Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,
I know it’s a popular topic.. will fit a new interior in the near future.. van has the exterior vents for the usual Electrolux rm 3 way fridge. I would have to buy one though. Should I buy a used/new 3 way fridge that would fit, or bite the bullet and blank the vents (van to be resprayed) and go the compressor route..
The cost of a compressor fridge is the first hurdle...

Any ideas?
Cheers

I bit the bullet and went for a compressor. glad I did, it works well on the leisure battery and my 150W solar keeps up with demand on a good sunny day.
I got a Chinese one (they're all made in china now anyway) it's a 40L top loading one and the right dimensions so I can build it in.
It also opens the right way for where I want to build it in.
Same as this.


Can't comment on 3way fridge as I have never had one but you can only use the 12V supply when you're on the move, it would flatten your battery in no time.

I've got a 3-way in my current van, and had a compressor in my old van. Here's some observations if it helps:

Quietest: 3-way - silent in operation (both on gas & electric). Compressor hummed like a standard kitchen fridge. Not so good if your head's next to it as it switches off and on through the night
Most efficient: Compressor - Ran well on a solar setup as mentioned, 3-4A draw IIRC; 3-way will need a gas bottle or mains hookup. 10A draw will quickly zap any battery without the engine running.
Safest: Compressor, or 3-way on electricity. My 3-way occasionally decides it wants to vent the exhaust into the van, due to the bad route of the exhaust (should only be a straight pipe, strictly following the fitting instructions, someone fitted mine with flexible hose, hmm) I need to fix that, but in the mean time, there's no way I'd sleep in the van with it on gas.
Performance: Don't think I've noticed a difference between them, both kept the beer cold! (Compressor had a slightly larger freezer, but I guess that would depend on which model you go for in the end)

So, erm, hope some of that's helpful!

Compressor - Waeco CR80. Compressor - Waeco CR80. Compressor - Waeco CR80. Compressor - Waeco CR80. Compressor - Waeco CR80.

Did I mention Compressor - Waeco CR80.

I am considering a waeco CRX50

From my experience with 3 way and compressor (Waeco CRX80)

Waeco cools quicker, is much more tilt tolerant, needs good batteries and preferably solar panels. But noisy in a small van, some people turn them off at night because of this, but sort of defeats the purpose, especially in summer!

3 way, cools well when level but performance drops when tilted even slightly, works even when batteries are low, totally silent. Bliss

On balance the compressor works best for us due to tilt tolerance, we frequently park on rough tracks and ground in mountain areas where its often impossible to get level. But we now always try to sleep with head away from fridge.

Thanks to everyone for the advice..
Had caravans before and as soon as the outside temp rises the 3 way struggle..
Plus I want to have a clean sided van, so can remove the exhaust/vents..
Compressor it is then.. or maybe a cool box until I save up the pennies for a waeco;)

Have a waeco and would never go back to an absorption 3 way fridge. Apart from efficiency, condensation problems rotting the floor, a compressor fridge is not affected by gradients unlike absorption fridges which will only tolerate a few degrees fom perfectly flat and level.

Hello,

I had a Peltier effect coolbox, which while serving faithfully would draw 8 ampères...

I prefer to use the 'fridge space' under the kitchen, to store porta toilet, barbeque etc..

For me the coolbox remains largely outside the van, under a plastic table for cover.

I have now upgraded to this:



Model Indel B TB18....... 393€

It is 12 and 24 volt only, drawing 3 ampères

Being portable I can now use it to keep frozen foods correctly when going shopping in hot weather, or stuff (very) cold if invited to a Bbq or similar...

Cordialement,

100leelee wrote:Hi,
I know it’s a popular topic.. will fit a new interior in the near future.. van has the exterior vents for the usual Electrolux rm 3 way fridge. I would have to buy one though. Should I buy a used/new 3 way fridge that would fit, or bite the bullet and blank the vents (van to be resprayed) and go the compressor route..
The cost of a compressor fridge is the first hurdle...

Any ideas?
Cheers

Sorry, going back to the beginning... 3way doesn’t need external vents according to the instructions (on the club stuff downloads page). If you fit it tucked back towards the side of the van then fit vents above and below the fridge, they are meant to work without external vents, just a flue vent. I’m hoping to go that route, and fill in my massive, ugly, badly done, external vents. I think the theory must be that with less space behind the fridge you get a stronger updraft past the cooling tubes (or whatever they are called). For me, I’m also attracted to the idea of more space inside the van as a result.

bigbadbob76 wrote:I bit the bullet and went for a compressor. glad I did, it works well on the leisure battery and my 150W solar keeps up with demand on a good sunny day.
I got a Chinese one (they're all made in china now anyway) it's a 40L top loading one and the right dimensions so I can build it in.
It also opens the right way for where I want to build it in.
Same as this.


Can't comment on 3way fridge as I have never had one but you can only use the 12V supply when you're on the move, it would flatten your battery in no time.

Where did you get that then?

tforturton wrote:

bigbadbob76 wrote:I bit the bullet and went for a compressor. glad I did, it works well on the leisure battery and my 150W solar keeps up with demand on a good sunny day.
I got a Chinese one (they're all made in china now anyway) it's a 40L top loading one and the right dimensions so I can build it in.
It also opens the right way for where I want to build it in.
Same as this.


Can't comment on 3way fridge as I have never had one but you can only use the 12V supply when you're on the move, it would flatten your battery in no time.

Where did you get that then?

I've just Google'd Alpicool and found aliexpress is about the only seller at the moment

I run a 50l weaco but might be tempted at a 50l Alpicool at £183 plus duties of course

Compressor - we use an Engel MT35. It sits where the buddy box would sit in our Westy. The Ozzie’s swear by Engels and they know about hot deserts and cold beer - but they are not cheap. Ours came from eBay around 10 years ago, but I wouldn’t be without it now. It freezes stuff on anything over setting 1 (of 5 settings). Never mind cold beer, ice cold milk on my cereal in the morning is where it’s at!

If I were to buy a fridge now I would be looking at the waeco front loading ones, although the top loading ones are much more efficient as you don’t lose the cold air every time you get something out...

Cheers
Mark

I have a 3way in my van and no vents,except flu.seems to work fine on all power sources.does struggle to cool quickly when its warm outside.thinking of putting a small fan behind it to heat move the heat as it does get warm behind it.also never had any condensation issues with it.

If the van is leaning toward the sliding door it would need a compressor if leaning away it'll be OK on a 3 way. Or is it the other way round?