Switch to 12 volt fridge
I’m considering a switch to a 12 volt fridge. With “average” RV maintenance and repair abilities can I do this myself or would getting experienced help be necessary or wise?
Forum Discussion
you should be fine, but before you do, realy think on how you use your rv, and what effects going to a compressor fridge will have on other systems.
the first thing is what is wrong with your two way that makes you think you need a compressor fridge? is it dead, then thats a valid thought process, its it just having a bit of an issue keeping up in hot weather? then there are cheep simple things you can do to improve it.
how do you camp? do you always plug in, always dry camp or a combanation? if you do either of the latter then you have to look at upgrading batteries and possibly solar to power your new power hungry fridge. Now people are going to start posting "they are not power hungry" well when compared to a adsorbtion fridge that can use next to nothing for power, ya they are haha
and finaly the longjevity of compressor fridge is still up in the air, they are relitively new and have had a lot of failures in the rv world. do your research on brand a model. a taken car of adsorbtion fridge could go forever, mine is 35 years old and still works awsome.
now having said that they do have a few benifits, they can handle a lot more uneven ground, although with a adsorbtion you can go 6 degrees off level front to back and 3 degrees side to side. that a heck of a lot of angle to camp at and is going affect your sleep also. so I don't concider that a factor to worry about unless you park it on a 10 degree pad for storage and leave the fridge running. they cool down faster, I don't shut my fridge down during camping season, but I can understand how this would be apealing, especialy for people who have their rv's in storage yards and have to pick them up anf get them loaded to leave.
Very thoughtful reply. Thank you. Will consider all your points but it’s a hobby and not all the RV decisions I make are practical.
Don’t confuse something being a little impractical with being the same as a bad decision all around.
Assume you mean 12v compressor fridge even though you didn’t specify.
Looking past your basic question of your handyman abilities being sufficient to do the work, are you set up for that fridge to run as long as needed on your camper’s power supply, or not concerns because it’s always on shore power?If you’re prepared to power it, then yes it requires basic electrical knowledge and ability and the physical ability to RnR the units and secure the new one appropriately.
I will add a fourth 100 watt solar panel and been looking at 300+ amp Lithium battery. Found a “home” for my 200 amp Lithium with good people. 400 watts is the max for the MPPT I have.
And how long will that power the new fridge that uses more power than an absorption fridge and everything else?
300ah ain’t bad, but I think just the fridge and other basic power needs will put you pretty deep into the lower half of your battery capacity on a daily basis. And the charging via 400W solar only will not keep up.
Bring a generator!
haha, don't we all, I am going to look at a newer camper tomore so I'll see where that goes.
Do it!
we were going to but unfortunatly there was a deposit on it. he is checking into the other 11 in their system to see which ones might be good to bring infor us to look at. I did confirm that it had a adsorbtion fridge though, none of thoes 12V things for me in a truck camper. 🤣
