Refrigerator draw on LP mode

DrewE wrote:

Chum lee wrote:

Yes, I can read. (thank you!) Yes, absorbtion refrigerators ARE very efficient, (you are incorrect) that's why they are used in RV's in the first place. Ooops, ya missed that one didn't you?

Absorption fridges are quite a bit less energy efficient than compressor-based residential fridges (in terms of total energy use). The main reason they're used in RVs is that they use an energy source that is much more easily stored compactly: propane has a much higher energy density than electric batteries. A residential fridge will use somewhere in the rough vicinity of a third the power that an RV fridge will use if both are operated from AC power.

DC-powered compressor fridges are usually pretty efficient...and not all that inexpensive. Their DC consumption is higher than an absorption fridge's DC power use in propane mode, of course, since it's providing the actual energy to cool rather than just powering the controls.

I agree with you. Propane is much more energy dense than storage batteries. (at least right now) In an RV, you have to deal with what you have based on where you are. (energy wise) With a 2/3 way absorbtion fridge you have the flexibility of using gas or electric. IMO, you can talk about energy efficiency all you want. Depending on what you are doing (with your RV) if the most efficient/economical source of energy isn't currently available, IMO, it's kind of idiotic to speak as though it is. I boon dock off grid a lot. I like my solar panels. Are they perfect, . . . NO. Do they substantially reduce the need to run my generator (which produces electricity at about $.80/kwh) YES they do. Do I sometimes plug in to full service campgrounds, (electricity at $.15 to $.25 /kwh) Yes I do. Do I suggest how you should use your RV, . . . NO, I don't.

Chum lee