Fridge temperatures during lay-up

Brodie Allen · Guru

Fridge temperatures during lay-up

Radar · Guru

Brodie Allen wrote:
Just as a reassurance activity I regularly run all my devices
regularly during lay-up so that there isn't likely to be inconveniences
when preparing for holiday.

It's a 6-year old Dometic.

Today the fridge has shown -20 in the freezer and -7 in the general compartment.
Since ambient is around 20 overnight and 24 day I'm more than pleasantly
surprised with the results. Beats me how the thing is so powerful without
any mechanical assistance.

Can't imagine why one would need compressor 'fridges with their disadvantages
when 240v is not available.

Gee!

They are super game words.

Don't get me wrong, In our caravan I would have nothing else.

We also like to run caravan items so there is no surprises. In Brisbane it is a bit hard to justify turning the diesel heater onl.

Happy New Year and lots of caravanning enjoyment

KJB · Guru

Brodie Allen wrote:
Just as a reassurance activity I regularly run all my devices
regularly during lay-up so that there isn't likely to be inconveniences
when preparing for holiday.

It's a 6-year old Dometic.

Today the fridge has shown -20 in the freezer and -7 in the general compartment.
Since ambient is around 20 overnight and 24 day I'm more than pleasantly
surprised with the results. Beats me how the thing is so powerful without
any mechanical assistance.

Can't imagine why one would need compressor 'fridges with their disadvantages
when 240v is not available.

I do not know of any "disadvantages" of compressor fridges (my oldest is 34 years...and I currently own and use 3 incl. an "upright") A big "advantage" is the fridge/freezer temperature remains constant (doing what it is meant to do..) when ambient air temp. is high (30 C to 45 C ...plus ...) I have had both types (compressor and convection ) and there is simply no comparison..... KB

Whenarewethere · Guru

Our compressor fridge we set & forget. I don't even look how many amps it uses as it is so few. A no brainer.

Radar · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Our compressor fridge we set & forget. I don't even look how many amps it uses as it is so few. A no brainer.

We are talking caravan refrigeration here at the moment.

Bobdown · Guru

Brodie Allen wrote:
Just as a reassurance activity I regularly run all my devices
regularly during lay-up so that there isn't likely to be inconveniences
when preparing for holiday.

It's a 6-year old Dometic.

Today the fridge has shown -20 in the freezer and -7 in the general compartment.
Since ambient is around 20 overnight and 24 day I'm more than pleasantly
surprised with the results. Beats me how the thing is so powerful without
any mechanical assistance.

Can't imagine why one would need compressor 'fridges with their disadvantages
when 240v is not available.

Brodie, are we talking about a 3 way fridge and you are on gas? Not sure what " Beats me how the thing is so powerful without any mechanical assistance." means..............and you are not on 240v I take it.

Temps are good but the general part is too cold, frozen beer coming up.

Cheers Bob

peter67 · Guru

The frozen beer must be an awful type of torture.

yobarr · Guru

Radar wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
Our compressor fridge we set & forget. I don't even look how many amps it uses as it is so few. A no brainer.
We are talking caravan refrigeration here at the moment.

Hi Ralph.My caravan fridge/freezer is a compressor model,running off Lithium batteries that are solar charged.Cheerd

oldbloke · Guru

Some people convenienty forget both 3 way and 12v compressor fridges have pros and cons. For example compressor fridges require more power. This requires more solar and this adds weight to the van. A big negative. Gas fridges have no moving parts, surely an advantage. So it's horses for courses.

Let's not forget cost. Needs to be considered.

-- Edited by oldbloke on Thursday 30th of December 2021 08:50:59 PM

yobarr · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
Some people convenienty forget both 3 way and 12v compressor fridges have pros and cons. For example compressor fridges require more power. This requires more solar and this adds weight to the van. A big negative. Gas fridges have no moving parts, surely an advantage. So it's horses for courses.
Let's not forget cost. Needs to be considered.

Unfortunately,I cannot think of any "pro" for an antiquated 3 way fridge.Don't know how much power my 175 litre fridge/freezer uses,and don't care,as always I have cold beer,plenty of pre-cooked and frozen meals in the freezer,and no worries about having to find gas bottle refills in the back of beyond,at up to $80/bottle,I've been told? We are,after all,almost in the year 2022.Move with the times.As far as weight goes,again I don't care as I have a car that is quite capable of legally and safely towing my 3500kg van anywhere I choose to travel.Do it once,do it well.Cheers

P.S The 3 way fridge that was in my van when I bought it definitely had moving parts when I hurled it out onto the roadside verge.My neighbour swooped shortly after,thinking his Christmas had come early.

P.P.S Photo for illustration purposes only.Nice car isn't it?

-- Edited by yobarr on Friday 31st of December 2021 04:13:29 AM

oldbloke · Guru

So, to correct you 3 ways have no moving parts. And have served vanners very well for many years.

It is just this very pathetic one eyed knowall (I am the greatest) attitude that destroys quality discussion on forums. But being a troll you wouldn't understand I guess.

BTW are you going to once again cry "insults". Doesn't work if it's the truth.

travelyounger · Guru

Brodie Allen wrote:
Just as a reassurance activity I regularly run all my devices
regularly during lay-up so that there isn't likely to be inconveniences
when preparing for holiday.

It's a 6-year old Dometic.

Today the fridge has shown -20 in the freezer and -7 in the general compartment.
Since ambient is around 20 overnight and 24 day I'm more than pleasantly
surprised with the results. Beats me how the thing is so powerful without
any mechanical assistance.

Can't imagine why one would need compressor 'fridges with their disadvantages
when 240v is not available.

Hi

Have you been in hot climates with your 3 way fridge running on gas and the sun bearing down on your intake or the just about useless 12 volt option while travelling and the need to keep it level.

There are so many advantages of compressor fridges in caravans and cars which far out weigh the old technology much like certain makes of vehicles

Cheers and happy new year to all

Whenarewethere · Guru

Radar wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
Our compressor fridge we set & forget. I don't even look how many amps it uses as it is so few. A no brainer.
We are talking caravan refrigeration here at the moment.

Caravan, boat, car, same thing. For the boat you usually buy the compressor kit to build into the space of the hull yourself, for mere mortals anyway!

KJB · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
Some people convenienty forget both 3 way and 12v compressor fridges have pros and cons. For example compressor fridges require more power. This requires more solar and this adds weight to the van. A big negative. Gas fridges have no moving parts, surely an advantage. So it's horses for courses.

Let's not forget cost. Needs to be considered.

-- Edited by oldbloke on Thursday 30th of December 2021 08:50:59 PM

I think that the simplest and best thing to do is for you to "beg, borrow or steal " a compressor fridge/freezer and try/compare/test. KB

Radar · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Radar wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
Our compressor fridge we set & forget. I don't even look how many amps it uses as it is so few. A no brainer.
We are talking caravan refrigeration here at the moment.
Caravan, boat, car, same thing. For the boat you usually buy the compressor kit to build into the space of the hull yourself, for mere mortals anyway!

Yes, I agree, very practical but like the orignal poster, I brought a caravan of the shelf with a 3 way frig and from previous experience since 2012 we knew the 3 way frig would suit our needs with out extra cost or added weight of extra batteries.

We do like to run our caravan equipment when in lay up for any length of time, specially summer lay up which is from November to February. To be sure, to be sure.

We also use the 3 way frig as back up for Christmas extra food, the 12 volt car frig ticks away in the garage load with drinks.

Whenarewethere · Guru

We use the batteries to power all the gadgets & don't have ongoing gas expense.

We had a blackout on Christmas Eve & fired up the compressor fridge in the back of the car in the garage.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes like the filling of gas bottles is cheap . 3 way draws heaps on 240v and needs to be connected to outside power . Unless you drive 4 to 6 hours a day to charge batteries maintain charge, even then in some the thermostat doesnt work. Extra gas bottles if you want to stay out there or fill bottles at a cheaper place . My compressor 210litre fridge / freezer 12v runs on its own when stored through solar . Gas bottle fill can be as much $60+ for 9kg bottle ., sure makes things lighter ., In the wallet !! I replaced my 3 way best thing I ever did . No switching . I have VSR if cloudy days the feed will drop out if battery gets too low . Comes back on when solar charges .. tmk this has not tripped in yet !! We have had some overcast days this year !

oldbloke · Guru

Yep, but all that solar and batteries cost and add weight. Your not going to go to that expense and trouble if you use the van 3 or 4 months of the year. 3 ways are popular for a reason.

Radar · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Yes like the filling of gas bottles is cheap . 3 way draws heaps on 240v and needs to be connected to outside power . Unless you drive 4 to 6 hours a day to charge batteries maintain charge, even then in some the thermostat doesnt work. Extra gas bottles if you want to stay out there or fill bottles at a cheaper place . My compressor 210litre fridge / freezer 12v runs on its own when stored through solar . Gas bottle fill can be as much $60+ for 9kg bottle ., sure makes things lighter ., In the wallet !! I replaced my 3 way best thing I ever did . No switching . I have VSR if cloudy days the feed will drop out if battery gets too low . Comes back on when solar charges .. tmk this has not tripped in yet !! We have had some overcast days this year !

At some point in time and if we need a new frig, I may look at a 12 volt compressor frig, I will need to purchase the new frig, extra batteries, battery box and possible update our 340 watts of solar, remembering we only run 1 x 110 amp battery which for our 19 foot 6 ensuited caravan with a 184 litre 3 way Dometic is great.

14 days out of a 9 kg bottle of gas, at times 17 to 21 days using a mix of camping arrangements and very rarely pluging into 240 volts.

We try to get away for about 2 months but as we age 6 weeks seems to be the norm. Spend 10 days at home and head out again soon as the prescriptions are filled.

Very satisfied with our 12 years of caravanning with the new generation 3 ways but do like having the 12 volt compressor frig in the car for touring.

Magnarc · Guru

Our ten yr old van has a three way Dometic fridge that works very well. The van also has gas ducted heating. I cannot justify the expense of replacing it with a compressor fridge since I work under the maxim of " if it aint broke leave it alone". Gas bottles at the big green shed are $26-50 the times when Bunnings is not available according to my records we have never paid more than $30 00 for a refill and this expense is included in our overall trip costs. Gas is very economical in Summer when no heating is required. We have never run out of gas yet ( hand firmly on wood)

Just my two pennorth folks.

-- Edited by Magnarc on Friday 31st of December 2021 11:44:55 AM

yobarr · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
Yep, but all that solar and batteries cost and add weight. Your not going to go to that expense and trouble if you use the van 3 or 4 months of the year. 3 ways are popular for a reason.

Perhaps 3 ways are "popular" simply because people new to caravanning know no better,and those who are old hands are set in their ways,and reluctant to change because "We've always done it this way.Why change?". A little bit of research would reveal the inherent limitations of 3 way fridges. Back in the '60s when there was little choice,they may well have been a good thing,but times have changed.You suggest that it is not worth going to "that expense and trouble" if your van is used only 3 or 4 months of the year,but staying in van parks at $30-$40/night would cost you around $4000.And that's only ONE year. Many compressor fridges are 12 volt,and a suitable small solar solar system would be a lot less than $4000. And the red herring of "weight" doesn't stand scrutiny as a good sized system would weigh well under 100kg.My 1700 watt system weighs only 180kg,plus the weight of the inverter if you want 240 volt as well.Cheers

Mike Harding · Guru

Regular defrosting is very important with evaporative (three-way) fridges. Ice build-up seems to affect them more than it does a compressor fridge, I suspect this is due to the lower absolute cooling ability of the evaporative fridge, it cannot ramp up energy to overcome the ice build-up whereas a compressor fridge can.

For Australia, evaporative fridges come into their own in the cooler areas where it doesn't often get above 30C but, imo and experience, compressor fridges are pretty much essential for the routinely over 30C areas.

Both types have their advantages and drawbacks: compressor fridges need a life support system of solar panels/generator, chargers and batteries but will work almost anywhere. Evaporative fridges needs a gas bottle and will work in lots of places.

As always: horses for courses.

Are We Lost · Guru

I have had both types of fridge and agree the compressor works better. However, I have a 3 way and would get the same again. I looked at the specs for a similar size compressor fridge (Bushman 190L) and it is rated at 4.5 amps. So on a blazing hot day when it runs pretty well constantly that may consume maybe 90 AH. I would need to avoid shade and park in the sun for the solar to keep up the supply. We also have laptops and other goodies consuming precious battery capacity so could use over 120 AH a day. Cloudy/wet days the demand would be less, but a couple of those and we would need to seek an alternate charging method.

On our last long trip of over 3 months, almost exclusively freecamping, a gas bottle lasted about 10-12 days. The fridge would have been the biggest consumer but gas was also used for cooking, BBQ and hot water. So we could go maybe 3 weeks if needed. But running short of provisions and water would require a town visit before then anyway.

Insulate and ventilate a 3 way properly and it will perform fine.

Mike Harding · Guru

Are We Lost wrote:
also have laptops and other goodies consuming precious battery capacity so could use over 120 AH a day.

I'm planning to change from 184L evaporative fridge/freezer to a 200L+ compressor at some point over the next year or so and my measurements indicate it'll consume around 1kWh of energy on 30C days. I now have 800W of solar so should be able to service this demand but one or two cloudy days or awkward tree coverage will see me reverting to the generator.

So now I need:

Generator 26kg ($2000!)

Battery charger

Solar panels 60kg

AGM batteries 60kg

----

I do sometimes wonder if I should stick with my current setup of the 184L evaporative FF and a 60L chest compressor FF in the vehicle which is a left-over from my 4WDing days.

yobarr · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Regular defrosting is very important with evaporative (three-way) fridges. Ice build-up seems to affect them more than it does a compressor fridge, I suspect this is due to the lower absolute cooling ability of the evaporative fridge, it cannot ramp up energy to overcome the ice build-up whereas a compressor fridge can.
For Australia, evaporative fridges come into their own in the cooler areas where it doesn't often get above 30C but, imo and experience, compressor fridges are pretty much essential for the routinely over 30C areas.
Both types have their advantages and drawbacks: compressor fridges need a life support system of solar panels/generator, chargers and batteries but will work almost anywhere. Evaporative fridges needs a gas bottle and will work in lots of places.
As always: horses for courses.

As you perhaps suggest,Mike,those 3 way things are next to useless once the temps reach high 20s or so.Might(?) be good in winter.Presently I am in an area where temps have been over 40 degrees for more than a week,dropping to high 20s or low 30s at night.Blessed be the compressor fridge and the AC for supplying cold beer and cool air for that period,and all at no cost once it's set up.When I was Derby,for example,I was told that a 9kg bottle of gas was $85.I'd rather spend that money on topping up my (icy cold) beer supply! Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Friday 31st of December 2021 05:26:06 PM

BAZZA44 · Senior Member

Brodie Allen wrote:
Just as a reassurance activity I regularly run all my devices
regularly during lay-up so that there isn't likely to be inconveniences
when preparing for holiday.

It's a 6-year old Dometic.

Today the fridge has shown -20 in the freezer and -7 in the general compartment.
Since ambient is around 20 overnight and 24 day I'm more than pleasantly
surprised with the results. Beats me how the thing is so powerful without
any mechanical assistance.

Can't imagine why one would need compressor 'fridges with their disadvantages
when 240v is not available.

I do not want to burst your bubble Brodie but when you readjust the thermostat to bring the fridge temp back to +4 then the freezer will be back to about -9.

I will stick with my compressor fridge.

Barry

Dick0 · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Are We Lost wrote:
also have laptops and other goodies consuming precious battery capacity so could use over 120 AH a day.
I'm planning to change from 184L evaporative fridge/freezer to a 200L+ compressor at some point over the next year or so and my measurements indicate it'll consume around 1kWh of energy on 30C days. I now have 800W of solar so should be able to service this demand but one or two cloudy days or awkward tree coverage will see me reverting to the generator.
So now I need:
Generator 26kg ($2000!)
Battery charger
Solar panels 60kg
AGM batteries 60kg
----
I do sometimes wonder if I should stick with my current setup of the 184L evaporative FF and a 60L chest compressor FF in the vehicle which is a left-over from my 4WDing days.

Am I reading that correctly...1000Watts per hour of energy to run the fridge?

Mike Harding · Guru

Dick0 wrote:
Am I reading that correctly...1000Watts per hour of energy to run the fridge?

No, you are not.
It'll be around 1kWh per day.

boab · Senior Member

seems like Yobarr is off playing with himself again derby hardware exchange cost $39 dont let the truth get in the way of a good story

Dick0 · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Dick0 wrote:
Am I reading that correctly...1000Watts per hour of energy to run the fridge?

No, you are not.
It'll be around 1kWh per day.

One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the electrical energy consumed by an electrical appliance of power 1 kW when it is used for 1 hour. It is used as the commercial unit of electricity.

Perhaps you mean 1kW per day?