Fridge Replacement Help

[Gwenu]

We have had our motorhome now for 3 years. Not realising at the time of purchase that the fridge only works on electric. Which is fine when we are on a site with electric but we like to go to shows and rallies when we don't always get ehu. On further investigation to the rear of the fridge (this being a replacement fridge) we can see that it has been replaced with a fridge with the outlet pipework for gas is on the opposite side to the original one as the flu has also been removed. Looking even further we then find that the gas pipework from the internal on/off gas switch has also been completely removed. Luckily this is just the other side of the cupboard wall next to the fridge so is not to far to re run pipework.

We want to be able to use a fridge off grid so my question to all you wise and wonderful people is do we bite the bullet and get a new 3 way fridge and get the gas pipes re fitted or is it worth getting a 12volt compressor fridge.

It is only a small fridge/gap 2 foot by about 16" and I don't think there will be much difference in price. What experiences have you had with compressor fridges? Do they keep cold well and are they very loud as I am a light sleeper.

Thanks in advance for any pro's and cons for either. Gwen

 

[TheBig1]

Was it a new replacement fridge or second hand? You may be able to run new pipe and connect the gas. If you do, it will obviously need the flu refitting

Compressor fridges have come on a great deal and although the motor runs intermittently through the day, you can select night mode on some for a near noise free night. Cost between a 3 way absorption and a compressor fridge is still quite a lot.

You will need to increase your hab battery bank capacity too and probably Solar to to cope with the compressor fridge current draw. When you take it all into account, the compressor fridge will cost more installed but you offset that against the amount of gas it would have needed to run the absorption

 

[Gwenu]

Was it a new replacement fridge or second hand? You may be able to run new pipe and connect the gas. If you do, it will obviously need the flu refitting

Compressor fridges have come on a great deal and although the motor runs intermittently through the day, you can select night mode on some for a near noise free night. Cost between a 3 way absorption and a compressor fridge is still quite a lot.

You will need to increase your hab battery bank capacity too and probably Solar to to cope with the compressor fridge current draw. When you take it all into account, the compressor fridge will cost more installed but you offset that against the amount of gas it would have needed to run the absorption

So as it stands we only have a small internal solar panel (sits on dashboard). Getting a panel on the roof is another job on our to do and spend out on list . We currently have 2 batteries but they now need replacing after the van has had 2 6 week visits the the gearbox garage and they are not holding there charge very well now.
So replacing with 3 way fridge I think might be best option.