in parks ,
plus none (95%) never go away from "civilisation", for more than a week, max..

I carry 80ltr (Was 50 ltr 10 yrs ago) Waeco in ute tray. run as fr\freez..
ALL freezer when on long trips.

Car alt, plus 1 x 80w panel on roof. 2 x NZ70Z batt's in tray.
With an Anderson cable to go to van to connect up the 230w panels on van roof

Had Waeco built in 90ltr in other vans.
This van, just the 3 way will do. (fishing trips only nowadays)

Travelling daily or every couple with car alone.
works fine.
With van. Can stay longer with no prob's.

Tub fr\freez MUCH more efficient than Vertical ones.
Cold don't drop out.

Plus the Duct Insulation round them makes them more efficient again.

Household fridges. Unless running genny nightly.
Would never keep up travelling. You'd have to go from park to park.
Their insulation is near zilch.

Tub freez\fr in car. with 90 ltr small fr in van will cover you forever with 300\350w of panels.
360w of panels costs LESS than it's 360 in $$$'s.
Plus $100ish. for reg, a bit of wiring. angle and rivets.
They are cheap as nowadays. and just rivet to roof with angle Ally and pop rivets.