Absorption fridges (built-in)

An absorption fridge works completely silently. There is no compressor, no moving parts, and on a quiet campsite you would not know it was running. It operates on 12v, 230v mains, or LPG gas, which gives it genuine fuel flexibility.

In practice, the three power sources are not equal. The 12v option requires two separate connections: a permanent 12v feed to power the onboard electronics, and a separate high-current feed to power the cooling element while driving. It is not efficient, and running on 12v alone will drain a leisure battery quickly. The best approach before any journey is to pre-cool the fridge on mains or gas rather than relying on 12v to do the work while on the road.

Where absorption really earns its place is on gas. If you are already carrying LPG, an absorption fridge runs quietly and efficiently from it without touching the battery at all.

Key things to know:

• Runs on 12v, 230v mains, or LPG gas
• Requires two 12v connections: one permanent for the electronics, one high-current for cooling while driving
• 12v cooling is not efficient - pre-cool on mains or gas before any journey
• Excellent off-grid performance on LPG
• Requires external ventilation built into the installation
• Not available in as wide a range of sizes as compressor fridges
• Performance drops off in temperatures above around 30 degrees

For touring caravans and motorhomes that use gas routinely and spend most of their time on level, serviced pitches, absorption is a well-proven and genuinely capable option. For a build that moves frequently, parks on uneven ground, or relies heavily on 12v power, a compressor fridge is almost always the better fit.