Compressor fridge or

[dipsie]

Our Dometic 3 Way 94ltr ? fridge has been on gas or electric through all the very hot weather in August this year set on the 3 position and everything in the freezer has kept frozen from day to day.
We have had to remember to take out the “ rib eyes “ in the mornings to be able to barbie them in the evening.

Perhaps we are just lucky with a Dometic that actually works properly !

BernieT

 

[the1andonly]

Had a compressor (coolerbox top load style) in my Bongo campervan ...this is a common configuration in VW campervans across Europe.... fantastic kit... 12 amps per day consumption so 3-4 days on a 110 ah leisure battery .....so....added 100w solar and an MPPT charger and bingo...can be left on full time.... Now as for noise... nah nothing untoward at all really...and to be honest they are fabulous....

I could have written this totaly aggree
I also had a 100w solar panel mounted on a trailer (used to carry drive away awning) allowed use of fridge in van or tent.
They are not cheap but effective mine was an ertil 18l, not huge.

 

[rod_vw]

I've fitted Waeco CR65s (now a CRX65) in my last four campers and always found them excellent and perfectly trouble free. Because mine are fitted in exceptionally tight spaces I have fitted extra thermostatically controlled fans to assist circulation behind the cabinet.
We were in Holland in the 2019 summer and had 43 degrees ambient but the fridge worked without any problem.
As for noise, even in the confines of a LWB VW T6, if the cabinet area is well insulated (for sound and heat) the sound from the fridge is almost indiscernible even at night. Just occasionally I hear a slight 'bump' as the compressor starts up and bounces on its rubber mountings.
I believe that having no holes in the side of the van is a very good thing.

 

[Raul]

Look at price comparison at absorption vs compressor, more money more honey. A compressor will use 1/5 of the energy Compared to absorption. It’s down to individual choice and suitability. I would not lump LPG around to be wasted by fridge. But a reasonable light weight lithium will suffice to keep the fridge and a freezer running. Add solar, and your fuel is free. Gas installation costs, needs careful and safety maintenance, and you are limited by availability of supply. Some will suit absorption, some will prefer the compressor option.

 

[Raul]

I've fitted Waeco CR65s (now a CRX65) in my last four campers and always found them excellent and perfectly trouble free. Because mine are fitted in exceptionally tight spaces I have fitted extra thermostatically controlled fans to assist circulation behind the cabinet.
We were in Holland in the 2019 summer and had 43 degrees ambient but the fridge worked without any problem.
As for noise, even in the confines of a LWB VW T6, if the cabinet area is well insulated (for sound and heat) the sound from the fridge is almost indiscernible even at night. Just occasionally I hear a slight 'bump' as the compressor starts up and bounces on its rubber mountings.
I believe that having no holes in the side of the van is a very good thing.

I agree, I did the same. Our fridge crx 50 is fitted on a slight oversized cupboard and foam insulated. No solid fixings to the cabinet to transmit vibrations. No resonance at all. The freezer is at the back and I do hear it. I can unplug it for the night if necessary. So far no problems.

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[Reallyretired]

Never had a compressor fridge. So can't compare.. always had 3way Dometic fridges.
However i am always surprised to hear the so many negative things people have to say about them.
I have never had a problem with them over the 25years I have been c'vanning and m'homing.
I firmly believe (as I have stated many times on this forum) there is absolutely nothing wrong with them...... It is the appalling way that some manufacturers fit them not understanding the requirements. How many times have you heard members saying that they fit winter covers to vents to stop the draught inside van...There should be no draughts if fridge fitted properly..
How many have checked behind fridge to find a great big space between back of fridge and side of van and the manufactures have not fitted the recommended baffle plate to improve airflow and cooling. Yes sound strange to restrict air flow to improve cooling but it means the air is passing thru the working part of fridge and not scooting up past it.. as hot air rises past baffle it also creates a chimney effect and therefore improves air flow.!!!

I also have never had a problem with 30 plus years of using 3 way fridges. Ours managed freezer temps of -16 with ambient temperatures up to 39 in France last month. Thats 45 degrees below ambient so dont know where the figure quoted of 20 degrees comes from. (I have temperature senders in fridge and freezer.)

 

[bigtwin]

I also have never had a problem with 30 plus years of using 3 way fridges. Ours managed freezer temps of -16 with ambient temperatures up to 39 in France last month. Thats 45 degrees below ambient so dont know where the figure quoted of 20 degrees comes from. (I have temperature senders in fridge and freezer.)

Can you provide details of the temperature senders/sensors that you use?

Cheers

Ian

 

[Reallyretired]

Can you provide details of the temperature senders/sensors that you use?

Cheers

Ian

Amazon product ASIN B07KGDWWCX

 

[EuroTrotters]

30 plus years in RAC, my opinion if you ha d the power capacity, compressor.

 

[Chris CM]

I have a 3 way absorption fridge in my Devon PVC, last year in France and Spain I found it struggled during the +35 degree heat so this year, during lockdown, I fitted the CBE fan kit, due to Covid so far I’ve not had the opportunity to try it out in really hot weather, for comparison I also have an ARB 35litre compressor fridge which I used when overlanding in my Land Rover Defender, it is a superb bit of kit, holds the temperature down to -18 no problem in +35 degrees with minimal cycling and energy use. Currently I’m using it as a back up freezer for our lockdown supplies. Given the choice I would always go compressor if I had a decent solar/battery system.

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[Graham Page]

They work much better if you fit a couple of 12v cooling fans in the gap behind the fridge. Fit is in the top vent to suck out the hot air. We bought an easy to fit kit which works quietly and automatically and since then I have never suffered with warm beer even in the middle of summer.

Edit DO NOT buy Dometic's cooling kit fan, it is next to useless. Ours was made by CBE.

Fitted the CBE fan kit in mine this year. For 50 quid it transformed my 3 way RM6505 Fridge freezer. Ran on low or medium setting during two weeks away in almost 30plus temps everyday and worked perfectly. Minus 14 in the freezer. Not bad for a 16 year old absorption fridge.

 

[Siming13]

Had our Adria Twin almost a year now with a compressor fridge. I was a bit sceptical at first but now we love it. It has a night setting & as I sleep right next to it I appreciate that. It can be left on all the time even when parked up away from camp or ferries etc. Solar panels keep the single leisure battery topped up & our gas use is so low ! Wouldn't go back now.

 

[Vikdikdok]

One advantage of compressor fridges is they can be regassed, when a 3 way loses it's gas it's scrap.

I'd prefer a compressor fridge given the choice but we've only got 1 battery and there's no room for another. Might consider it if the 3 way breaks. First thing I'd do is see if I could reuse the fridge box and just change the workings, I know the 3 way module detaches

You can buy just the compressor & fit it into your own "fridge" - Dometic/Weaco sell them

 

[Coolcats]

We are happy with the fridge in our MoHo, it may be small but does the job. Thinking about an extended non shopping Covid trip even in the UK have decided to try one of these. If you shop around it’s possible to pick one up <£300. Am also going to try vacuum storage as well so the aim is to be fully sufficient food wise for 14-17 days.

Arrived today. It’s an interesting pei e of kit had it running on 12v first of all and the thermo electric worked fine. The has it in electric mode and it cooled down to -20

will have a play about with u I t as the thought is to freeze food then when traveling have it on thermoelectric and hopefully it will take a while for anything to thaw.

 

[Vikdikdok]

Arrived today. It’s an interesting pei e of kit had it running on 12v first of all and the thermo electric worked fine. The has it in electric mode and it cooled down to -20

will have a play about with u I t as the thought is to freeze food then when traveling have it on thermoelectric and hopefully it will take a while for anything to thaw.

Wrap it in a sheet of 2" thick polystyrene & it'll work more efficiently

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[Coolcats]

Wrap it in a sheet of 2" thick polystyrene & it'll work more efficiently

Quite probably, have tested it over the past couple of days. Room temp 22 degrees c in thermo electric mode the internal temp drops to 3 degrees. In freezer mode it drops to -20 c I placed the ice cube tray in and it rises to +2 In around 6 hours.

so if the unit is full of frozen food it should be good enough to keep frozen for most if not all UK travel.

I also tried -20c placed the ice cube tray in and switched on the thermoelectric mode. As expected this caused the unit to raise its temp to +2 in a few hours.

Agree with your thoughts in the polystyrene

 

[EdwardFT]

This is interesting, I have a 3-way fridge but it does struggle over 30 degrees, which is not uncommon in my usual lifestyle choice. Removing the outside grilles helps, adding a fan helps a bit more - 3x120mm pc fans, and good ones work better than cheapest - and not opening the door helps most of all, but it takes many hours to cool back down.

It wasn't satisfactory so I just bought a Dometic 31 Litre compression fridge, coolbox-style. I haven't had a chance to test it out on battery only yet, but I am impressed by how cold it runs And how fast it cools down. The temperature reading is wacky so I got a wireless thermometer. It will get down to 2-4 degrees really quickly and stay there even after opening the lid a few times. Obviously a top-opening helps with keeping in the cold. But now I am trying running it as a freezer and it is gobsmacking, down to -15 no problem. At that rate I can store frozen food, and also cycle cool-blocks between it and the fridge, to help the fridge out.

I may look at replacing the 3-way with a compressor sometime. Does anyone have experience of doing this, especially of keeping the fridge unit in place and just replacing the cooling mechanism, if that is possible?

 

[Richard n Ann]

keeping the fridge unit in place and just replacing the cooling mechanism, if that is possible?

Yes that's what I'd do, cheaper too

Waeco Dometic Cold Machine Kit Evaporator VD-01 - Compressor CU55

An attractively priced cooling unit package with evaporator included which is good value for money and capable of cooling up to 100 litres. Connnection: voltage 12/24 V DC Fully hermetic compressor with control electronics and integrated low-voltage protection, adjustable low-voltage cut-off...

www.foxschandlery.com

 

[Richard n Ann]

They do ones with different evaporators or perhaps you could source your own small fan assisted one how cool would that be
Don't know if they come pre charged with refrigerant so you might need an engineer to commission it. Also you'd have to have a good measure up to make sure the condenser unit will fit somewhere near the fridge

 

[Richard n Ann]

Looks like VD03 is a small fan assisted evap...

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[Richard n Ann]

Or VD16 is for sure..

 

[EdwardFT]

They do ones with different evaporators or perhaps you could source your own small fan assisted one how cool would that be
Don't know if they come pre charged with refrigerant so you might need an engineer to commission it. Also you'd have to have a good measure up to make sure the condenser unit will fit somewhere near the fridge

Yes of course it would need an engineer. Probably the right solution would be just to remove the whole 3-way fridge when it finally dies, and slide in a domestic fridge. I measured the space and a standard 50cm under-counter fridge would fit (and get in the van door!).

As an aside, I have just finished 2 months in an Airbnb house, which I booked for convalescence after an operation (unnecessary in the event, I felt fine after a couple of weeks). I filled the fridge/freezer in the house. In my last week or so, I thought I had virtually emptied it ready to get back on the road, but when I came to put the remaining stuff in the motorhome, the 3-way fridge was rammed full. It really has very little space compared to a domestic fridge.

 

[Spawn_e_git]

We have the tall Dometic Fridge/Freezer unit which works well but did struggle last year in the South of France. Mainly I feel this was due to the amount of beer and wine loaded in it every day!!
For this year I brought a Mobicool 40L compressor cool box for the garage. Is compressor on both 12v and 120-240 mains. It can freeze to -10.

Its quiet and the fan is the loudest part but it's no more than a laptop / PC fan.

https://www.svb24.com/en/mobicool-mcf40-compressor-cooler.html

 

[macker1]

Always wanted to try a compressor fridge for simplicity.

When we got the Hymer (1986) I was happy to replace the original, untested, nearly 35 years old 3 way. (open to offers)

Searched for an efficient under-counter domestic (not Dometic) fridge, an efficient 600w psw inverter, 2 trojan batteries and 2 x 100w solar panels.

Much quieter than the gas on our old van, and uses about 5amps for 15-20 mins per hour and batteries are fine.

This is in Scotland.... Though we do usually spend more time in Spain, oh well post covid hopefully.....

What make of fridge did you get?

 

[Dazzlin]

What make of fridge did you get?

MUR4892M | Fridgemaster

fridgemaster.co.uk

Just a standard under counter, about £100...picked a low energy model.

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