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The last time I researched this, absorption fridges when run on electric resistance heating use on the order of 300% more energy. But of course in the case of
by hn_user2 7y ago
The last time I researched this, absorption fridges when run on electric resistance heating use on the order of 300% more energy.
But of course in the case of an RV where you are on a car battery but have a large propane tank, they make sense in terms of energy storage.
With the more cost effective Lithium batteries the higher end RV coaches have all eliminated the absorption fridges and gone with compressors and bigger batteries.
- 0db532a0 7y agoAre you saying that they run on a propane flame in the RV?
- jml7c5 7y agoCorrect! Any heat source of sufficient temperature will work, but propane is convenient. I recently took a ferry in Idaho; before loading, people in RVs were told to turn off their refrigerator to reduce fire risk. Searching for "absorption refrigerator diagram" (or checking out the wikipedia page) should provide useful information.
- 0db532a0 7y agoThanks.
- mikestew 7y agoBut of course in the case of an RV where you are on a car battery Most RVs have a "house battery" that usually dwarfs a car starting battery, usually multiples. But even then, running a compressor fridge takes more battery than our little RV has room for (including the roof space for solar to refill those batteries). I think that's a lot of the reason you see compressor models primarily on larger/more costly rigs: they've got room for the batteries, and they don't boondock much. Lithiums just save weight and space (more usable electrons in the same size). If you've got a Class A (rock band touring rig), just line that thing with as many lead-acids as you need. Which is what the manufacturers do; I don't know of a single company installing lithium batteries stock.