12 volt compressor fridge- any reason not to buy this one ?

ticki2 wrote:
Speaking of solar real estate , something always seems to be missing when comparing the 2 types of fridges . What ever extra solar that needs to be added to run the compressor fridge should be added to the cost of the fridge for a comparison . JMHO

Does anyone have a feel for the longevity of a 12v compressor fridge ( I have no idea ).

If you are looking at the two fridges strictly on a cost bases, then extra solar panels should be factored in as should be the propane over the 20 year life of the absorption unit.

For me personally, I did not get into the RV/ camping lifestyle to save money.

As for longevity of compressor fridges, do a search on the sailing/ yatching community because they have been using this technology for years.

I can't speak personally about the life of 12v fridges but being 65, we have owned a lot of different residential fridges with compressors and I don't ever remember any of them dying when we owned them. They like any appliance have a finite life though.

Dave

On our last trip in the spring to Utah/Arizona, we seemed to be the only one not running a genny even though we have a compressor fridge. We were away 6 weeks and did not run our genny once and had no shore power. I don,t know this for sure but I bet most if not all of the genny users, had absorption fridges.

Dave

Are you running a microwave, TC stereo or a TV at all?

I dont understand the significance of supposing that all those other genny users had absorption fridges? People with absorption fridges who run gennies aren't doing it to run the fridge, obviously. They probably have other electrical draws that you dont have. Most common? TV usage, in my experience.

Speaking of solar real estate , something always seems to be missing when comparing the 2 types of fridges . What ever extra solar that needs to be added to run the compressor fridge should be added to the cost of the fridge for a comparison . JMHO

Does anyone have a feel for the longevity of a 12v compressor fridge ( I have no idea ).

Jfet wrote:

dadwolf2 wrote:
We have a NovaKool compressor fridge and it's worked great for us. Don't know anything about the Waeco brand.

So how does the Nova Kool vent? We have already made cutouts at floor level and chest level in the wall for the 3 way absorption fridge (was planning to baffle it for good side venting airflow). I tried to find the Nova Kool owner's manual for the 7.5cuft fridge but it doesn't seem to exist. It looks like the compressor is located at the bottom? Does it just need the lower rear vented or does it need space on the sides?

From my reading I believe it vents out the front the same way as a house fridge does. I'm sure the fellows on here that have it can tell you for sure. I'm thinking about a new camper and going with the Nova Kool from the beginning and not have to have any cut outs in the side or the roof of the new camper.

dadwolf2 wrote:
We have a NovaKool compressor fridge and it's worked great for us. Don't know anything about the Waeco brand.

So how does the Nova Kool vent? We have already made cutouts at floor level and chest level in the wall for the 3 way absorption fridge (was planning to baffle it for good side venting airflow). I tried to find the Nova Kool owner's manual for the 7.5cuft fridge but it doesn't seem to exist. It looks like the compressor is located at the bottom? Does it just need the lower rear vented or does it need space on the sides?

We have a NovaKool compressor fridge and it's worked great for us. Don't know anything about the Waeco brand.

I had a Nova Kool refrigerator in my Outfitter camper for the last 6 years and absolutely loved it wish I could afford to put one in my Northern Lite. Maybe when my wife is not looking?

Loved the many advantages over the three-way refrigerators we had the previous 30 plus years.

crosscheck wrote:

Jfet wrote:
The only downside I see to a compressor fridge, and the reason why I possibly would keep the Norcold 3 way is what do you do when you are camped 2 weeks in the forest with a lot of shade trees but it is hot and muggy (or rain). This is a common situation for us and I don't know how much solar we would need under that situation for a compressor fridge.

The summers in the pacific North west are warm but not oppressive like let say Houston. Your fridge is going to cycle depending on the mean temperature . If it is warm and you are getting little solar because of shade then you will have to replace those amp/hrs in some way no matter what kind of a fridge you have.

If you are moving around with your TC on your truck during the day then the alternator will partially charge up the batteries. If the TC stays at the CG, then a genny or shore power may be your only option.

On our last trip in the spring to Utah/Arizona, we seemed to be the only one not running a genny even though we have a compressor fridge. We were away 6 weeks and did not run our genny once and had no shore power. I don,t know this for sure but I bet most if not all of the genny users, had absorption fridges.

Early July of 2012 we travelled up the Sunshine Coast which has a similar climate to coastal Washington. It was very rainy and cool but even though the solar situation was not great, because we drove around a bit and the fridge cycled less because it was cooler allowed us to be genny free for this trip.

Dave

I forgot that we had an electric site for 1nite at PacachoSP because there was no other options.

Dave

Jfet wrote:
The only downside I see to a compressor fridge, and the reason why I possibly would keep the Norcold 3 way is what do you do when you are camped 2 weeks in the forest with a lot of shade trees but it is hot and muggy (or rain). This is a common situation for us and I don't know how much solar we would need under that situation for a compressor fridge.

The summers in the pacific North west are warm but not oppressive like let say Houston. Your fridge is going to cycle depending on the mean temperature . If it is warm and you are getting little solar because of shade then you will have to replace those amp/hrs in some way no matter what kind of a fridge you have.

If you are moving around with your TC on your truck during the day then the alternator will partially charge up the batteries. If the TC stays at the CG, then a genny or shore power may be your only option.

On our last trip in the spring to Utah/Arizona, we seemed to be the only one not running a genny even though we have a compressor fridge. We were away 6 weeks and did not run our genny once and had no shore power. I don,t know this for sure but I bet most if not all of the genny users, had absorption fridges.

Early July of 2012 we travelled up the Sunshine Coast which has a similar climate to coastal Washington. It was very rainy and cool but even though the solar situation was not great, because we drove around a bit and the fridge cycled less because it was cooler allowed us to be genny free for this trip.

Dave

The only downside I see to a compressor fridge, and the reason why I possibly would keep the Norcold 3 way is what do you do when you are camped 2 weeks in the forest with a lot of shade trees but it is hot and muggy (or rain). This is a common situation for us and I don't know how much solar we would need under that situation for a compressor fridge.