Gasless motorhomes

Two way compressor fridges 12v/230v are quite often installed in campervans. I believe regardless of size they draw about 0.5 amps at 12 volts so I don't see a problem running it off a couple of leisure batteries. A 100APH battery should run a compressor fridge on its own for well over a 100 hours.

I'll add I have no experience of such a set up as you describe but given a TV might draw 2amps, lighting similar, add the power required by your heater and apply the maths.

peedee

If going for an induction hob ,check out the power draw i understand some can be quite power hungry

I’d be a bit wary of manufacturers claims for compressor fridges. They’re seldom tested in the conditions frequently experienced in motorhomes e.g. ambient temperatures above 30c, and frequent opening/closing of the door. A 80l compressor fridge working hard might use about 2 amps per hour and in hot conditions will run continuously. Combine that with the consumption of your other electricals and your battery spec.

Compressor fridges can also be irritatingly noisy in the quiet confines of a motorhome at night.

 

Solar panels and refillable gas cylinders coupled with a lithium battery is "power nirvana". Expensive to start with but cheap in the long run.

I believe regardless of size they draw about 0.5 amps at 12 volts so I don't see a problem running it off a couple of leisure batteries.

Take the above statement with a pinch of salt. I have done some further checking and looking at the Waeco specs, average consumption can be anything between 3 to 5 amps depending on the size of the fridge. So for a 100APH battery you would get something like 20 to 30 hours running time if you were just running the fridge.

peeedee

If you travel in southern Europe a good fridge is essential and whilst a compressor fridge would be better there are issues of power consumption and noise. A site we regularly use in Italy has a 5 amp supply and the voltage can drop alarmingly. Our motorhome which is 4 years old has a Dometic adsorbtion fridge and I was very surprised how good it was compared with earlier fridge models. We have never had a problem even with temperatures up to 35 deg. C.  For the UK an adsorption fridge is fine.

You can get PVCs with underslung gas tanks which are easily located within the chassis. All Autosleepers models have this and other makes.

We find electric hobs useless except on Club sites. We are used to 6 amps maximum supply in Europe so the electric hob is a total waste of space. If you visit Germany you will find that electricity is very expensive and gas is the best option for heating and cooking.

Electric Hob is up to 4A consumption we`ve never had a problem with 6A.

Having had one diesel heater would`nt want another, noisy and not particularily reliable in our case though it did produce a good heat.

 

An expensive option but one that is gaining some support is the use of lithium batteries.  One friend now has about 320w of solar, three lithium batteries totalling about 360A, a compressor fridge, a combi microwave oven, and an induction hob.  Off grid everything runs off a large inverter.  He virtually full times mainly in Europe and swears he now nevers now needs EHU.  The cost? I have little idea, but probably eye watering.  

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Is there any advantage to a compressor fridge in a motorhome? The only one that springs to mind is probably cost as absorption fridges seem to be off the scale compare to a normal domestic versions. 

David