What's the most efficient fridge you've used?

landyacht318 wrote:
My Norcold De0040 lasted a little over 5 years running 11 months a year

It was loud and vibrated a lot. 1.7 cubic feet, consumed about 18 to 20 amp hours per 24 hours, but there are many variables to that. My figure is 80 max f daytime ambients and minimal door openings.

When the Norcold failed, I replaced it with a Vitrifrigo. The Danfoss/Secop compressor is much quieter with no vibration.

Danfoss compressors speed are adjustable from 2000 to 3500 rpm.

The Norcold drew 2.7 amps running.

My Danfoss starts about 3.0 amps and tapers down to 2.5 amps within a minute of kicking on. I have it at 2000 rpm but it came with a resistor to run at 2500rpm and there it drew 3.6 amps that tapered to 3.2 by the end of the cycle.

The Vitrifrigo (1.8 cubic feet)is slightly more efficient than the Norcold, and much quieter.

Residential 120vac fridges run via an inverter will consume much more than a fridge designed for DC. The 130$ dorm fridge from lowes/HD is a False economy, unless you camp primarily with hookups and battery consumption is not an issue

Like you mentioned, the Home Depot fridge running via the inverter is not an option. I plan on being off the grid almost exclusively and for long periods of time. Fortunately I have 195 watts of solar so keeping a fridge by itself running shouldn't be an issue but I have other items that need juice too, hence my search for the most efficient fridge I can find (within a reasonable price range).

You said the Vitrifrigo is more efficient than the Norcold and the Norcold was averaging 18-20 amp hours per day? That's really good. I'll have to check them out. Some people on another forum have mentioned the Truck Fridge as a good option as well.

Seems the Danfoss compressor is a real winner in many different models...