I was looking at a motorhome that was equipped with an all-electric compressor refrigerator. I have never seen one before in a motorhome. I found a video on the net about the pros and cons of compressor v. absorption units and some of the pros on the compressor units is the ability to regulate the temperature much better and the fridge does not need to be leveled. One of the negatives is the sound they make when the compressor comes on, just like the residential units.It's worth mentioning the RV came equipped with 200 watts of solar panels to help keep the batteries charged. As someone that dry camps frequently, I'm wondering how often the generator has to run to keep the batteries charged. As you all know, absorption refrigerators can run practically forever on very little propane.I'd like to hear from anyone that has one of these RV compressor refrigerators, not the residential ones. The link below shows the refrigerator I saw in the motorhome. There is next to nothing on the net about these fridges so I'm assuming they're fairly new.https://www.rvpartscountry.com/Norcold-AC-DC-RV-Refrigerator-DE006-1r-built-in.html

Adequate solar doesn’t help keep the batteries charged. It fully recharges almost every day. Do an energy use survey. That’s where you start to determine necessary battery AHs, solar panels, controller and wiring.Info says 3.2 amps when running on 12 volt. https://www.rvupgradestore.com/REFER-DE0061TR-p/72-4825.htm

I've been looking at Novakool. They make Marine refridgerators and freezers that can run on 12v or 24v. One similar in size to the Norcold is only a couple hundred dollars or so more expensive, but they are proven units used in boats. I've seen a couple YouTube videos were people built their own campervans from scratch and installed Novakool units. They also had solar panels installed on the roofs with about 400 to 600 watts of battery.Since I plan on using solar in the future and building a camper van or enclosed 16 foot utility trailer/camper with 800 to 1000 watts of solar I'll probably go one of 2 routes. One is a large Domestic chest refridgerators/freezer in freezer only mode and a dorm fridge. The other route is a tall Novakool with freezer on the bottom and if needed a small dometic chest freezer/fridge I can fire up if I needed a little extra freezer space.If I stick with just my 28 ft TT I am considering adding solar any way. I might also replace my weak Norcold with a Novakool.

Many yrs ago I had a Norcold AC/DC in a 25 ft Bayliner for 15 yrs, and other than getting a larger alternator on the 350 chev, there was never a problem. But we seldom went out in hot weather, so good reason why battery power was never a problem w/ 2 6v golf car batts.

Depending on your needs, I have seen a lot of high end fifth wheels (at shows) with standard household refrigerators. I would NOT limit myself to an AC/DC refrigerator although one that runs off of DC might be a bit more efficient. Don't turn your nose up at 24VDC.Solar/generator use is hard to say. First of course, is power consumption by the 'fridge and the inverter, if you are using one. If the 'fridge is going to run off of an inverter, make sure it is a pure sine wave inverter. As for a house battery bank, you want a minimum to TWO 6V golf cart batteries. 4 would be better.

AC/DC Compressor Refrigerators | Good Sam Community

drsteve
Explorer
Jan 22, 2019
Dusty R wrote:
During the first energy crunch I took class, at a local community collage, on alternate source of energy. There is was said that Michigan ranked 47th out of the 48 continual states of available sunshine.
Have any of you campers with solar panels camped in Michigan and noticed less power being produced?

Dusty

Newer panels do much better with partial sun. Germany, a shady country, gets about 10% of its energy from solar.
Anna_Sail
Explorer
Jan 22, 2019
Vitrifrigo has always been and still is assembled in Italy, they just built new, bigger production facilities last year. No way are these made in China!!!
landyacht318
Explorer
Jan 15, 2019
I have a 1.8 cubic foot Vitrifrigo c51is, now 6 years old which then was assembled in Italy, now tey re assembled in China, big surprise right?

. I boought DC only as if I have Ac available My meanwell powersupply can make more than enought to continue powering the fridge on DC as well as properly charging my battery.

The compressor is the Danfoss Secop BD35f, and these are variable RPM. more RPM means lesser duty cycle but bigger amp draw.

I run mine at the minimum 2K rpm and this starts at about 2.8 amps and declines to 2.2 amps nearer the end of the compressor cycle~ 5 minutes later. The duty cycle depends on ambient temperature the contents and how much I am opening the door of course, but keeping it closed half full at 32.5 f in 70F ambients it is about 4:30 on and 14 to 16 minutes off.

max RPM is 3500 rpm and I think this correlates to about 5.5 amps. not sure, never installed the resistor to increase rpm to that range and have no need to do so on this size fridge.

Next compressor size up for larger units is the Danfoss BD50. No experience with it.

I did have a Norcold with a sawafuji swing compressor that lasted about 5 years. Noisy vibrating annoying and not wuite as efficient..

mine averaged about 0.62AH each hour consumption in 70F ambient temperatures maintaining 32.5f interior teps as I use it. but I have added extra insulation on 5 sides, and my condenser ventilation is optimized with a better fan that has No chance of recycling air the condenser or compressor has already heated.

I've no experience running a residential fridge from an inverter, but I highly doubt I could ever get it to consume as little as my Danfoss powered 12/24 compressor fridge. I suspect a large enoough inverter and the extra batteries and charging required to power it would eat up any potential cost savings of a dorm/ residential fridge over as 12vDc fridge at least in the size fridge I am using.
CJW8
Explorer
Jan 15, 2019
After some modifications my Norcold (nevercold) has been working well. If it ever fails I am going to replace the cooling unit with a compressor cooling unit from JC Refrigeration. They have several options including compressor only, Double boiler absorption, Hybrid, and helium filled.JC-Refrigeration
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Jan 14, 2019
Dusty R wrote:
Have any of you campers with solar panels camped in Michigan and noticed less power being produced?

Most people camp in MI during the summer months and there are more hours of sun from May through September than any other time if the year.

Of course, many campsites in MI are under trees !

Add more solar panels and don't park under the trees !!
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Jan 14, 2019
Ivylog wrote:
My EnergyStar Whirlpool 21 cuft draws 9 amps DC measure before the inverter...96 Watts. Its duty cycle is 40-45% confirmed with a KW meter...1.2-1.3 KW/day. 3X the size on 50% more power and half the price of DC powered units. Not a hard decision.

Very impressive numbers ! Clearly a great refrigerator for a large family !
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 13, 2019
Dusty R wrote:

Have any of you campers with solar panels camped in Michigan and noticed less power being produced?

Dusty

Do not have solar but Detroit Energery does. the Lapeer Solar Farm (It has a different name but you can google on that one and find it)

Big field of solar panels on the North side of I-69 east of Lapeer. I pass it often in the summer.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jan 12, 2019
lookup Sunfrost refrigerators and/or solar off-grid fridge
Dusty_R
Explorer
Jan 12, 2019
During the first energy crunch I took class, at a local community collage, on alternate source of energy. There is was said that Michigan ranked 47th out of the 48 continual states of available sunshine.
Have any of you campers with solar panels camped in Michigan and noticed less power being produced?

Dusty
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jan 12, 2019
My EnergyStar Whirlpool 21 cuft draws 9 amps DC measure before the inverter...96 Watts. Its duty cycle is 40-45% confirmed with a KW meter...1.2-1.3 KW/day. 3X the size on 50% more power and half the price of DC powered units. Not a hard decision.