12v fridge freezers....

[JohnClimber]

Are the modern 12v fridges as good as a fully working old school 3 way Electrolux RM212 caravan fridge (which mine isn't and I've given up on it)?

200w of solar and 2 batteries, will they happly run say a Webasto Cruise Elegance 85 Litre 12/24v Caravan Campervan Motorhome Fridge?

I bow to your experiences and help :bow:

 

[molly 2]

Are the modern 12v fridges as good as a fully working old school 3 way Electrolux RM212 caravan fridge (which mine isn't and I've given up on it)?

200w of solar and 2 batteries, will they happly run say a Webasto Cruise Elegance 85 Litre 12/24v Caravan Campervan Motorhome Fridge?

I bow to your experiences and help :bow:

. Charlie will come along soon

 

[Deleted member 207]

I've got the smaller 45 litre Webasto and have been pleasantly surprised at how cold it gets, the little freezer box freezes ice cubes and an additional cooler block.
I leave it on all the time now, even when I'm not using the campervan as the solar panel is producing enough power to keep the 2 x 100aH batteries up to charge. Overnight they drop to about 12.8V, during bright sunlight they are fully charging at 13.8V.
I added some additional insulation (silvered foam) to the exterior of the fridge, so that may help as well.
Got home yesterday after a quick run down to Coffs Harbour (in Australia), temps in mid thirties Celsius and the fridge was fine, whereas the cab AC was struggling with the high humidity and was icing up.
I used to be an advocate of the RM series of Electrolux fridges, but in the 70 odd years since they were introduced the technology of the 12V compressor and solar panels has leapt ahead, you don't need to have a 3 way fridge now to go long periods of being on the one site as long as you have solar panels.
I don't have any gas appliances - just diesel and 12V - which is great as you don't lose space to a gas locker or underslung tank - is far cheaper as any competent person can fit diesel appliances and they don't need certifying annually or ten years on LPG tanks.

 

[wints]

Are the modern 12v fridges as good as a fully working old school 3 way Electrolux RM212 caravan fridge (which mine isn't and I've given up on it)?

200w of solar and 2 batteries, will they happly run say a Webasto Cruise Elegance 85 Litre 12/24v Caravan Campervan Motorhome Fridge?

I bow to your experiences and help :bow:

I replaced a 3 way fridge with a Shoreline 12v compressor fridge on my Hymer s650 (couple of vans ago)...150watt solar and 2 x 110 amp LB's...worked great, and the new fridge was very quiet.

Allen

 

[exwindsurfer]

I’ve ran a Waeco compressor fridge freezer 110ltr for four years now with no bother at all mind I do have three 125amp batteries and 400watts of solar.

 

[mistericeman]

Same here

We have a cfx 40...
Leave it running all the time loaded ready to go.. 3 x 100ah leisure batteries charged via a durite VSR and 2 x 100w solar panels on the roof.
Top the batteries up now and again in winter with a, 7 stage charger if we have a longer period between escapes.

 

[UFO]

We hired a MH in Western Australia a couple of years ago. The electric fridge was big enough for four of us including beer and wine. The battery was no bigger than 100ah, there was no solar panel, we did not drive everyday and only used EHU (because we wanted the air conditioning on) a couple of times. The fridge worked well.

Just finished nearly four weeks in New Zealand in a van with electric fridge, decent size leisure battery, a circa 100w solar panel and never used EHU. The fridge worked well including the freezer compartment.

Our van at home has a 3 way fridge but I would definitely have an electric one based on our experience.

 

[Channa]

In my experience having had vans and caravans (3way) a lot seems dependent on the installation no rhyme nor reason sometimes why one works very well and others like a chocolate fireguard.

I suspect manufactuers accommodate a fridge which is totally different to installing any appliance so that it works at optimum efficiency

Comparing compressor fridges with absorption fridges is a little like comparing a premiership football team to a pub side ...both may play a version of football but one more accomplished than the other.

2cv 's observation of irritating compressor noise aside ( one I hadn't thought of) compressor fridges tend to use more "complex" gasses that are more efficient have a better temperature glide and less reliant on ambient temperatures to offer competent performance.

IMHO if you have the electrics to add the beef required, a compressor fridge is far superior and the premiership team in fridge world and a far better bet than the absorption types which are not as efficient and cost an inproportionate amount of money to put right when they go wrong.

Channa

 

[JohnClimber]

Thanks all.

I've bit the bullet and ordered a new 12v fridge.

I bought it from a very helpful Tom at JPC Direct - Boat Heaters, Bow Thrusters and Boat Fridges and if you register to his site you get a welcome 10% new customer discount.
Plus his price was the lowest to start with so £50 in my pocket. :dance:

Anyone after an Elecrolux RM212 for spares or repairs? £50 collected

 

[DnK]

I wish I had posted up before I ordered the replacement which is now fitted and is working fine on gas on lowest setting and its 19c today. Having read alll the valuable responses I think I would have gone the 12v route being as i have 300watts solar and 3 x 100ah battery bank. Hey ho, lessons learnt. Thanks all who contributed to the thread.