Dometic RM8505 direct compressor fridge replacement?

[ManTheVan]

There are quite a few threads about replacing absorption fridges with compressor ones. Our RM8505 works well since I had the main PCB repaired, but I was wondering about replacing with a 12V/230V compressor fridge it if it goes again.

I've read Richard n Ann 's excellent thread on converting their absorption fridge with a compressor kit. I did the same with the boat's coolbox years ago, but we do rely on having the small ice compartment and want to retain the same facility.

Has anyone found a 12/230 compressor fridge that would make a direct replacement for the RM8505 that many of us have in our vans? Thetford? Another Dometic? A.N. Other?

 

[brocola]

Thetford T2160 seems to be a popular replacement for a RM8505. It's 12V compressor, so obvs need to have a good 12V system, lithium, solar, B2B etc.

 

[ManTheVan]

Thetford T2160 seems to be a popular replacement for a RM8505. It's 12V compressor, so obvs need to have a good 12V system, lithium, solar, B2B etc.

Wow, that one looks a hell of a lot bigger than our RM8505, which fits 'under the counter'. 106 litre total capacity.

 

[Steve and Denise]

Our new t2160 should arrive this week as soon as it arrives I will be removing our tech tower RMDT8505 and oven as we are going more electric,
I’ll try to take a few pictures and post them on here, the Dometic has worked ok for us to be fair, but we did fit fans when we first got it.

 

[brocola]

Sorry, schoolboy error, must pay more attention before posting.

I meant a replacement for a RMDT8505, which isn't what you asked

Yes you'd need to shrinky-dink the T2160 to replace a RM8505

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[brocola]

Our new t2160 should arrive this week as soon as it arrives I will be removing our tech tower RMDT8505

Eagerly anticipating your reports, considering the same replacement in our C Tourer at some point. That's why I so easily got carried away replying to ManTheVan with a completely bonkers suggestion, thought he was talking about replacing a RMDT8505

 

[ManTheVan]

Sorry, schoolboy error, must pay more attention before posting.

I meant a replacement for a RMDT8505, which isn't what you asked

Yes you'd need to shrinky-dink the T2160 to replace a RM8505

I wonder if Thetford has already done the shrinky-dinking on another model? It's a minefield, so thought I'd ask others here what they'd managed to find...

 

[ManTheVan]

Maybe it hasn’t been done…

 

[ManTheVan]

Just to update the thread for future reference, I've just found a possible compressor replacement for the under the counter Dometic RM8505. Unfortunately, it's also a Dometic and is eye-wateringly expensive.

Dometic NRX 130 - has almost identical dimensions but comes in at over £1200. Runs off 12V.

Domestic 230V under the counters are all too wide for the slot and would mean running the inverter 24/7.

I hope our absorption fridge lasts us a good while longer...