Replacing 3 way fridge with compressor (1 Viewer)

[dorkins]

Hi all, I am pulling an old electrolux 3 way fridge out, it runs fine on gas and mains but not on 12 volt at all, I need to take it out to get a better idea of the 12 volt wiring involved but more importantly all the sealing foam (I guess) is in bad condition and most is missing allowing a howling gale to enter the interior via the vents. I am not happy with having gas burning overnight even if this is all put right.
Having decided to do this I am now thinking of replacing with a compressor fridge, we do have good solar and batteries so confident on that point but am a bit concerned about noise levels, particularly at night, so would appreciate any thoughts, comments, experiences and recommendations by anyone who has done this, particularly in an older van.
Thanks in anticipation!

 

[berni109]

Cant comment on replacement but my wife is a very light sleeper and with the fridge set to night mode there is very little noise which does not disturb here sleep.

 

[EuroTrotters]

The noise level will depend on where the appliance is situated, what type of compressor and the evaporator design.

In a Frankia motorhome or similar where you can have two doors sectioning off the bedroom from living area. It will be almost silent compared to those where the fridge is close to the bed.

The other noise, that can sometimes be muffled is that of evaporation. Where the capillary enters the evaporator. Liquid refrigerant changes state by evaporating into a gas (boiling off). This creates a light snoring or grating noise. Some are quiet, some are noisy. On some you can reduce the noise, some you cannot.

 

[ontheroadagain]

We have a Thetford compressor fridge in our Adria.
Yes there is some noise from it.
The first night we slept in the motorhome I thought it was very noisy.
The second night it didn't seem as bad.
By the third night we didn't even notice it.
The night setting does reduce the noise and power consumption but to be honest if we are on EHU we don't use it.
Overall I think it is great. Switch it on and forget about it. No turning it on/off for ferries or the tunnel etc.
Cools down quickly and works well in hot weather.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Mine is very quiet, just slight noise from the condenser fan and it's next to my bed, I slowed it down with a resistor and a switch. I also fitted a new controller that makes it run longer but then stay off longer

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[rod_vw]

It's important to ensure that the 12v cable (and earth connection) are of a size at least as large as that recommended by the new fridge supplier.

Depending on the ability to create airflow within the vehicle rather than through any external vents all of the externals could be blanked off including of course the flue from the old fridge.

 

[dorkins]

Thanks for the info. there is a big range in prices, £350 - £6/700 (small ones) any experience out there on whether the more paid the better the quality (as you would expect) and hopefully, quieter as most are now produced in china it's really difficult to pick out whether it is really worth paying more for so any reviews or recommendations are welcome.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Thanks for the info. there is a big range in prices, £350 - £6/700 (small ones) any experience out there on whether the more paid the better the quality (as you would expect) and hopefully, quieter as most are now produced in china it's really difficult to pick out whether it is really worth paying more for so any reviews or recommendations are welcome.

The ones with Danfoss compressors should be good quality. Just had to Google it because they changed names...

 

[cmcardle75]

I've got a Dometic CRX80 installed actually under the bed. You can hear it, but not enough to be bothersome. If you can't sleep if a pin drops, it might be a problem. I'd think most people wouldn't care.

 

[hja]

We have a domestic compressor fridge in our camper van. Sometimes we notice it during the day , usually when it goes off. At night we don’t notice it, and rarely use the night setting. We find that at night it rarely comes on because of course the fridge isn’t being opened. Correction, I don’t hear it; OH wouldn’t hear it however lous.
Our bed is at the back of the van and the fridge is at the far end of the kitchen.

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[dorkins]

I've got a Dometic CRX80 installed actually under the bed. You can hear it, but not enough to be bothersome. If you can't sleep if a pin drops, it might be a problem. I'd think most people wouldn't care.

At first I seriously considered the CRX80 but will probably go for the CRX50 mainly because we won't need the bigger fridge and it saves a couple of hundred quid! it does seem that in this price category the Dometic range come out highly recommended.

 

[wfdTamar]

When my 3way died I considered:
A new 3way (£££) yes silent, but rubbish fridge when it's hot,
12 compressor (££££). Expensive and you need the extra power (solar & battery) and
240 V compressor (££). Cheaper fridge, but inverter (and the extra solar & battery).

I went with the latter as they're so much cheaper than 12V ones (even with the inverter required). A far better fridge than a 3way, but whichever way you do it, not a cheap exercise. You're best to try to keep the 3way going as long as possible.

I've put a fan system on the rear vent (as you might do for a 3way) and that makes more noise than the fridge (in hotter weather when it kicks in full power). Reassuring that it's working in the heat. I get a hum when the inverter starts, but putting in a bigger one I hope will stop that. The actual fridge is very quiet (a Beko TSE 1284).

Additional solar system & B2B for compressor fridge

Hi. I've had a 2002 Hymer Classic B584 for a season and fitted solar to it. I'm fairly competent mechanically and technically, but the finer points of electrics are not something I do often enough to warrant learning it. I use my Hymer in the warmer months for long periods. My current leisure...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Pusscat]

Don’t know if this is too late but it may help someone in the future.

I had a dometic 8555 rms 3 way. Old problem of not really cold, installed PC fans in the vents which improved things but ice cubes lasted about 10 seconds in a G&T in warm weather and beer not really cold.

looked at a Vitifrigio (Italian make) compressor, heard good reviews, quiet compressor but if anything, the odd report of a a slightly noisy fan. It’s based on a danfoss compressor.

I went and saw one installed and working in a suppliers show room and bought one, had it installed, saved about 10% on Black Friday deal in Plymouth.

it went in the same space, has a larger overall capacity, larger freezer section, nice white light inside instead of a ‘porn blue‘ shimmer…Also, looks much neater and less plastic than the dometic without that curved front some of them have…looks far classier! Also has a vent setting on the door lock, can switch door opening side (which I have done but you need to do this whilst not fully set in place), 12 / 24 v, also a 230 v auto switch extra option available.

it wasn’t totally silent, you could hear the fan but it was liveable with. but outside by the vents (awning seating position…) you could hear it….it was louder than the compressor. I ordered a PC quiet ‘nocturna’ 12mm fan. Pulled out the fridge, un clipped the whole compressor and fan unit, changed the fan over (actually quite easy) and then sound insulated the compartment at the back where the compressor sits (There is a step by step guide on the internet on how to change the fan).

For the sound insulation , I bought a cheap foam camping mat from Argos for a tenner, got some wide double sided tape from toolstation and lined the cavity and rolled the remainder into the gap under the fridge.

during the day, you can’t really hear it. At night there is a slight low hum But obviously , only when the unit is cooling down. No annoying clicking or shaking you sometimes get with domestic, just a very low quiet hum . I’m a very light sleeper and it hasn’t disturbed me, I’ve really have to strain to hear it. I’m 56 with a good hearing.

the fridge is the C115i, 117 litres total capacity, 17 litre freezer section. it’s fitted at the mid point of a swift Rio 320 ( 6.4m) with the bed made up as a double at the rear of the van.

been in Bristol for a few nights, turned the fridge down from 2.5 to setting 1.5 (5 being the lowest temp setting) as it was getting rather cold and the celery was starting to freeze! With thermostat on 1.5 setting, got around -12 to -10 deg C in freezer section, great ice and drinks in the main compartment nice and cold.

I have 2 efb leisure batts 200 amp hrs total, 245 solar.Haven’t used on aires or wild camping yet but all the articles point to it being efficient power wise…I have a couple more 100w panels I could possibly mount but will try this out first.

only complaint so far is that the thermostat dial is behind one of the crisper boxes (?!) but I think you can get a box showing temperatures and controller where you can install where u want…don’t quote me on that one, I may have misunderstood!

so I’m very happy And looking forward to warm weather ice cold drinks!

 

[PeterCarole29]

We have a 12v i fitted last year in our PVC. We went to spain and france . not having external ventalation found the fridge was working hard and the sides were warm. I had good ventalation internally under and out the back into our boot. I will be altering it to give outside ventalation somehow through the floor as its in the middle of the van under bed.

 

[wfdTamar]

There’s a myth that compressor fridges don’t need airflow, or fresh air, but by definition a fridge exchanges hot for cold, so will make the space it’s in warmer. The warmer it is, the harder it has to work. It’s the same in a house. I cringe when I see a fridge next to an oven or heater, or enclosed in cupboards.

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[Pusscat]

There’s a myth that compressor fridges don’t need airflow, or fresh air, but by definition a fridge exchanges hot for cold, so will make the space it’s in warmer. The warmer it is, the harder it has to work. It’s the same in a house. I cringe when I see a fridge next to an oven or heater, or enclosed in cupboards.

That’s the beauty of replacing an old 3 way…two very nice ventilation holes already in place!

 

[PeterCarole29]

There’s a myth that compressor fridges don’t need airflow, or fresh air, but by definition a fridge exchanges hot for cold, so will make the space it’s in warmer. The warmer it is, the harder it has to work. It’s the same in a house. I cringe when I see a fridge next to an oven or heater, or enclosed in cupboards.

Yes i agree, I installed it giving greater airflow than the instructions said and was guided by them when i bought it.
The conception is very misleading

 

[wfdTamar]

I've just bought a Hymer in Australia that has a Dometic CRX 110 compressor fridge (12/240 volt), so I'll be able to compare it to the Beko house fridge I have in my UK Hymer. The Beko with inverter is about half the price of the Dometic and I suspect a better fridge.

 

[Landy Andy]

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[Karmann 97]

Hi all, I am pulling an old electrolux 3 way fridge out, it runs fine on gas and mains but not on 12 volt at all, I need to take it out to get a better idea of the 12 volt wiring involved but more importantly all the sealing foam (I guess) is in bad condition and most is missing allowing a howling gale to enter the interior via the vents. I am not happy with having gas burning overnight even if this is all put right.
Having decided to do this I am now thinking of replacing with a compressor fridge, we do have good solar and batteries so confident on that point but am a bit concerned about noise levels, particularly at night, so would appreciate any thoughts, comments, experiences and recommendations by anyone who has done this, particularly in an older van.
Thanks in anticipation!

We've just bought the vitrifrigo c85i low wattage, large freezer and its almost silent. 100 x better than 3 way we used to have.

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[wfdTamar]

The Hymer I bought has the older Waco CR110 (I think now owned and badged as Dometic?) and it’s ok as a fridge, but the freezer is only just below freezing (-3) when the fridge part is at correct temperature. Wether that’s because it’s old or an older model I don’t know.

BTW- every appliance in the Hymer has been changed. 3-way for the Waeco. Lovely 10 litre Truma combi hot water / central air heater for a huge US 23 litre hot water tank (but no room heater!). Smeg stove for 2 burner Smeg stove (but hey it’s got a sticker that says Australian standards compliant!).