Compressor Refrigerator opt 12v?

We had a 7.5 cuft NovaKool 12/120V compressor fridge for 5 years in our Outfitter TC. Dry camped almost exclusively. Carried the Honda 2000W invertor gennie but used it only a few times. 330W solar and 4 6V AGM batteries was the answer.

Cools quickly, don't have to be level, has much more volume than a similar sized 2 way absorbtion fridge, uses 1/3rd the energy, fire danger negligible, can legally be operating all the time refuelling, travelling on ferries, through tunnels when propane is restricted.

These have been used on yachts for many years and have been pounded by wave action so the compressor can take some abuse from rough roads in RV's which is why these units are getting more popular with the TC/B class crowd who seem to be a little more adventurous than your average RVer.

We never had any problems in the time we had our fridge and our camping style was never curtailled by the batteries being run down at any time.

Dave

We have a T-42 Tundra also, it is over 10 years old, still cools very
well, I notice it draws about .75 Amp more than when it was new, perhaps
the compressor is on the way out?

They are very simple, we like the fact that we never check anything
regarding level, just stop and jump in the camper...

Using 200 watts MPPT solar and 3 12VDC cheap Walmart Deep Cycle flooded Type 27 batteries.

cewillis wrote:

joe&julie81 wrote:
Has anyone been using one of these 12v compressor refrigerators? I've heard they are low amp drawing. How are they on the battery?

Yes, since I bought my camper new in 2007. Works great, and newer ones are even better. It will freeze water in the frig section if not careful. But it does take at least a little foresight about 12v power.
Probably no one needs the 12v capacity I have, but most need some of it.
1) Heavy duty, 2 gauge wire alternator charge circuit -- Yes
2) 110w solar -- or more, probably
3) 540AH, 12v batteries -- not so much

Where did you squeeze 540AH of batteries in your Outfitter? I would like to have a lot more than my 225AH for just the same purpose that you cite.

Geewizard wrote:
540AH?? That to run the welder? :B

Sure, why not?
Actually, it's because I don't have and don't want a generator. And because I sometimes spend several days many miles into back country. Never even close to low on 12v energy, and my first set of batteries lasted 10+ years, believe it or not.
Sorry about the O.T.

I'll just chime in and say I bought my Northstar with the Dometic 12v compressor fridge from the factory. Absolutely no regrets. You will need solar to maintain your batteries unless you plan to drive every day. My primary reason for getting it was I didn't want to have to find someplace level any time I wanted to pull over and fish for a few hours.

SidecarFlip wrote:


Nice alternative (I looked). I have to ask, how much? and, I presume it fits nicely...

It was $950 from Great Water Marine Systems. Not much different than a 3-way fridge cost of the same size. I had some minor issues installing (operator error) and called Indel Webasto Marine (Florida) service and they were extremely helpful (although they kept asking me what boat it was installed in). West Marine sells them (and I have a West Marine less than a mile from my house) but they mark them up pretty steeply. It was cheaper to order from Great Water in MA and have them ship it 3000 miles to my house.

Oh yeah - fit -- slid right in to the other opening.
Click For Full-Size Image.

SidecarFlip wrote:
Typical 3 way, gas 12 volt and 110 on gas will draw about 2/10th of an amp or less (depending on if it has auxilary fans or not). This off season I'm going to get a Dometic Cool Box Dual zone compressor fridge / cooler for the back seat of my pickup truck when camping and for my wife to use in the summer when she goes to the grocery to keep frozen food frozen on the way home in a hot car.

I like the portability and you don't have that with a camper fridge (built in), no matter what design it is... You have quite a few different designs in compressor fridges to choose from. Dometic, Nova Kool ate just 2 of many in many different physical designs and many different convenience features.

You might want to look at what Engle has to offer in this area too. I bought one that runs on 12v/110v and put it in the storage bay of my RV where it gives me more freezer space. I've also tossed it in the back of my toad for long road trips. It will freeze ice cubes and seems to cool much better than any RV built-in fridge I've used and it runs on very little power. Well insulated too so once it cools down it takes very little power to maintain temps.

I have this wrench I used as welding rod once......

With so much battery you don't need a welder.
I gave it a try on 4-GC batteries connected for 24V.
Fires 1/8" rod straight on.

cewillis wrote:

joe&julie81 wrote:
Has anyone been using one of these 12v compressor refrigerators? I've heard they are low amp drawing. How are they on the battery?

Yes, since I bought my camper new in 2007. Works great, and newer ones are even better. It will freeze water in the frig section if not careful. But it does take at least a little foresight about 12v power.
Probably no one needs the 12v capacity I have, but most need some of it.
1) Heavy duty, 2 gauge wire alternator charge circuit -- Yes
2) 110w solar -- or more, probably
3) 540AH, 12v batteries -- not so much

540AH?? That to run the welder? :B