What's the difference between a gas fridge and a 12v compressor fridge?
A lot! - and finding the right fridge will depend on your situation.
Here's a summary on the differences between gas and compressor fridges, and a simple guide to help you choose the best fridge for your needs.
Quick Summary – LPG Gas Fridges (Absorption)
How they work
They work off heat, so most efficient running on Gas.
They perform best when
In a stable and level situation, therefore not mobile friendly.
Best suited to
Houses, cabins, farms or longer term camping.
Benefits
No power needed. A bottle of gas will last for weeks or months at a time, so the up-front costs are minimal.
Maintenance
The burner needs to be kept clean, especially when the fridge is not in use, and should be inspected every 6 months.
Quick Summary – 12V Compressor Fridges
How they work
They run off a low power 12V / 24V compressor.
They perform best when
All the time, providing the cooling unit has enough ventilation.
Best suited to
Will handle any fixed or mobile situation, like caravans, Camping, RV’s, boats, tiny houses and off-grid.
Benefits
Compressor fridges cool very quickly and can run for years on a solar setup.
Maintenance
DC fridges don’t require any ongoing maintenance.
How to choose between a gas fridge and a 12V fridge?
LPG Gas Absorption Fridges
An absorption fridge uses heat to move the refrigerant through the cooling system. LPG gas is the most efficient way to run an absorption fridge, as the LPG gas can instantly produce a very hot flame.
240 V power will also cool an absorption fridge well, although the heating element needs to produce the same amount of heat as a gas flame, so it is not as efficient as on LPG gas.
12 V operation in an absorption fridge is often considered a holding mode only. The temperature of the fridge will remain steady, but the fridge will not have the power to cool down quickly. This occurs because the small 12 Volt heating element cannot produce the same amount of heat as a gas flame, so it uses a lot of electricity trying to keep up.
A stable and 100% level surface is required to operate an absorption fridge in the most effective way. So a moving car, caravan, motorhome or boat is not an ideal situation.
2-Way and 3-Way are terms referring to absorption fridges which can operate on 2 or 3 different power supplies. This is usually a combination of LPG gas and 240 volt (2-way) or LPG gas, 12 volt and 240 volt (3-way).
12V DC Compressor Fridges
A compressor fridge uses electricity to run a low-power compressor, which in turn pumps the refrigerant through the cooling system.
DC fridges use a dedicated 12V / 24V compressor which is designed to operate in a moving vehicle. Bushman Fridges use Secop Danfoss compressors which will operate on angles up to 30º. In general terms, a compressor fridge will also perform better in extremely hot and humid conditions. This combination makes compressor fridges the first choice for mobile use or off-grid situations where 12 V power is readily available.
A stable DC power supply is generally provided by a car battery or bank of batteries. Your batteries will need to by topped up regularly. You can do this is a variety of ways; using your car engine, boat engine, solar panels, a petrol/diesel generator, a 240V smart charger or any combination of these.
In Summary
Gas fridges are great when used predominantly on LPG, on a stable and level surface for fixed, off-grid living. They also have a very low up-front cost, just a bottle of gas and you’re up and running.
12V Compressor fridges are the best choice when 12V or 24V power is readily available and are a must for all mobile situations.
What Next?
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Australian Owned & Operated
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Free Shipping -
3-5 Year Warranty -
Easy Customer Service -
Australian Owned & Operated
