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Absorption vs 12V compressor RV fridges

Home Inspiration Absorption vs 12V compressor RV fridges

We like our food to be fresh, our drinks to be cold, and our ice to be frozen, everywhere we go. A RV refrigerator is key here. But what type of fridge fits your needs? And what are the differences between the absorption (or 3-way) fridge and the 12V compressor fridge?

thetford N4000 absorption fridges

Absorption (3-way) refrigerator

Absorption fridges are often called 3-way fridges because they run on 12V, 230V or gas.

How it works

An absorption refrigerator is different from your refrigerator at home, as it has a different cooling system. A heat source, generated by a burner or by electrical heating, drives the cooling system. This leads to a physical reaction that creates the cooling effect inside the RV refrigerator.

Due to this physical reaction, the refrigerator remains wonderfully cold, but at the same time a lot of heat is being released. That is why you will notice that ventilation grilles are always installed in motorhomes with an absorption refrigerator, and sometimes even extra fans.

Advantages of an absorption refrigerator

Great performance, wherever you go

The absorption fridge is ideal for when you like to camp off-grid for a longer period of time, as it can switch both manually or automatically between three different energy sources. Thetford’s N4000 series performs perfectly in all conditions, even on campsites where power supply varies from 160V to 220V

Extremely silent

This system is a very quiet system since it has no moving parts. Therefore, it is ideal for smaller spaces like a RV

Cooling performance

Absorption fridges perform best at medium and lower ambient temperatures
(10 – 32˚ C).

Discover our N4000 absorption fridges

Disadvantages of an absorption refrigerator

Slightly slower cooling process

Make sure to pre-cool some hours before use, as the cooling down process takes a bit more time (the exact time depends on the power supply of the RV)

Sensitive to vehicle tilt

3-way fridges are slightly more sensitive to vehicle tilt, and therefore need to be levelled (max of < 2.5˚)

What influences a good performance of the absorption refrigerator?

  • Especially within higher ambient temperatures the performance is strongly depending on the airflow at the backside of the refrigerator. Therefore it is key that the vents are correctly positioned and the air circulation between the vents and the backside of the refrigerator is complying with the Thetford installation instructions;
  • Make sure you never block the vents, for example with an awning;
  • Installation should be done by a qualified installer;
  • If you camp at spots where the ambient temperature is above 30°C a ventilator is advised to have good performance. A ventilator improves the efficiency of the refrigerator. Always ask your local Thetford dealer for more information and assistance.

Product overview and technical specifications absorption fridges
Thetford T2000 compressor 12v fridges

Compressor refrigerator

The compressor refrigerator (also called 12V fridge), is most similar to the refrigerator we have at home.

How it works

The compressor actively pushes refrigerant through the circuit, and the evaporator evaporates warm air, which is then converted into cold air.

Advantages of a compressor 12V refrigerator

Great cooling performance

  • Less power consumption, compared to absorption refrigerators
  • Cool downs quickly (in < 2 hours)
  • Good performance at high ambient temperatures (16 -38 ˚C and 16-43 ˚C)

No gas bottle is required with the compressor fridge, as the 12V vehicle’s battery is its energy source

TIP: to have long off-grid functionality, it is advised to look at power options with additional batteries and solar panels on your vehicle

No vents in your vehicle’s wall are required, since the refrigerator has internal ventilation

Energy-saving options

With Thetford’s 12V T2000 fridge series, you have the option to turn off the freezer compartment completely, which saves you up to 45% energy

Discover our T2000 compressor fridges

Disadvantages of a compressor refrigerator

Less silent

A compressor fridge is less silent compared to an absorption fridge. However, Thetford’s compressor range has a day mode and a silent night mode.

What influences a good performance of the compressor refrigerator?

  • Thetford has several installation guidelines for an optimal performance
  • Installation should be done by a qualified installer

Product overview and technical specifications compressor fridges
thetford van

Replace your RV refrigerator

You can trust a Thetford refrigerator to perform optimally under all conditions. Do you want to replace your old Thetford refrigerator? Or switch to a Thetford 12v or absorption refrigerator? Click on the link to see which type is most suitable for your vehicle.
Refrigerator replacement overview

What is the best RV fridge?

There really is no winner here, as it all depends on what is important to you. If you plan to go off-grid for longer periods of time, an absorption fridge might be your best choice. If you are looking for a fridge that cools quicker and performs better in hotter environments, the compressor 12V fridge would be your best bet.

More details on the differences between absorption and 12V fridges in the video below:

Please   accept marketing-cookies   to watch this video.

Frequently asked questions

Usage

While the display is flashing, hold down all three control buttons at the same time until it stops flashing. The temperature level bars that light up show the error code. You can read the error code from the table. In the example, it is error code “10”. You can find the meaning of the codes here.

3: Error in gas operation
Go to a specialist workshop

4: Indicates a defective 12V heating element
> Go to a specialist workshop

6: 12V power supply is out of tolerance (11.4V-15.5V)
> Establish a sufficient, resilient power supply. If necessary, visit a specialist workshop

7: D-plus signal is missing
> Check whether the vehicle engine is running. If necessary, visit a specialist workshop

8: Indicates a defective 230V heating element
> Go to a specialist workshop

10: 230V power supply is outside the tolerance (190V-260V)
> Establish a sufficient, resilient power supply. If necessary, visit a specialist workshop

11: No usable energy can be found
> Check whether the desired type of energy is available.

13: The temperature sensor is defective
> Exchange temperature sensor. Note: If the temperature sensor is defective, the refrigerator shows a fault, but continues to run in an emergency mode.

Notes:

Work on live parts should always be carried out by a specialist workshop. If one type of energy cannot be used due to a fault, select an alternative type of energy.

In the refrigerator. Behind the vegetable drawer or on the side wall there is a data plate with all the model information.

Cleaning and maintenance

Please check if you switched on the refrigerator according to the instructions. Check if the vehicle stands level or if there is an available energy source to start the refrigerator with. If none of this is the case, please contact your dealer or Thetford Service Centre.

You can do this after a minimum of 8 hours cooling, the food can be placed in the refrigerator. Do not completely cover the cooling fins with food, to preserve an optimal performance of the refrigerator. Make sure air can still circulate around the fins.

Troubleshooting

Yes, in most instances you can replace your RV fridge. Locate your current model and find a suitable replacement with our fridge replacement chart. For further information on replacing your refrigerator, please contact your dealer or Thetford Service Centre.

In this case, a 12V refrigerator is the best solution.

An absorption fridge is the best solution, because it runs on gas, 230V and 12V. 

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