If you are in the market for a new rv fridge, it’s important to take some time and determine your needs. Whether you are camping at developed campgrounds with electric hook-ups or boondock camping, you need to decide what size and functionality you need from your fridge. Do you want a residential-style refrigerator? Residential RV refrigerators are more efficient and require less power to operate than stock fridges. They are ideal for those who spend a lot of their time off-grid but don’t want to invest in an expensive heavy-duty battery bank and solar panels.
How Do Absorption Refrigerators Work?
A residential refrigerator uses propane to cool the food in its compartments. However, RV refrigerators use a much more efficient system known as the absorption method. First, a pressurized batch of silver chloride is heated with an internal propane burner until it turns to liquid. The liquid then runs through a small office in the fridge where it vaporizes. This vapor takes heat from the contents of the refrigerator and the fridge is now at the proper temperature. The vapor then vents outside through the heat exchanger and into the atmosphere.
While the jiggling and shaking of an RV on the road can be tough on any appliance, it is particularly hard on a residential fridge. The rattling and bouncing can damage the refrigerator and shorten its lifespan. Residential fridges also need to be on a level surface to work properly. They can be off by no more than three degrees side to side and six degrees front to back for them to function.