Ammonia versus Compressor Fridge...
After all the talk about Danfoss compressor fridges and how much better they were than the old school Ammonia Units, I decided to 'fiddle with mine and do a long term test using a remote digital recor...
Forum Discussion
Well I am a propane fridge basher:) I find results very close to what I would expect with your experiment. The fridge temp as you stated could use some help. I had a dometic 6 cubic foot in my truck camper. The freezer always out performed the fridge big time. I always froze bottles of water at home and then put them in the fridge when temps were going to be hot. Then I would transfer back forth between the fridge and freezer. This technique actually worked pretty good. I am not sure measuring the temps is equal to regular use by a camping crowd in terms of opening the door. The time to cool down is so very long with these fridges and they simply won't recover when really hot and the door is opened frequently. All in all I used the propane fridge's for decades and they did work. Just not as good as a compressor fridge.
Just for fun I did a little experiment today. I had to take a 120 mile trip there and back. So I took my truck camper rig and turned on the compressor fidge. A hour and half later when I arrived the fridge was at 44 degrees and the freezer compartment was 22 and the inner freezer section was 10 degrees. A couple hours later fridge was at 39 freezer 15 and inner freezer -1. This was set a 4 on a 1 to 7 scale. The temperature was only 80 degrees but driving down the highway was always when my propane fridge would have the very worst performance. In this case driving down the highway had zero effect.
By inner freezer I mean where they wrap the cold plate where you would put ice trays ice cream and items you want really really cold.
Power consumption is a non issue as I have 200 watts solar. A genny also if needed. Not having to level is great. Many say well whats the big deal not having to level. Well it is a big deal when you don't even have to think about it, ever. It is a big, big plus.
Ok I hope I filled the need for a response:) Like I say propane has its place but 12 volt compressor is clearly superior. With solar getting cheaper and cheaper if a refrigerator die's I just can't see replacing with propane. JMHO
Just for fun I did a little experiment today. I had to take a 120 mile trip there and back. So I took my truck camper rig and turned on the compressor fidge. A hour and half later when I arrived the fridge was at 44 degrees and the freezer compartment was 22 and the inner freezer section was 10 degrees. A couple hours later fridge was at 39 freezer 15 and inner freezer -1. This was set a 4 on a 1 to 7 scale. The temperature was only 80 degrees but driving down the highway was always when my propane fridge would have the very worst performance. In this case driving down the highway had zero effect.
By inner freezer I mean where they wrap the cold plate where you would put ice trays ice cream and items you want really really cold.
Power consumption is a non issue as I have 200 watts solar. A genny also if needed. Not having to level is great. Many say well whats the big deal not having to level. Well it is a big deal when you don't even have to think about it, ever. It is a big, big plus.
Ok I hope I filled the need for a response:) Like I say propane has its place but 12 volt compressor is clearly superior. With solar getting cheaper and cheaper if a refrigerator die's I just can't see replacing with propane. JMHO
