RV Refrigerator

Pulled it out and put in a residential. Less Sodium Chromate means the cooling units are lasting a shorter time so why bother with then anymore.

You might find some helpful info here.

The absorption fridge in our previous Class A worked fine for 19 years, and still works well as far as I know. The 13 year old absorption fridge in our current Class A also works well. Both of them benefited from aftermarket internal and external modifications to optimize air circulation.

We have to use a fan in it to get the air to move (why don't they build them with fans???). I get tired of food that shouldn't freeze being pushed back against the coils and freezing. I had to toss carrots today....VERY irritating!

Absorption refrigerators are efficient users of electrical power, which powers the control unit, and propane (for cooling), but are slow to cool down from startup. Adding fans, both inside and outside, will improve efficiency and uniform cooling. Since RVs are frequently used where electricity is limited to batteries, household type (using a compressor and Freon) refrigerators are impractical. If an owner has a large enough coach with a large (six or eight 6 volt batteries), and is willing to recharge this battery bank frequently, then a residential type is preferred.

What does this have to do, with the RV experience?

Absorption refrigeration principal has been used since early 1800's
Commercial production in early 1900s but were expensive $350-$600 OUCH!




Make sure they are level when operated stationary. OK to operate while in transit.
Use ammonia, hydrogen, water and sodium chromate mixture as coolant. Newer versions have replaced hydrogen with helium
Takes 8-12 hrs. on initial start-up to properly cool down.
Freezer gets cold first then food section can cool down
Freezer can be cold and food section not get cold due to blaockage
Don't place hot foods in fridge...best to pre-cool items first
Can have difficulty keeping cool when outside temps are above 100*F and if below 32*F
Can be operated on 110V AC power, 12V DC power or Propane
Come in many different sizes/styles from basic to all the bells and whistles
Can be care free/reliable or junk
Most have been recalled
Some have caused fires


RV Absorption Refrigerator Homework

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Fire Info Link


When you get thru reading the provided links you should be able to write a good summary. Don't forget 'credits/acknowledgements'

Mine will start freezing after a couple of hours. I use fans in the back to keep the air moving and a fan inside to keep the temperature evenly distributed in the refrigerator compartment. Great invention; practical and efficient.

Non-technical (female) opinion - We have had RV's for about 20 years and I don't like the refrig. It works but depending on the weather it can be bad or good. Ice cream doesn't freeze well, things in the fridge section freeze when they shouldn't. We are fulltimers so ours is in use 365 days a year. I plan on replacing it with a residential one soon.

Have had four RVs with absorption refrigerators and they all worked pretty well. I dislike having to be level when parked but otherwise have found them to keep food cold and work especially well on propane. I do use a battery-operated fan inside to distribute the cooling evenly.

The new RV I'm picking up next month has a small AC/DC fridge with a Danfoss compressor. I won't have to worry about leveling and it will run mostly on solar power but I think I might miss the propane operation.