New camper without 12 volt fridge
We are considering downsizing our camper. We have a 28 foot fifth wheel now. Wife really wants a smaller travel trailer. Problem we are having is that everything we see has a 12 volt fridge. We do a f...
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Reisender wrote:ktmrfs wrote:Reisender wrote:
Adda about 400 watts of solar (2 panels) and some additional battery capacity and you’ll be happy with the compressor unit. They are a better fridge and will keep things cooler in hot weather.
solar is fine IF you are either parked in the sun or have portable panels in the sun or have electric hookup. A stretch of cloudy days dry camping....... another story.
yes, the do cool faster, and keep stuff colder in hot weather IF you have power for them. There are days camping where a compressor fridge would have been fine, but there have also been time camping in constant cloudy weather where compressor fridge would have meant running a generator even with all the solar we have.
You just can't beat the energy density in BTU/lb of propane with current alternatives. Weeks of fridge running on a gallon of propane.
Yah I hear ya. But with 400 watts of solar and a corresponding battery back even under cloudy skys you would probably be fine for a few days.
Anyway. Hope you find a solution. Happy camping and safe travels.
John.
on a cloudy day that "400 watts of solar" is down to 100W or so, even less in heavy clouds. And if your in the northern US, in fall or spring not that many decent hours for solar "harvesting".
Yes it may be good for a day or two, but we often dry camp for a week or more and currently with a propane fridge even in cloudy days we don't need the generator. Comparing to my small trailer with a compressor fridge, I'd be running the generator every few days, PITA.
