replacement of fridge.

fuller4848 · Newbie

replacement of fridge.

Bagmaker · Senior Member

the best one is not 12v. The best is 240v. Cheap, reliable. Powered with a dedicated 12v inverter it will still be half the cost of a new "12v" fridge.
Consider

dave48 · Senior Member

I've got an Engel 60L which can operate on both voltages. Run it in the motorhome on 12V. Bit expensive to buy but I have no complaints at all. Works perfectly and doesn't kill the batteries. Dave

macka17 · Guru

But Unfortunately. 240 "Household" fridges,
are not built as robustly as the 12\24v\240v units.

They aren't designed for travelling and bouncing.

If 240 units really any good long term in mobile environment.
They'd All be 240.

Those fridges are waay cheaper size for size.
Personally I use Waeco. have done in Yachts and vans since they first came out.

Split Air-Cond's a different thing though.

Woody n Sue · Guru

I'm no expert but we have a 12 v only fridge and it works well from what I have learned / gleaned from these pages is that 12 v only are much more battery friendly than multi input fridges , I have no idea about their cost though verses multi power source ones, and we have always got 12 v unlike gas n 240 v in our van and no risk of an inverter not working .
Just my two bobs worth

Woody

Poppy sore eye · Senior Member

We think you can't beat the Evakool platinum, had it now for three years full time travelling, north and south, we have two 100 amph batteries and Solar, all works great for us.

Hetho · Senior Member

Hi John.

As you are aware there are many fridges out there.

I chose a Nova Cool upright fridge freezer, the RFU9000; 258 Lt upside down (freezer below) fridge.

It runs on the same compressor as the engel fridges, which is the Danfoss BD50F, and draws 6.5 amps when the compressor is on.

In a 24 hour period it will draw 70 amp hours per day at 32 degrees.

The freezer has 2 compartments; one at -13 to -18, and the other -8 to -12.

The fridge has settings 1 - 10, but will freeze lettuce on setting 5.

It would be worth a look.

"But" they are not cheap.

Hope this helps in your decision making.

Regards.

Hetho

darjak · Senior Member

Originally had Weaco RPD195 for 10+yrs but Dometic bought them out and changed them.
Now have Isotherm CR219 even better than the Weaco. Has BD50 Danfoss compressor with muffin fan.
I personally wouldn't have a Domestic Fridge as we do majority off the bitumen travel and as the saying
goes you get what you pay for.

Darrell

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Just fitted a compressor 12v - 230 litre mainly due to fitting in existing cabinet . Vitro of whatever brand made in Italy . So far works fine . 65 watt.

macka17 · Guru

KIWI.
Vitrifrigo pretty much the same as Waeco.
Apart from. a few yrs ago. the Waeco's HAD much better Insulation.

Nowadays????. Somebody?.
I have an 80 ltr Coffin type Waeco Fr\Freez.
Caravan. Garage. Poolside.
never missed a beat in around 16 yrs now. 50l beforehand.

Is encased in 17mm Ally backed Duct insulation. Waaaaay more, betterer.
efficiency with it.
Rear of Patrol, in tray of D-Max.
Lid\Top flap down. the lid of, is completely covered in Condensation.
(Just for the ones that haven't read this b4 hey)

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Hetho wrote:
It runs on the same compressor as the engel fridges, which is the Danfoss BD50F, and draws 6.5 amps when the compressor is on.

Engel use a swing motor that is unique to them.

Most other quality 12V compressor fridges (including Waeco and Victrifrigo) use Danfoss motor/compressors (now Secop) which are made in Germany. The smaller ones are the BD35 and the larger are the BD50.

The Danfoss compressors can run at various speeds, so power consumption at any given time will vary according to the speed it is set to run at. The lower the speed, the more efficient they are but the less cooling capacity they have. Total power used in 24 hours is very dependent on the fridge size, ambient temperature and the quality of the insulation.

There are Chinese copies of these compressors which may or may not be of the same quality.

We run 2 units independently. One is a 130L Virtifrigo "all fridge" & the other is a 25L+ DIY deep freeze. Both have "extra" insulation and use around 50Ah per 24 hours combined. Both have remote compressors which can be installed up to 2m from the fridge itself.

Using 240V (inverter) fridges via an inverter is limited to larger sizes (225L and up from memory) if decent efficiency is required. Even then, an air space must be left around the cabinet walls to allow cooling of the condenser which is built into the walls, so extra insulation can not be used. These will use more power than a well installed 12V fridge with extra insulation, but will cost less.

Cheers,

Peter

baglimit2002 · Veteran Member

Being there done that engels and thats that in truck hasn't stop still running now 5years

mr glassies · Guru

We have a 210 evakool ya want it . Because I'm going 240 Samsung inverter . Yes it's a house hold fridge but I know plenty using them in there vans with no problems .
Dibs

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Macka. Yes I added extra insulation around the back before installation. Good to see the ice cubes solid after two hours running . Weâve had rain and overcast the last few days. The reg is showing batteries charged by 10 oâclock (13.7) . Like the 65watt extra doesnât make any difference !!

macka17 · Guru

KIWI.

We've had cloud and periods of "heavy'ish." rain for 9 or 10 days now. (Prev Thursday )
(IE 5in water out of pool after 2 days) Can ALMOST see some sky today. ALMOST.

Solar working on roof of home. but only 0 to 40ish%. at most. At least bitumin is dry at the moment.
with grass 4in long. Bloody rain.

NO rain 6 or 8 months. Grass NO grow. Luverleeee.

coupla days rain. bloody stuff sprouts everywhere. Gotta get fuel for trimmer and mower hey.

That's one of the primary reasons for travelling. Yes.
NO GRASS. GARDENS, or housework.
Hence why I rented my Unit out and lived on Yacht. in van for decades.

Gundog · Guru

I have been running a 228l samsung digital inverter fridge for almost 2 years now. We have travelled approximatly 40,000k since its installation It runs 24/7 from a 110 ah battery through a 350va victron inverter, the battery is independant of the rest of the vans electrical circuit, except for 240v power for its smart charger, the battery is also supported by a 100watt solar panel (sone to be 180watts), it also has an anderson plug connection to the ute. Roughly the cost of the coversion from 3 way to 240v fridge, inverter, solar panel and battery charger was less than $800, I already had the battery, negatives on such a conversion none, positives too many to list but icecream is frozen etc etc, using a power consumption meter it uses 60 amp per day, this could be lowered by adjusting the thermostat up a little. In the advent of the fridge failing would I go down the same route again " hell yes"

swamp · Senior Member

hi
Gundog
At what ambient temp was it when u took the 24hr consumption figures ??? day 25-30 deg cel , night 18 ?? approx. ..

Try putting meter on solar to measure solar production I'm interested ..

The modelling behind solar production is
160 watt 38ah harvest in 24 hrs
200 watt 48ah
300 watt 72 ah
This allows 20% loss from wiring , controller type , panel position
This allows for 5.5 hrs PSH peak sun hours [100 % sun intensity ]
Sun outside of PSH is difficult to measure as its NOT 100% reliable although it does happen . Mppt controller is not included in this calculation .

If you are using 60ah in a day it appears as if 100 watt panel would not cover it ??

Gundog · Guru

Hi swamp it was to get an indication how much the fridge was pulling, the 60 is the average over 72 hours from a wide range of temps in Nth Qld 14 to low 30's. It was to get a rough idea of consumption with the information it provided I could safely, power free camp for 2 days with out a major concern, but I have a 100 ah 2nd battery in the ute, which would be connected to the van whilst we are at the van, the ute also has a 100w solar panel. We aren't free campers prefering to use powered sites, the systems we have setup are realy for 1 to 2 nights only if we decide to pull over wherepower is unavailable.

blissonwheels · Senior Member

Gooday,

I know of several people who have also fitted the newer 240 V inverter refrigerators run through an Inverter connected to their 12 Volt system and could not be happier with performance and reduced power required.

We had to replace our 190 litre Waeco about 3-4 years ago and replacement would not fit so went to 150 litre Vitrifrigo, it is big enough for us but really needs a digital Thermostat to be a decent fridge.

I would definitely look at a Samsung or LG Household inverter model run through an inverter.

Tony Bev · Guru

fuller4848 wrote:
what is the best fridge to get. need 12v only

Welcome to the forum, fuller4848

If you are looking for a fridge, to replace an "under the bench" type 100 litre fridge in 12 volt

I am also looking, and have found only one 12 volt fridge of around 100 litre capacity, which is a "T+" rated, which will fit where my Dometic RM 7401, may be removed from

It is the one Poppy sore eyes, recommends
The Evakool platinum

I have not looked at any larger fridges, as they will not fit into my vehicle

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Watched a YouTube test on 4 different fridges . One was a 3 way . Yes proved not very efficient !! 18 or so amps and overnight to get to desired temp . While the compressor type go there in hours . They tested a 240V through 200 watt inverter . It used a pooftenth
More power but hardly made much difference., a 200 watt inverter could run your smart 240 v TV and fridge . ???

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Tuesday 24th of October 2017 11:59:25 PM