❄️Compressor Fridges ❄️

[yeoblade]

So those with one, how are they doing in this heatwave of ours, I'm finding my gas 3 way is struggling to keep below 12deg when it's 30+ outside. I Fitted the fridge fans on it but little improvement

 

[edina]

Our 230v fridge/freezer is keeping the ice cream well cool

 

[mistericeman]

Not a hint of an issue.....

Beer and wine still cold as an exes heart.....

No pfaff....

Heat just doesn't bother it.

 

[wildebus]

So those with one, how are they doing in this heatwave of ours, I'm finding my gas 3 way is struggling to keep below 12deg when it's 30+ outside. I Fitted the fridge fans on it but little improvement

Just did a screenshot of my temps right now ....

240V Compressor Fridge/Freezer in the Motorhome

 

[Fisherman]

So those with one, how are they doing in this heatwave of ours, I'm finding my gas 3 way is struggling to keep below 12deg when it's 30+ outside. I Fitted the fridge fans on it but little improvement

I would also remove the vent covers to assist with air flow, and if possible keep the fridge on the shaded side if possible.
With improvements in battery technology and the massive reduction in price of lithium I reckon that compressor fridges are what should now be fitted in vans with lithium batteries. Our vans newer version now comes with a compressor fridge, I don’t think Rapido fit three way fridges now.

 

[ProDave]

Ours is working well. I was very skeptical that some solar panels on the roof (quite big ones) and a 100AH battery would keep up with the load of a compressor fridge in the UK, but it is working well. HAve not tried in the middle of winter of course.

I was also surprised that they are reasonably quiet (but not as quiet as a gas powered evaporator fridge is)

 

[r4dent]

Just spend 6 days in the MoHo (3 using gas then 3 using EHU). Turned he fridge (not using freezer facility) to coldest at the start but had to keep turning it to less cold.

Parked in full sun and not using fridge fans.

Went to a commercial site (Callow Top) for last three days hence EHU.
They have a heated outdoor pool. Not crowded usually just the two of us, max was 8 people. Brilliant.

 

[mistericeman]

To be honest as a aircon refrigeration engineer....

Absorbtion type fridges are frankly ancient relics....

And UNLESS you solely use sites with hook up
THEN compressor fridges are THE way forward IMHO.

 

[wildebus]

Thought I would have a look at the temp range over a few days. quite interesting in fact.

As the temp gets in the 30's, the freezer temp does get slightly higher. Yesterday, when the internal van temp started reaching above 40C, it looks like there was a bit of a glitch with the freezer temp rising over a few hours before it started to fall again as the room temp dropped and then back to the regular pattern of cycling between a one degree range.

I assume that we were getting over the design temperature range (fridges all have a operational range of upper and lower temps, but typically they have a much bigger issue working when it gets very cold rather than very hot).

But the key factor .... the room temp may have more than doubled in 12 hours from 17C at 08:00 to 42C at 20:00, but the freezer temp only changed from -17C to -14.75C - not really that significant and still well within working range.

 

[wildebus]

Ours is working well. I was very skeptical that some solar panels on the roof (quite big ones) and a 100AH battery would keep up with the load of a compressor fridge in the UK, but it is working well. HAve not tried in the middle of winter of course.

I was also surprised that they are reasonably quiet (but not as quiet as a gas powered evaporator fridge is)

ref noise, it is very dependant on the fridge. The fridge in the house is annoyingly noisy. The 240V in the Motorhome is so quiet (aka totally silent) that initially for quite a while I was opening the door to check it still had power!

 

[trevskoda]

No problem with my we table top, -20 freezer box and 2/3c main fridge, when i go away for the day i switch it on night before, runs on 2 90ah lead acids and 200w solar feeding them.
Wildbus did a thread on this more than a year back and following it i fitted mine, never looked back.

 

[Boris7]

So, I’ve ordered a new compressor fridge/freezer for my Moho it’s being fitted on 2 July and I to Bilbao on the 8th.

Will 12v from the Lithium keep the fridge old during the sailing (about 40 hours all in all)

 

[wildebus]

So, I’ve ordered a new compressor fridge/freezer for my Moho it’s being fitted on 2 July and I to Bilbao on the 8th.

Will 12v from the Lithium keep the fridge old during the sailing (about 40 hours all in all)

say the average is 2Ah/Hour, that will be around 80Ah, so should be fine

 

[Boris7]

say the average is 2Ah/Hour, that will be around 80Ah, so should be fine

Thank you

 

[r4dent]

So, I’ve ordered a new compressor fridge/freezer for my Moho it’s being fitted on 2 July and I to Bilbao on the 8th.

Will 12v from the Lithium keep the fridge old during the sailing (about 40 hours all in all)

I've done the two night crossing to Bilbao a few times and had no problems even though my fridge is absorption and therefore effectively switched off.

I always turn the fridge little colder than usual prior to the ferry (in your case switch back to normal just before leaving the fridge) and pack a frozen chicken.

 

[RoaminRog]

We have a Shoreline 12v compressor fridge, and have had a few days of sweltering weather here in Norfolk.
The fridge normally runs at about 4 degrees C, today I noticed it had gone up to 6 degrees C.
The freezer however, which normally runs at -18 C was running at -21 C
The solar panels are doing a grand job, keeping up with any power being used by the fridge.
We are looking forward to using the Channel Tunnel in a couple of weeks time, when we have to turn the gas off for the crossing, the fridge will just keep chugging away.

 

[yeoblade]

Thanks for all the replies, all interesting, I've just returned from a week away, Rutland Water, Norfolk and back via a visit to Bletchley Park (Brilliant!) half the time on EHU. I didn't notice much difference whether gas or electric on the fridge temp, a Thetford, which happily took it down to 3°c overnight. Van internally reached 42.5 °c max! in the day.
Fridge always fully filled with beer to help stabilise temp when opening and closing door. I'll be downsizing to a PVC later, when I can decide which one and accept the smaller living area and will certainly be going down the compressor route then.

 

[r4dent]

We are looking forward to using the Channel Tunnel in a couple of weeks time, when we have to turn the gas off for the crossing, the fridge will just keep chugging away.

I don't think anything would thaw in the time the tunnel crossing takes.

Don't use the chunnel that often but never had any problems with my 3 way being off for the crossing.

 

[Robmac]

Thanks for all the replies, all interesting, I've just returned from a week away, Rutland Water, Norfolk and back via a visit to Bletchley Park (Brilliant!) half the time on EHU. I didn't notice much difference whether gas or electric on the fridge temp, a Thetford, which happily took it down to 3°c overnight. Van internally reached 42.5 °c max! in the day.
Fridge always fully filled with beer to help stabilise temp when opening and closing door. I'll be downsizing to a PVC later, when I can decide which one and accept the smaller living area and will certainly be going down the compressor route then.

I don't think you will have a problem downsizing Julian, vans are for sleeping and cooking in, most of our time is spent outside. Our compressor fridge is without doubt the best item we ever bought for the van and it is left on 24/7 now keeping the beer chilled for the next trip.

 

[RoaminRog]

I don't think anything would thaw in the time the tunnel crossing takes.

Don't use the chunnel that often but never had any problems with my 3 way being off for the crossing.

It’s not so much the actual crossing, as you say that’s only 35 mins. But your gas has to be turned off well before departure, and then when you arrive at Calais you have the bother of finding somewhere to pull over to turn it back on again, so all in all it’s very handy not having to worry about it, until the next time you actually stop to put the kettle on.