EverChill Refrigerator

valhalla360 wrote:
They did include what they refer to as a "juice pack" but it's a little underbuilt. It's a 50w solar panel, 10amp controller and a single battery.

Underbuilt would be an understatement. 50w of solar is almost nothing.

What it seems most of you don't know is that the vast majority of RV people go from FHU site to another FHU site. True boondocking is not even in the cards. We went to a doem reefer and an inverter when the OE unit died and we could not purchase a repair cooling unit and have any money left for a vacation. 12 years later, the temporary fix is still there.

Matt

wa8yxm wrote:
The folks saying RV makers are going to abandon Absorption fridges. A technology that's older than my Grandfather.. Way older and grandpa was a refrigeration engineer (Maternal side he died before I was born by about a month) I think those folks are talking through their hat as once was said.

They are, however, offering electric as an option.

Kind of like Ford offered any color you want as long as it's black.

We bought a trailer last fall and almost no absorption fridges available.

Not 100% sold yet on durability but so far no issues with 6 months. They did include what they refer to as a "juice pack" but it's a little underbuilt. It's a 50w solar panel, 10amp controller and a single battery. They recommend turning the thermostat down when boondocking to reduce amp-hrs used. Eventually, we will get a portable solar panel to supplement along with a 2nd battery.

The pros is for the same space, it has around 30% more interior space. Also, it cools much quicker when you load it up.

I'm using a GE 9.8 cu.ft 12V fridge. Very similar to the Everchill. Replaced my POS Nevercold with it. I have 4 GC 6V batteries and 400W of solar. I can go for days without worrying. I'll never go back to absorption.
Back story is that my 1.5 year old Norcold had clogged lines. I tried everything to remedy the situation except take it out and burp it. It started to not cool after the 1st year. everything was fine as far as the heating element on gas or elect. I did the by pass fix and the temps never wavier'd much from the outside ambient temps. I even installed two fans on the roof cover to help draw air up pass the lines.

I could've went with a JC refrigeration convert kit but decided to not have to deal with the Norcold electronics that also seem to be an issue from time to time.
started researching and it seems that 12V fridges have been in the marine world for years. I found my GE at a local appliance store. $950 with a 3 year warranty. about the same price for the JC conversion. But I got 2 more cu.ft, don't have to deal with propane or the whole elec to propane back and forth situation. The GE cools down in a few hrs and holds 35-36 and -4 to 10 on the freezer. It's quiet and I can run it while traveling without worries.

My 12V fridge is 9.8 cu.ft and fit right in the hole for the 8 (7.5) cu.ft Nevercold.
I wired it directly to a 12V breaker on my converter box.
Used some of the NC trims to finish it off.
Inside is like a res fridge. More open and usable. If this one fails I'll get another 12V.
I will say though you do need good batteries and at least some solar. 200W would be sufficient for several days of nice weather and not using the house batteries for big items. Solar's free and panels aren't much if you shop around. Mine were only $95 or so each. Pick up a simple solar charger and thats all.

The extra room and simplicity alone are worth it to me. I would never do a res fridge as they require an inverter and draw too much power.

First Videos are a waste of bandwidth in my opinion..
The folks saying RV makers are going to abandon Absorption fridges. A technology that's older than my Grandfather.. Way older and grandpa was a refrigeration engineer (Maternal side he died before I was born by about a month) I think those folks are talking through their hat as once was said.

They are, however, offering electric as an option.

The double-door one says 65w, which is pretty small. So at a 50% duty cycle, that's about (65/12) x 12= 65ah. 2 6v acid tubs is about 120ah, useable. So that's about half your capacity. I think I'd be going with at least 4 batteries and some good solar. Resi (compressor) fridges may surprise you with their appetites.

CavemanCharlie wrote:
I heard a person saying that one of the popular RV manufactures were going to discontinue absorption fridges and switch to only using these.

The only reason they'd be doing that is because of cost, and unwary customers. The gas refers, imho, are still the best for dry camping.