If you are fitting a permanent fridge to a campervan, motorhome, or caravan, there are two types to consider: compressor fridges and absorption fridges. Both can be built into a furniture unit and both will keep your food cold, but they work differently and suit different setups.
Things to consider before choosing:
- How long are you planning to travel for?
- Will you be off-grid or on a campsite with hookup?
- What power sources do you have available: 12v, 230v mains, or gas?
One will be more suitable than the other depending on your answers. The sections below outline the differences.
Difference at a glance
Compressor fridge:
- Runs on 12V only
- Cools faster
- Works well in hot climates
- Does not need external vents
Absorption fridge:
- Operates on 12V, 230V and Gas
- Works silently
- Needs good external ventilation
Not all 12v is equal
Both types can run on 12v, but very differently. Compressor fridges use 12v as their main, efficient cooling source. Absorption fridges use 12v mainly to maintain temperature while driving, once gas or mains has already done the cooling, and it's the least efficient of their three power sources for actual cooling.
Where compressor wins
Compressor fridges are efficient on 12v, quick to cool, easy to install, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. For longer off-grid trips, investing in your DC system, battery banks, solar, and DC-DC charging means you can go further without worrying about power.
Where absorption has an edge
Absorption fridges are very efficient running on gas as an off-grid option. The trade-off is that they're slower to reach temperature, struggle in climates above 30 degrees, and need external ventilation built into the installation.
Bringing it together
If you're often off-grid, need quick cooling, or you're travelling in hot weather, a compressor fridge with a solid DC setup will serve you better the longer you're away from hookup. If you regularly carry gas, stay mostly on level, serviced pitches, and want silent running, an absorption fridge is a well-proven choice, especially where mains or gas can do the cooling and the 12v system just needs to keep things ticking over.
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