TheSamba.com :: View topic - Low-power fridges: state of the art (share your experience)

Thu Aug 29, 2024 11:32 am

I’ve decided that my fridge needs to go. I thought I got really lucky finding this fridge second hand as the fitment is fantastic. At the time I did not realize my mistake— it’s an absorption fridge :shock: ! This is a compressor-less type fridge that powers itself using a heater. On the plus side, this fridge is completely silent. Anybody who knows about electrical loads knows there’s just about nothing more power hungry than an electric heater.
The fridge is rated for 90W and it uses that pretty much constantly! With no other loads, I am measuring around 7A out of my house battery and I have not seen the fridge cycle off. Here’s how nicely it fits:

Now I’d like to replace this with an efficient compressor fridge. I’ve read a few threads stating that the Vitrifrigo C50i and the Norcold DE-0040 are good choices for low power, but both of these seem pretty hard to come by. Truck fridge and Dometic are also popular choices but they don’t seem as efficient as the VF. This might be fine so long as it’s not as much draw as the absorption.

I do not want to do a portable fridge. I understand the advantages but I just can’t do it. The way I want to use my van I’d rather have the fridge in its spot even if it is technically worse. I also do not want an LP fridge.

Many of the threads about fridges are pretty old, so I’d like to know what the modern choices are. I want a fridge that uses the space well and is efficient. The VF seems like a perfect choice for this as it fills the hole completely, but it has the same volume as TF so that technically makes the TF better as you can add a drawer below. Please let me know what advances have been made in the world of RV refrigeration or why you chose what you did!

Thu Aug 29, 2024 11:42 am

I actually just recently swapped the (still functional) stock Riviera fridge outa my rig, which is very similar to the Westy's model.

I went with a Truckfridge TF49 took up a lot less physical space while having MORE storage capacity.

I've taken it on two week long trips so far, the first the ambient temps were in the low 90's, the second they were in the low 70's. Both trips it ran at about 3A when running, which is less than 1/2 what the spec says it's max draw was. It cycles on and off obviously, with that draw only when its cycled on.

I had a hard time keeping it from just freezing everything it worked so well, I think I had it on a setting of 2 out of 7 for the cooler trip, and 4 on the hotter.

I was on grid for the hotter trip, but the cooler trip I had several days off grid so I was able to measure the power draw. Overnight when the solar wasn't adding anything it used roughly 12AH of power.

Hope that's helpful!

Thu Aug 29, 2024 11:43 am

The TF 49 is a decent compressor fridge. Works in the same spot in your cabinet. How you position it in the hold is your choice. If you want the top of the fridge up against the bottom of the stove you'll probably need to carve out some material from the back of the cabinet.

I get it about the space and not wanting a portable unit. They are more efficient and can pack a great deal more than the vertical fridges. But they do take up a lot of floor space.

Thu Aug 29, 2024 11:56 am

GoEverywhere wrote:
I was on grid for the hotter trip, but the cooler trip I had several days off grid so I was able to measure the power draw. Overnight when the solar wasn't adding anything it used 12AH of power.

Hope that's helpful!

This is perfect info. If I can hit a similar draw, my battery would be able to last. The advertised draw is 40A/24h for TF49. In less confusing terms that’s an average of 1.66A draw. How long was the overnight when you measured 12AH?

Thu Aug 29, 2024 12:14 pm

CowardVenus15 wrote: GoEverywhere wrote:
I was on grid for the hotter trip, but the cooler trip I had several days off grid so I was able to measure the power draw. Overnight when the solar wasn't adding anything it used 12AH of power.

Hope that's helpful!

This is perfect info. If I can hit a similar draw, my battery would be able to last. The advertised draw is 40A/24h for TF49. In less confusing terms that’s an average of 1.66A draw. How long was the overnight when you measured 12AH?

Hmmm, I'd guess it was practically no solar input about 7PM, and I measured it about 8AM the next morning. There was a little bit of misc draw from phone chargers during that time but the rest of my usual power loads were off(No wifi, no heaters, etc.) so the fridge was the main draw.

Thu Aug 29, 2024 2:37 pm

Since your cabinet is already trimmed and a work in progress consider the TF65. Same guts as TF49 but lots more volume.

Thu Aug 29, 2024 2:49 pm

15 years and 34 pages of fridge projects here. Check out just out the past few years to see the latest units.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=359831&postorder=asc

The Vitrifrigo C50i looks like a great fit:
Corwyn wrote: Vitrifrigo C50i. In like a glove! Perfect size, easy install. Super quiet. 3 hours after wiring it up, I have ice cubes! :D

I've had a Vitrofrigo 51 (nearly identical to the TF49) in my van for 8(?) years and love it. It runs 24/7 during the summer so it's always ready to keep a lunch cool for a day trip or for camping.

Thu Aug 29, 2024 8:36 pm

Steve Arndt wrote: Since your cabinet is already trimmed and a work in progress consider the TF65. Same guts as TF49 but lots more volume.
There was actually no trimming done for my current setup. The Smad fridge just fit in there when the original fridge door and frame was removed. I will check out the TF65…

Fri Aug 30, 2024 8:28 am

jimf909 wrote: 15 years and 34 pages of fridge projects here. Check out just out the past few years to see the latest units.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=359831&postorder=asc

The Vitrifrigo C50i looks like a great fit:
Corwyn wrote: Vitrifrigo C50i. In like a glove! Perfect size, easy install. Super quiet. 3 hours after wiring it up, I have ice cubes! :D

I've had a Vitrofrigo 51 (nearly identical to the TF49) in my van for 8(?) years and love it. It runs 24/7 during the summer so it's always ready to keep a lunch cool for a day trip or for camping.

I like that fit up. Is there a recommended distributor on this side of the pond? Google returned a lot of hits. I hate giving up my Dometic, but last trip it had a few problems I've yet to sort out and slipping in a new compressor fridge has it's value. I've already got a 100 amp Lithium and our use is traveling almost every day. Not ready to go down the solar panel hole quite yet. Thanks.

Fri Aug 30, 2024 8:56 am

Quote: Is there a recommended distributor on this side of the pond?

That seems to be the challenge. Folks seem to be paying $300 - $400 to ship them to the US. That's what @Corwyn did as recently as April (see the last page on the fridge thread).

Fri Aug 30, 2024 9:14 am

I found the link to the UK reseller and have emailed them about the 110v 240v operation. Seems like a really nice fitup with the added frame. Plus you get quite a bit of space it seems.

Dometic makes one that has a removable freezer that I thought was interesting. We've been so long without a freezer, that having the extra space a freezer takes up would be nice. On the other hand, I do like my ice cream sandwiches when I'm home. Might be a nice treat camping after dinner.

Fri Aug 30, 2024 7:15 pm

I’m very happy with the Dometic CX50. Uses about 25Ah per day, barely can hear it. And it is cold enough to keep ice cream frozen solid!
I really like having space below the fridge for more storage.
Bottom pic is with the almost completed vinyl floor.