Compressor -v- 3 way fridge

You are not grasping the difference between copmpressor and absorpton, the temperature around the heat exchanger is much more critical to it's performance hence the need for fans to improve the cooling. Your domestic fridge with it's compressor is a very efficient heat pump and does not rely so much on teperature differentials.

Don't get me wrong within their limitations the absorption fridges work fine and I have no intention of rushing out to replace the one in my van, though if it went belly up I would seriously consider a compressor unit to replace it. If I was intending to spend summers in the Med area I would also think more carefully about a change.

Boats do not use compressor fridges because they have lots of leccy, they don't, but because absorption fridges dont like being tilted. Many small boats without room for big battery banks and hundreds of watts of solar would love to have a gas powered fridge instead of no fridge as at present.
 
Never had an issue with our 3 way fridge in 2009 van at temp ranges from -24 when skiing to 35 in France. Now have a 2013 van performed great this summer on all occasions.
 
I prefer a 3 way fridge. I like to find nice quiet spots to camp and the tranquility is ruined for me by a compressor whirring away for hours.
 
Some campervan converters will only fit compressor fridges - I'm a bit dubious about this. They assure me that they are fine for 3 nights camping off EHU?

I've only ever used 3 way ones which in all the caravans and campervans I've had have been excellent even in hot weather and, apart from one occasion when my Autoquest was on a heck of a slope, not being level has never affected them.
 
Sorry but a heat pump is an energy transport system. My brother heats his house by extracting heat fron the air outside which may be freezing and transports it into the house.
 
The new compressor firdge fitted in our recently acquired van is one of the few drawbacks compared with the ancient vehicle it replaced. The 3way in that worked amazingly well and could cope with any slopes that we found acceptable for sleeping. This new thing drains the battery far too quickly and is noisy to boot
 
tadpole58 said:
The new compressor firdge fitted in our recently acquired van is one of the few drawbacks compared with the ancient vehicle it replaced. The 3way in that worked amazingly well and could cope with any slopes that we found acceptable for sleeping. This new thing drains the battery far too quickly and is noisy to boot
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Probably worth swapping the fan for a silent computer fan.

Also worth bearing in mind that the freezer compartments don't always stay frozen. It deep ds on the ambient temperature and the fridge setting. The closer the ambient temp ti the fridge temp the less often the pump kicks in. This means freezer warms up more between cycles as it doesn't have its own dedicated pump.
 
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tadpole58 said:
The new compressor firdge fitted in our recently acquired van is one of the few drawbacks compared with the ancient vehicle it replaced. The 3way in that worked amazingly well and could cope with any slopes that we found acceptable for sleeping. This new thing drains the battery far too quickly and is noisy to boot
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My Waeco compressor coolbox is very quiet normally, however, if the unit is tilted, particulary from to back then it starts to chug along like an air-compressor but still seems to work well regardless. I always try to keep it level.
 
Kainene said:
Some campervan converters will only fit compressor fridges - I'm a bit dubious about this. They assure me that they are fine for 3 nights camping off EHU?

I've only ever used 3 way ones which in all the caravans and campervans I've had have been excellent even in hot weather and, apart from one occasion when my Autoquest was on a heck of a slope, not being level has never affected them.
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I have done 4 nights off hook up on a compressor inc charging phones/TV/Lights etc on a 110Ah leisure battery....now I have a 100w solar... I have no worries at all..
 
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