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.
Where compressor wins
A compressor fridge runs efficiently on 12v or 24v DC, handles hotter climates well, and maintains a consistent temperature regardless of the conditions outside. The compressor cycles on and off to maintain the set temperature, keeping average power draw lower than you might expect. For weekend off-grid use a modest DC setup is enough. For longer 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 run silently. They operate on LPG gas, 230v mains, or 12v. On gas the cooling itself draws nothing from the battery, though there is always a small 12v draw to power the onboard electronics regardless of which fuel source is in use. For touring caravans and motorhomes that carry gas routinely and spend most of their time on level, serviced pitches, that combination works well.
The trade-offs are worth knowing. Absorption fridges need to be level to work correctly. They generate heat as part of the cooling process and require external ventilation built into the installation. They are not available in as wide a range of sizes as compressor fridges, performance drops off above around 30 degrees, and they are slower to reach temperature than a compressor unit.
The practical summary
- Building a campervan, relying on 12v, moving frequently, or travelling in warm weather, compressor
- Fitting a caravan or motorhome, carrying gas, spending most of your time on level serviced pitches, absorption is a well-proven option
- Either way a 12v supply is always needed - to run a compressor fridge, and to power the onboard electronics of an absorption fridge
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