RV house owners who’re changing, including, or updating a fridge ought to contemplate a 12-volt RV fridge, particularly those that need an improved off-grid tenting expertise. Not like propane and fuel fridges, a 12-volt permits you to hold meals and drinks cool on battery energy, decreasing your reliance on shore energy or a transportable generator.
On this article, we’ll cowl every thing you want to learn about 12-volt DC fridges, together with the differing types, further 12V fridge advantages, how lengthy they will run, and the way to decide on the correct fridge dimension on your RV.
Why Are 12-Volt Fridges In style for Van Life and RVs?
Many individuals are interested in van life as a result of it affords freedom from conventional, crowded campgrounds. However Class B campers aren’t the one sorts of RVs that can be utilized for prolonged off-grid tenting.
No matter RV you select for boondocking, 12-volt fridges are nice as a result of they don’t require you to plug into energy. You additionally cut back propane consumption, retaining that useful resource on your stovetop, oven, water heater, and some other propane-based home equipment in your RV. When you’re utilizing photo voltaic to cost your batteries, you possibly can hold your fridge powered for for much longer stays.
Is a Compressor or Absorption 12-volt Fridge Higher?
There are two several types of 12-volt camper fridges: absorption and compressor. We cowl all of the fundamentals right here, however let’s provide you with a quick overview.
Absorption fridges usually have a number of energy sources: propane, 110/120V AC, and 12VDC. They’re generally known as 2-way or 3-way fridges.
Nonetheless, in case you plan to be off-grid and use your battery to energy the fridge, you’ll wish to select a compressor-style fridge as a result of it’s far more environment friendly. You’ll additionally take pleasure in more room contained in the fridge and a sooner cooling time. Not like absorption-style fridges, you don’t have to fret about being completely degree for them to work correctly, both.
| 12V Absorption Fridges | 12V Compressor Fridges | |
| Professionals | A number of Energy Sources | Higher Effectivity Vitality Saver Extra Set up Choices Cools Shortly |
| Cons | RV Should Be Degree Restricted Area Inside Takes Longer to Cool Much less Environment friendly Requires Exterior Venting |
Costly Smaller Choice |
Varieties of 12-Volt RV Fridges
For compressor-style 12-volt DC fridges, you possibly can select from upright and chest. Let’s overview which could swimsuit you finest.
Upright
The most typical 12V RV fridge fashion is upright, similar to the one in your house and the gas-absorption fridges present in most trendy RVs. Many choose this fashion resulting from its group. When you open the door, you possibly can see all of your gadgets for a fast choice. Nonetheless, there’s a draw back to this fashion: You lose quite a lot of chilly air every time you open the door.
Chest
This fashion resembles a conventional cooler, however not like your commonplace roll-behind cooler, it has energy, often known as an electrical cooler. They’re more and more standard resulting from their handy form and added portability, providing you with extra format choices.
The one main drawback of a chest fashion is comfort. You’ll be able to’t at all times see every thing inside from the highest, resulting in rifling via groceries to search out what you want.
What Kind of Fridge is Finest for Tenting?
There isn’t one fashion that’s finest for everybody. Sure, the upright fashion is extra organized, however the chest fashion can also be extra environment friendly. Your explicit setup and what works finest together with your format must be the deciding issue.
When you’re changing a gas-absorption fridge and need the identical group choices, an upright 12-volt fridge is your most suitable option. When you’ve got a camper van with restricted house, you may just like the mounting choices a chest-style 12-volt fridge affords.
Does My Fridge Must Be RV Rated?
Sure, you’ll have to be positive the fridge you’re utilizing is particularly rated for RVs. You don’t wish to use a regular fridge as a result of it doubtless isn’t constructed to deal with life on the highway. RV fridges are constructed in another way. They’ve a lot higher shock absorption, which helps them handle the tough journey and can finally last more.
Commonplace dwelling fridges will nonetheless work inside an RV in case you’re keen to depend on AC energy from a generator or shore connection. Nonetheless, these fridges don’t have the additional safety for the highway, so longevity will at all times be a priority. That is one more reason why RV fridges are usually costlier.
Components for Selecting a 12-Volt Fridge
When you’ve determined a compressor-style 12-volt RV mini fridge fits you, you’ll have some selections concerning dimension and format. Let’s go over these in additional element to get the appropriate one.
Measurement and Storage
One of many first questions many individuals have when fridges is dimension. What dimension do I want? The reply to this query varies, however elements akin to how many individuals will use it and the way lengthy you wish to keep off-grid are related.
All of us have totally different consuming habits and preferences, however for a common information, one individual will want round 70 liters, and two will want round 100 liters. Chest-style fridges provide more room, so you possibly can dimension down a bit.
When you’re changing or upgrading an RV fridge, you’ll have to match your alternative to the size of your present fridge until you wish to embark on a bigger DIY conversion undertaking. On this information’s ultimate part, we’ll spotlight different RV fridge alternative suggestions.
Freezer Area
When you’re unfamiliar with RV fridges, you could be dissatisfied within the lacklusterness of the RV fridge freezer. Sure, they’re small however what’s most annoying is that they don’t get very chilly, sufficient to retailer meat however not sufficient to maintain ice cream from melting. In different phrases, you probably have a candy tooth, you’ll wish to search for a unit with a separate adjustable freezer part.
Vitality Consumption
Chances are high, in case you’re contemplating a 12-volt RV fridge, you’re doing so due to its effectivity. However how do you identify which one is probably the most environment friendly? One of the best ways is to search out the producer’s specified amp score. For instance, if the fridge has a ten amp score, you already know you possibly can run that fridge for about 10 hours with a 100 amp battery. If solely the wattage score is offered, merely divide the watt score by the volts to get amps.
In style 12-Volt Fridge Manufacturers for RVs and Van Life
Selecting a model may be troublesome, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with the product. You need one thing reasonably priced, well-made, and sturdy. If there are any points, you need to have the ability to get them mounted in a well timed method. Let’s overview some standard selections.
Dometic
Probably the most well-known producer of RV fridges, Dometic, has a longstanding status because the chief within the business. They provide a number of choices, each upright and chest fashion.
Everchill
Everchill is a model owned by Lippert, which is without doubt one of the main RV suppliers in North America. They’ve a variety of upright choices.
GE
GE is a very talked-about equipment producer that has been round for a very long time. They provide upright fridges in numerous sizes.
Norcold
A small firm specializing in RV fridges, Norcold affords some nice choices and a guaranty to again them up.
How Lengthy Can You Run a 12-Volt Fridge?
12-volt RV fridges are extraordinarily environment friendly, which is a part of the explanation they’re so standard. With a correctly outfitted power storage and administration system in your RV, you possibly can run all of them day and thru the evening. Nonetheless, variables akin to the scale of your battery financial institution and the unit’s energy calls for will impression simply how lengthy you possibly can run a 12V RV fridge.
Let’s say your fridge attracts round seven amps. To run this fridge for twenty-four hours, you would want about 168 amp hours (Ah). Most off-grid RVs have a battery capability of at the least 200 Ah, leaving some energy for different requirements. Add a photo voltaic panel to the combo, and also you’ll have much more energy to spare.
Do 12-Volt RV Fridges Require a Vent?
12-volt RV fridges have to be vented for correct operation. Nonetheless, compressor 12-volt fridges don’t require an exterior vent like absorption-style fridges.
As a substitute, you’ll merely want to make sure ample house across the fridge as specified within the proprietor’s handbook. This implies no further holes within the outdoors of your RV, which may grow to be entry factors for critters and pests.
Holding Your 12-Volt Fridge Operating
It doesn’t matter how environment friendly your fridge is; in case you don’t have a technique to replenish your battery financial institution, you’ll finally be left with heat and spoiled meals. There are just a few choices for conserving your batteries charged. When you’re at a campground, you possibly can merely plug into shore energy.
Nonetheless, if you’re boondocking, you’ll want to make use of a generator, solar energy, or a mixture of the 2. Photo voltaic is the best choice because it’s sustainable and renewable however you might also want a generator for cloudy days, or for powering bigger home equipment like your microwave and air conditioner.
What’s the Life Expectancy of a 12-volt Fridge?
It’s troublesome to find out the life expectancy of a 12-volt fridge as a result of it’s a newer know-how within the RV business. Residential compressor-style fridges have confirmed dependable, however the identical can not but be mentioned for 12-volt RV fridges.
Alternatively, absorption-style RV fridges have confirmed their sturdiness, with a mean life expectancy of 10-15 years. It’s not unusual to listen to of some nonetheless kicking even after 25 years of service.
If reliability is what you worth most, you could wish to keep on with the tried-and-true absorption-style RV fridge. Nonetheless, in case you worth effectivity most and the flexibility to make use of battery energy on your fridge, it’s price taking the dive right into a 12-volt RV fridge.
Putting in an RV Alternative Fridge
When you’ve selected a 12-volt RV fridge alternative, there are some stuff you’ll have to know. For starters, you’ll wish to measure the tough opening to make sure the fridge chosen both matches or is lower than its size, width, and depth. As a result of compressor-style fridges don’t require an exterior vent, you’ll additionally want house across the fridge for air flow. It’s additionally a good suggestion to shut and seal any current exterior vents which might be now not used.
When you’ve got house on your new fridge, you possibly can start by eradicating the outdated one. Hopefully, it suits via the doorway, and also you don’t need to take away a door or window, however be ready for this, because it has occurred earlier than. To find out one of the best removing methodology, measure your doorway and the present fridge. You’re good to go if the fridge is smaller than the doorway. In any other case, you’ll want to start eradicating a window or door. That is finest left to knowledgeable at one among our service facilities.
After you have the outdated fridge eliminated and the brand new one in place, you’ll have to route wires from the fridge to the battery. The scale of the wire and circuit safety you utilize is necessary, so you’ll want to reference the proprietor’s handbook for this.
There are lots of advantages of including a 12-volt fridge. Whether or not you’re trying to substitute an outdated, non-working fridge or improve to a extra environment friendly mannequin, we hope you discovered this information useful. If a 12-volt DC fridge will not be a great match for you, there are many different choices to think about.
Tell us within the feedback under which fashion of RV fridge you favor!