Thinking about a Truck Fridge.

[_DJ_1]

I found a 4.4 cu ft model real close to the dimensions of my gas fridge.

The specs say 24 watts per hour. That is 2 amps per hour? If so that is right in the ball park with my Engel 45 which used 2.5/hour.

My Engel picked up a bad vibration after 2 seasons. :M Won't go that route again. $$$$$

Really tired of these gas fridges that can't cut hot weather. 60 degree beer in 100 degree weather BLOWS!!!

[_DJ_1]

trail-explorer wrote:
I love my ARB Fridge, which can be turned down on the temp and set to freeze mode.

http://www.northridge4x4.com/shop/catalogsearch/result/?q=fridge

Northridge 4x4 is in Bremerton, WA

The ARB will run on AC or DC

That is much like my Engel. I would really rather go with a "built in" to save floor space and to have a separate freezer. That is what I missed most about the Engel. No ice cubes!!!

[_DJ_1]

Reddog1 wrote:

~DJ~ wrote:
... I read your post as one from a Mod.

Had I made my post as a Moderator, I would have signed it as:

Wayne
Moderator

My question was as I stated. Nothing more.

~DJ~ wrote:
And since it made you angry is when I decided to close it. Life is too short to get mad at stuff like this Wayne!!! 😉

Your assumption is not true. For my part, I see/saw nothing to be "angry" about. As a moderator, I have several actions I could have taken, if I were "angry". You ask that the Thread be closed, why? Just because I did not understand and I ask a question?

As you posted, life is too short to get mad at stuff like this.

Wayne

LOL I guess we will have to start reading the same dictionary!! When some one says they are miffed I understand that as being PO'd!!

[_DJ_1]

Jfet wrote:
I know we are supposed to stop talking about gas fridges in this thread, but I want to point out one more thing that might be the big problem people are having with them.

They are not efficient like compressor fridges. In fact, they are probably 1/4 to 1/5 as efficient. This means you REALLY need to make sure the ducting and airflow is there so the parts that are trying to cool the mixture are able to do so. A compressor fridge you can practically shove into a closed closet and it will work, but an absorption fridge needs significant airflow over all of those fins. If a bird has built a nest in them or if the rv manufacturer thought it would be cute to have a 1 inch opening for ventilation, you are going to have cooling problems.

A 12V computer fan, drawing about 50mA would work wonders for improving the airflow over those fins. You could wire up a simple 8 bit microcontroller and thermister to have the fan come on when the ambient temperature around the fins is greater than 90 degrees or so.

Ok, last time I comment in this thread about gas fridges...back to the best compressor fridge for the OP.

I agree and understand this problem. It is even worse in a pop up where the heat can not go u through the roof but has to be vectored out of a side vent. The factory did put a fan in there to help suck out the heat. Thanks.

[trail-explorer]

I love my ARB Fridge, which can be turned down on the temp and set to freeze mode.

http://www.northridge4x4.com/shop/catalogsearch/result/?q=fridge

Northridge 4x4 is in Bremerton, WA

The ARB will run on AC or DC

[Reddog1]

~DJ~ wrote:
... I read your post as one from a Mod.

Had I made my post as a Moderator, I would have signed it as:

Wayne
Moderator

My question was as I stated. Nothing more.

~DJ~ wrote:
And since it made you angry is when I decided to close it. Life is too short to get mad at stuff like this Wayne!!! 😉

Your assumption is not true. For my part, I see/saw nothing to be "angry" about. As a moderator, I have several actions I could have taken, if I were "angry". You ask that the Thread be closed, why? Just because I did not understand and I ask a question?

As you posted, life is too short to get mad at stuff like this.

Wayne

[Jfet]

I know we are supposed to stop talking about gas fridges in this thread, but I want to point out one more thing that might be the big problem people are having with them.

They are not efficient like compressor fridges. In fact, they are probably 1/4 to 1/5 as efficient. This means you REALLY need to make sure the ducting and airflow is there so the parts that are trying to cool the mixture are able to do so. A compressor fridge you can practically shove into a closed closet and it will work, but an absorption fridge needs significant airflow over all of those fins. If a bird has built a nest in them or if the rv manufacturer thought it would be cute to have a 1 inch opening for ventilation, you are going to have cooling problems.

A 12V computer fan, drawing about 50mA would work wonders for improving the airflow over those fins. You could wire up a simple 8 bit microcontroller and thermister to have the fan come on when the ambient temperature around the fins is greater than 90 degrees or so.

Ok, last time I comment in this thread about gas fridges...back to the best compressor fridge for the OP.

[_DJ_1]

whizbang wrote:
I would have your propane frig serviced.

Our 19 year old Dometic RM2201 propane frig will FREEZE the beer on a 100 degree day if I turn the thermostat too far.

+1 Jfet comments. LP is the way to go.

I've dumped a small fortune into these darn things. Wanna sell yours? :B

[_DJ_1]

Reddog1 wrote:

~DJ~ wrote:
Sorry, I should have spelled it out better. What I was looking for was others who may have replaced the propane with 12 volt and hopefully have experience with the performance of a Truck Fridge.

I had no intention of this turning into a propane is better thread. Please close this thread and I will do my research elsewhere.

I made my posts as a member, not moderator. No reason to close the thread because I did not understand your point, that is why I ask. The first paragraph above is very clear, thanks.

To me, I don't think the thread turned into a propane is better thread. The thread did include much discussion on gas Fridge, but that was encouraged by the last sentence of your OP.

Hopefully, with your clarification of what you were looking for, there will be no more post on gas Fridges.

Wayne

I read your post as one from a Mod. And since it made you angry is when I decided to close it. Life is too short to get mad at stuff like this Wayne!!! 😉

[_DJ_1]

pezvela wrote:
DJ, are you saying your Engel starting making the dreaded vibrational noises AND it stopped cooling?

My Engel has gotten a bit noisy at times but it still cools like the first day I got it. The vibrations are unpredictable; sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt. I am beginning to wonder if the compressor mounting has come loose or something.

I live on the road in August and September out west. Last summer I went with BOTH my propane fridge AND the Engel. I have a Lance 1030 and that big counter space between the dinette and the propane fridge is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR MY ENGEL/NORCOLD 45! Lance has both a 110 and 12v outlet right at the back.

This was really the way to go for me. I kept ALL my drinks in the Engel and all my food in the absorption fridge. My absorp still works pretty well; I can usually get about 50-55 degrees below ambient temps. If it's 100 degrees out, I'm moving to some place higher. But I just dont open the absorp fridge much and that helps a great deal in hot temps.

I only have a single 31 AGM. But I do have a 140 watt solar panel that more than keeps up with it. My charge controller says I am occasionally putting out as much as 7 amps in good, full sun which is not uncommon in the summer in the West.

I never bought a single bag of ice last summer. That was nice not having to deal with ice.

Before I had solar, I took a fishing trip where I filled the Engel with fish fillets I had caught. These were room temp fillets and I used it as a freezer. After three days of probably running constantly, the Engel had run down BOTH of the starting batteries in my F350, diesel. These were very capable 27 group Interstates. This was when I wasnt using the camper. So, the electrical options for fridges will have to be coupled with SOME good charging source OR you will have to keep moving on the road to keep you batt(s) charged. I dont like moving that much, so I went solar.

I guess one could figure out a way to increase battery capacity. That isnt easy in the TC world.

I cant imagine being limited to a single 4 cu ft fridge for EVERYTHING. Not with as long as I spend on the road and in remote areas.

No sir!!! My Engel still works like new. Just way too noisy. I replaced the fan but did not help. It was my only cooler for my 88 Northstar after I ripped out the gas fridge. One Group 31 battery held it for 48 hours without recharge.

I have a store room next to my bedroom so I put it in there for an extra freezer. It got shut off the next day. Kept waking me from the next room. Maybe the garage will get it!!!

I think a 4.4 is pretty good sized for a small pop up TC. ,

[whizbang]

I would have your propane frig serviced.

Our 19 year old Dometic RM2201 propane frig will FREEZE the beer on a 100 degree day if I turn the thermostat too far.

+1 Jfet comments. LP is the way to go.

[JimK-NY]

I have a NovaKool which I believe has a capacity of a little over 4 cuft. These and most other 12 v compressor fridges or freezers use the German built Danfoss compressors. The Engels uses a Japanese equivalent. With the Danfoss, the manufacturers can select the compressor size and they can alter the power consumption and output needed for the specific model. Most of the smaller units will run at about 2.5 amps @ 12 volts. On cool days most units are set to run about 30% of the time. Since the small units have a freezer compartment within the main unit, it is necessary for the unit to run frequently to keep the frozen food actually frozen. On a hot day the run time and power consumption increases rapidly and @ 90 oF the unit is likely to run constantly. That would result in power consumption of about 60 AH per day. Opening and closing the unit and adding warm beer to be cooled will also have a large effect on the efficiency. Plan on a couple of high capacity RV batteries and at least two solar panels in the 100 watt range.

Note also that the proper installation is essential. The fridge will not run efficiently unless there is a lot of air flow around the compressor. The wiring is also very important. My fridge is on the opposite side of the camper in relation to the batteries. I needed close to 40' of wiring to reach the fridge and return to the battery bank. The dealer had installed 10 gauge wiring. The voltage drop and losses due to resistance were huge. I needed to go to 6 gauge wiring.

[Reddog1]

~DJ~ wrote:
Sorry, I should have spelled it out better. What I was looking for was others who may have replaced the propane with 12 volt and hopefully have experience with the performance of a Truck Fridge.

I had no intention of this turning into a propane is better thread. Please close this thread and I will do my research elsewhere.

I made my posts as a member, not moderator. No reason to close the thread because I did not understand your point, that is why I ask. The first paragraph above is very clear, thanks.

To me, I don't think the thread turned into a propane is better thread. The thread did include much discussion on gas Fridge, but that was encouraged by the last sentence of your OP.

Hopefully, with your clarification of what you were looking for, there will be no more post on gas Fridges.

Wayne

[pezvela]

DJ, are you saying your Engel starting making the dreaded vibrational noises AND it stopped cooling?

My Engel has gotten a bit noisy at times but it still cools like the first day I got it. The vibrations are unpredictable; sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt. I am beginning to wonder if the compressor mounting has come loose or something.

I live on the road in August and September out west. Last summer I went with BOTH my propane fridge AND the Engel. I have a Lance 1030 and that big counter space between the dinette and the propane fridge is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOR MY ENGEL/NORCOLD 45! Lance has both a 110 and 12v outlet right at the back.

This was really the way to go for me. I kept ALL my drinks in the Engel and all my food in the absorption fridge. My absorp still works pretty well; I can usually get about 50-55 degrees below ambient temps. If it's 100 degrees out, I'm moving to some place higher. But I just dont open the absorp fridge much and that helps a great deal in hot temps.

I only have a single 31 AGM. But I do have a 140 watt solar panel that more than keeps up with it. My charge controller says I am occasionally putting out as much as 7 amps in good, full sun which is not uncommon in the summer in the West.

I never bought a single bag of ice last summer. That was nice not having to deal with ice.

Before I had solar, I took a fishing trip where I filled the Engel with fish fillets I had caught. These were room temp fillets and I used it as a freezer. After three days of probably running constantly, the Engel had run down BOTH of the starting batteries in my F350, diesel. These were very capable 27 group Interstates. This was when I wasnt using the camper. So, the electrical options for fridges will have to be coupled with SOME good charging source OR you will have to keep moving on the road to keep you batt(s) charged. I dont like moving that much, so I went solar.

I guess one could figure out a way to increase battery capacity. That isnt easy in the TC world.

I cant imagine being limited to a single 4 cu ft fridge for EVERYTHING. Not with as long as I spend on the road and in remote areas.

[_DJ_1]

Reddog1 wrote:

~DJ~ wrote:
I found a 4.4 cu ft model real close to the dimensions of my gas fridge.

The specs say 24 watts per hour. That is 2 amps per hour? If so that is right in the ball park with my Engel 45 which used 2.5/hour.

My Engel picked up a bad vibration after 2 seasons. :M Won't go that route again. $$$$$

Really tired of these gas fridges that can't cut hot weather. 60 degree beer in 100 degree weather BLOWS!!!

Respectfully, what is the point of your OP?

Was it a statement, or open for discussion?

You followed it with this post.

~DJ~ wrote:
I'm so happy for you propane guys that have had good luck. I am going by MY past experience with a 1988 Northstar, 1992 Caribou, 2004 S&S and a 2007 SunLite, all with propane and none of them were safe to keep food!!!! (needs UNDER 45 degrees).

All campers I bought used except for the S&S. And it spent so much time in the shop trying to get the fridge to work I just gave up on it.

Then I bought my Engel. I had 34 degree beer no matter how level I was or the triple digit temps.

Hardcore off road campers (Four Wheel Camper) are now offering 12 volt fridges.

I just got back from the desert and I tell you what did work good. I had bought a 12 volt Igloo cooler from Costco. It is a less expensive unit without a thermostat. Runs constantly. I filled it with beer and plugged it into my truck. After a few hours when I reached my campsite I had ice cold beer!!! I unplugged it at bed time so it would not run the battery dead. But for what it is, worked good!!!

I have no problem with your experience, we each have our own. I am a bit miffed as to what was the point of your OP.

Wayne

Sorry, I should have spelled it out better. What I was looking for was others who may have replaced the propane with 12 volt and hopefully have experience with the performance of a Truck Fridge.

I had no intention of this turning into a propane is better thread. Please close this thread and I will do my research elsewhere.