Hi everyone, this is our first time as members but have looked at a lot of comments recently. Our concern is that we are buying another van and are trying to decide what type of fridge to install; either 3 way or compressor. It used to be that the 3 way style hated being on a site that was not level and that the compressor just about forgave you anything. Can anyone advise what the latest news is as it is our intention to do a lot of free camping and we know from past experience that getting a level site is not always possible.
We believe we will be providing sufficient power from planned number of solar panels but when we decide on the type of fridge will then have to decide on the number of batteries
We had a Vitrifrigo in the caravan - from 1998 to 2012, we lived in van for a total of about 8.5 years, which is a lot of fridge running. Did some pretty rough roads too in that time. Spent a lot of time up north - fridge coped beautifully with the heat. At one stage, worked in Pilbara and lived in van on a construction site - temps outside were over 45 degrees - fridge behaved perfectly. That was a 12v fridge that worked from van batteries, which in turn were charged by either solar or 240v in parks.
In the bus, have a 12/240v compressor fridge - a dometic, I think. It has not been tested under the extremes of the van, but we have just come back from 3 months up north and are very happy with it. It seems quieter than the Virtrifrigo was. It is set up so that when we plug into 240v, the fridge automatically goes on to that. When that is unplugged then it reverts to 12v from house batteries. We do not have to do any changing about. But as we bought the bus already set up, I do not know any more about the mechanics of that operation.
Some reckon that absorption fridges must be dead level to work. This is not true. They will work over a greater range of angles that I am prepared to sleep on.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
We have a Samsung 320ltr household fridge we bought from Hardly Normal at a really good price and we run it 24/7 from 3 x 200w 24v panels on the roof and 4 x 200ah batteries connected up to be 24v converted to 240v by a 2000w/4000w pure sinewave inverter/charger.
We never goto caravan parks and have only ever had to start our Honda 20i generator once in 4 years.
When we are at home I sometimes plug into power to give the batteries a boost charge..
Be a good idea to tell us what size van you have and what area do you have to put the fridge.
If you have a pre defined spot for the fridge I would suggest trying to put in a compressor fridge and then instal the batteries to give you three days of power for your required usage including all your expected daily grains.
If you have no batteries and have the capacity to get say 400Ah of AGM's then look at a 240v with a inverter to run the fridge and allow extra for those small things like charging and Tv etc.
We all have different setups so if we know what size you are looking for in a fridge eg 80l or 360l it all makes a difference.
If you don't have the fridge already which I assume you have not, then look at the 240v and put the extra money into the batteries. With a 240v fridge you can replace it at any electrical store anywhere in Australia . Not possible for a 2way or 3 way fridge.
Regards
Brian
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
