❄️Compressor Fridges ❄️

[1807truckman]

Both the one in the van and the portable one I use are working fine, freezers at -15C and fridges at 5C keeping cold thing cold and frozen things frozen, wouldn't go beck to a three way type.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

In 1960, the average UK annual salary for manual workers was just over 700 pounds
I started work in the relatively new (and well paid !) computer industry in 1964. As a trainee programmer my gross weekly pay was £8.

My First job in 1965, was as an apprentice tool room fitter, was £2.17/6d.

 

[jagmanx]

Maybe buy a bag or 2 of ice for the fridge for short term use.
Our 3way dometic fridge was ok. But we had to replace the burner and the gas control valve !
We used to live in the vehicle for 5 months in the summer and rarely used EHU so the fridge would be on gas and only 12 when driving !

 

[trevskoda]

My first job was a dental tec working for the top man in belfast 1974/5 at £9 a week, gave up after being ask questions when we moved to falls rd on way to get a taxi into town, not wort getting shot for so went to m trade, wage jumped to over £30.

 

[Tezza33]

My three way fridge is 23 years old, it has had a new 240v element and thermocouple fitted, obviously new jets but it has been running in this heatwave for the last week at 4-5c, the top vent is in the full sun from 2pm but I did fit 3 fans on the top vent quite a few years ago, I have had to use it for a few weeks because of a problem with one of the fridges in the house (we need two because my MIL needs totally different food stuff than we do)
The freezer compartment is at -14 so ice cubes/ice cream is readily available, I might fit a compressor fridge when we start using the van again but I have never had a problem with mine

 

[trevskoda]

My three way fridge is 23 years old, it has had a new 240v element and thermocouple fitted, obviously new jets but it has been running in this heatwave for the last week at 4-5c, the top vent is in the full sun from 2pm but I did fit 3 fans on the top vent quite a few years ago, I have had to use it for a few weeks because of a problem with one of the fridges in the house (we need two because my MIL needs totally different food stuff than we do)
The freezer compartment is at -14 so ice cubes/ice cream is readily available, I might fit a compressor fridge when we start using the van again but I have never had a problem with mine

Recomended temp for freezer is -18 to 20, fridge 2/3c.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Never had a problem on 240v, never really used 12v enough to tell if it's good or not, running on gas seems to be the usual problem, but the biggest issue we've had is they fluctuate too much and the knob for adjusting is a volume type and pretty uninformative.

 

[trevskoda]

Never had a problem on 240v, never really used 12v enough to tell if it's good or not, running on gas seems to be the usual problem, but the biggest issue we've had is they fluctuate too much and the knob for adjusting is a volume type and pretty uninformative.

Always fiddling with ones knob

 

[Okta]

Our first 12V compressor fridge and we love it. Works perfectly in hot weather. I never want to have another 3 way fridge.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I might struggle with the noise of a 240v one, I'm a very light sleeper.

 

[Okta]

I might struggle with the noise of a 240v one, I'm a very light sleeper.

I don’t notice my 12V one at night despite sleeping next to it. Not sure why someone would choose a 230V one but I am sure someone will enlighten me.

 

[mistericeman]

All I hear is the slight buzz wnen the inverter initially kicks in (inverter is mounted to sidewall on the wardrobe..... So could quieten that down a heap

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I don’t notice my 12V one at night despite sleeping next to it. Not sure why someone would choose a 230V one but I am sure someone will enlighten me.

I'd think cost could be an issue, but we've not looked into it.

 

[edina]

I don’t notice my 12V one at night despite sleeping next to it. Not sure why someone would choose a 230V one but I am sure someone will enlighten me.

Mine is a 230v domestic under the counter fridge with separate freezer, under £100.
A12v = half the size, treble the price!

 

[mistericeman]

I'd think cost could be an issue, but we've not looked into it.

I paid £150 for this one....

https://www.direct-discounts.com/product/iceking-rl114bk-e-fridge/?srsltid=AfmBOorciNqrZFAA8c6-HumN-3PYBinBXdISaN3Cs7kdpkOKA97wRLp7ZKc

Wouldve preferred silver BUT they were out of stock...

Fitted perfect in hole left by 3 way

And it's been good as gold.
Inverter was around same price as I went for Victron to integrate withy other stuff...

Lots of other cheaper eco mode pure sine inverters out there for a good chunk less...
Trev's probably got one with a Skoda badge on it that also run on Linux and will knee cap you if you don't behave ;-)

 

[Tezza33]

Recomended temp for freezer is -18 to 20, fridge 2/3c.

The temperature readings that I took were with the sun directly on the top vent, if I could turn the van around the readings would be lower, the temp also rises when you open the door a few times or add food to the fridge or freezer so I am happy with the readings that I am getting.
The recommended temperature for a freezer is -18c or lower for long term food storage, we don't use the van fridge for frozen food that isn't eaten within a short time, ice cubes and ice cream/lollies are fine.
I don't know where you got the recommended temperature for a fridge from but it is 3c - 5c where I have looked, anything above 5c causes rapid bacterial growth, but I can get mine lower by turning the thermostat up

 

[Nabsim]

I put 6 Seitz windows in mine Neil so no worries on that score and the extra high top gives it more of a spacious feel inside.

it will be interesting to see how the solar performs over the winter and I will probably have to turn the fridge off between trips. We very rarely stay anywhere more than 2 or 3 nights so we will be charging from the alternator as well between stops.

It was more the 'stealth' style vans I was referring to Rob

 

[trevskoda]

I might struggle with the noise of a 240v one, I'm a very light sleeper.

Not a squeek out of mine.

 

[trevskoda]

I don’t notice my 12V one at night despite sleeping next to it. Not sure why someone would choose a 230V one but I am sure someone will enlighten me.

Price, mine new £70 but got it from someone never used for £50, it is small though but works for 4 of us for one or two days easy and poss more, can top up at any garages here if required.

 

[wildebus]

I might struggle with the noise of a 240v one, I'm a very light sleeper.

not sure why you think a 240V fridge has to be noisy?

My 12V Waeco was silent but because of how it was mounted in a cupboard that was attached to the bed, I used to feel the compressor kick in. slight vibration.
My first 240V Fridge was a 97L one and was totally silent. I couldn't tell if it was running or not as regards sound. This was one of the 'inventor' fridges sold on Amazon and I know a lot of people have bought the same unit after I posted about it and I don't think anyone has been disappointed.
My current 240V Fridge/Freezer is an LEC 160L unit and again is totally silent.

If anyone is interested I have one of the Inventor fridges for sale. Bought as a spare in case the one in the Camper failed (it was my first try at using a mains fridge so was cautious). Needles to say, it never went wrong therefore I never used the spare and so it is in effect Brand New and still in the packaging.

The original price was £170. Looking for just half that at £85. This is the model here - https://amzn.to/44c8Noz