Dometic portable fridge/freezer
I just purchased a Dometic portable fridge/freezer on sale for $250 less than normal, a Memorial Day sale. Wondered who’s had experience with these, and appreciate your feedback. As I’m heading out on...
Forum Discussion
Its the greatest thing ever!
Do not return it.
Run it for a few days just to make sure it is not defective, but otherwise it is perfect.
You are asking on an RV forum, you should instead ask "overlanders". RVers typically have the absorption fridges in their campers so they will tell you how great those are having never owned or used a compressor fridge.
The dual zone is so much better than the single zones, for me anyway. Having a freezer is very important for long trips, and having a big freezer like you do is way better than those small ones.
These use very little DC power and can run off your car for an afternoon without draining the starting battery, but don't do this, you need to give it its own power source. When used with at least 200 watts of solar and a couple of deep cycle batteries , or lithium power source, you have off-grid endless refrigeration.
I have the 200 solar and two GC batteries (5 yrs old now) and this seems minimal for keeping fridge and freezer going with little other power draws on camper. I wish I had 300-400w solar now. Next batteries will be lithium power source. By morning Im below 12 volts, but during the day in the sun the batts stay at 13.8 from the solar. Not running the freezer uses a LOT less power, so as soon as the freezer is empty it gets turned off, leaving only the fridge side on.
The only issue is where to locate the chest as your RV is made for a front-opening fridge, not a top-opening...
* for those browsing here, know that not all dual-zone brands/models are able to just turn one side off, or alternate fridge/freezer duties. Read the details. I specifically bought one that I can turn off one side / do anything with either side I need to. Not all fridges at the time could do this
Do not return it.
Run it for a few days just to make sure it is not defective, but otherwise it is perfect.
You are asking on an RV forum, you should instead ask "overlanders". RVers typically have the absorption fridges in their campers so they will tell you how great those are having never owned or used a compressor fridge.
The dual zone is so much better than the single zones, for me anyway. Having a freezer is very important for long trips, and having a big freezer like you do is way better than those small ones.
These use very little DC power and can run off your car for an afternoon without draining the starting battery, but don't do this, you need to give it its own power source. When used with at least 200 watts of solar and a couple of deep cycle batteries , or lithium power source, you have off-grid endless refrigeration.
I have the 200 solar and two GC batteries (5 yrs old now) and this seems minimal for keeping fridge and freezer going with little other power draws on camper. I wish I had 300-400w solar now. Next batteries will be lithium power source. By morning Im below 12 volts, but during the day in the sun the batts stay at 13.8 from the solar. Not running the freezer uses a LOT less power, so as soon as the freezer is empty it gets turned off, leaving only the fridge side on.
The only issue is where to locate the chest as your RV is made for a front-opening fridge, not a top-opening...
* for those browsing here, know that not all dual-zone brands/models are able to just turn one side off, or alternate fridge/freezer duties. Read the details. I specifically bought one that I can turn off one side / do anything with either side I need to. Not all fridges at the time could do this
