12 volt refrigerator

[Jh65]

How well do the 12v refrigerators work when boon-docking?? How much solar wattage is required or at least ok for boondocking with a 12v fridge. I am looking at an Alliance Valor with a 12v only fridge and am concerned about having enough battery power to continuously run the fridge. This particular rv comes with 2 400w solar panels(800w total). Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Holdmybeer]

The typical 12v RV compressor refer consumes 30-55 Ah per day. 360-660 watts (Wh) per day. Your mileage however may vary. Apparently the 12v only compressor units vastly outperform the traditional absorption type units, only they're as could be expected, energy hogs.

 

[Jh65]

Is there anybody out there that has had a 12volt fridge that can share their likes/dislikes of them. It seems like the majority of the new toy haulers all have them these days. I think it all kind a started with Covid when the absorption type refrigerator manufacturers couldn’t keep up with demand so the rv manufacturers started installing the 12 volt and its seems to have kind a stuck. I’m very apprehensive about them if not plugged into shore power at all times. Any opinions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Holdmybeer]

The avg daily watt consumption should be 350-600 watts/ 30-50Ah. range, so calculate that along with any other expected daily load on the battery bank and match that to your solar capacity. From the reviews I'm seeing the 12v units perform very well. **Keeping in mind your solar capacity is highly relative to location and conditions.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Is there anybody out there that has had a 12volt fridge that can share their likes/dislikes of them. It seems like the majority of the new toy haulers all have them these days. I think it all kind a started with Covid when the absorption type refrigerator manufacturers couldn’t keep up with demand so the rv manufacturers started installing the 12 volt and its seems to have kind a stuck. I’m very apprehensive about them if not plugged into shore power at all times. Any opinions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

To clear the air before I go further. My experience has been with standard 115vac fridges. However consumption is similar, so what I say will fit your question.

First point, fire hazard is the most likely reason for the RV industries move from propane fired fridges. I personally know of two fires started by those units.

I personally run 3 115v units on 1000w of solar. 2 fridges, and 1 freezer. Ranging from 4cf to 7.5cf I use a timer on 1 unit so there is no drain at night. I would not trust a 12v fridge to hold it's cool on a timer.

At one time, when I had an equipment failure, I was running the 7.5cf on 260 Watt panel.

Your mileage will vary depending on your location.

 

[Jh65]

Thanks for the info

 

[RobertE]

Boondocking out west is out ultimate goal and was a major factor when we were looking for an RV. You read all the time how well solar works, but I was never convinced enough to invest in a solar system.

After a lot of research, pros and cons, these were the factors, silly or not, that we felt were key:

1. All the videos I watched were not very convincing or weren’t real world scenarios. For example, panels in full sunlight, nothing on but the fridge, etc. so I concluded the only way to figure it out was to use one in a real world situation. I didn’t want to do that.

2. People were recommending 2,3 batteries @ $3-400 each and 50-75# each.

3. The # and expense of solar panels. I saw people boondocking with 6-8 panels and they needed to be portable.

4. Panels on the roof - we like to park under trees, so we would need portable panels.

5. The technology of the charging systems involved and if something goes wrong I can’t fix it.

6. People who boo dock charging with generators b.c either their system couldn’t keep up or it was too cloudy.

7. You need propane for heat and hot water anyway.

I know people do it successfully, but for us reliability and simplicity was paramount. The only thing about a propane fridge is you’re looking at a 2021 or older.

I know I don’t understand a lot about solar and batteries, but AFAIK panels need full sun to work most efficiently, and need to be portable and moved according to the situation.

 

[Jh65]

Boondocking out west is out ultimate goal and was a major factor when we were looking for an RV. You read all the time how well solar works, but I was never convinced enough to invest in a solar system.

After a lot of research, pros and cons, these were the factors, silly or not, that we felt were key:

1. All the videos I watched were not very convincing or weren’t real world scenarios. For example, panels in full sunlight, nothing on but the fridge, etc. so I concluded the only way to figure it out was to use one in a real world situation. I didn’t want to do that.

2. People were recommending 2,3 batteries @ $3-400 each and 50-75# each.

3. The # and expense of solar panels. I saw people boondocking with 6-8 panels and they needed to be portable.

4. Panels on the roof - we like to park under trees, so we would need portable panels.

5. The technology of the charging systems involved and if something goes wrong I can’t fix it.

6. People who boo dock charging with generators b.c either their system couldn’t keep up or it was too cloudy.

7. You need propane for heat and hot water anyway.

I know people do it successfully, but for us reliability and simplicity was paramount. The only thing about a propane fridge is you’re looking at a 2021 or older.

I know I don’t understand a lot about solar and batteries, but AFAIK panels need full sun to work most efficiently, and need to be portable and moved according to the situation.

I have a lot of the same concerns. So what did you end up doing. Did you purchase or rent to get the full experience? And what were the results. Thanks

 

[Rollin Ollen]

I have a lot of the same concerns. So what did you end up doing. Did you purchase or rent to get the full experience? And what were the results. Thanks

Here is my experience: We are right now boon docking just outside of Parker Az. Our 2019 Jayco 31 UL has all LED lighting. We recharge two HP lap tops. two cell phones, a floor model and a hand held vacuum. The fridge is running 120v. Water heater is running LPG. I have 600 Watts of solar FLAT on the roof. By 10:00 AM our two 12 volt NAPA 8270 deep cycles (100 AH each) were fully charged from 12.7 at 6:00 AM. We have lights and computers on until around 10:00 PM. Cell are on always. We turn the fridge to LP before the sun goes down. After the batteries are charged everything is then running off of solar. For us, this works well. Oh and the desert is in bloom here at Blue Cloud. Very pretty and it is 27 C right now about 80 F.