What makes a summer vacation great depends greatly on the quality of what we eat and drink. When summer comes, for those who like to spend their vacation enjoying freedom and adventures, the question of the refrigerator in their RV or motorhome regularly comes up. In this article we inform you about the latest developments on the market for mobile refrigeration.
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In the world of recreational vehicles, the refrigerator is a key element in ensuring a peaceful vacation. The reason is simple: having a refrigerator on board that allows food to be stored over several days and drinks to be cooled properly makes for a better vacation. We can fully enjoy that sense of freedom we do not experience throughout most of our daily lives.
If a refrigerator holds food well, there is no constant worry of having to consume food quickly before it goes bad. There is no need to constantly shop for groceries, and above all, no food is thrown away. This is the main concern for those who like to travel in nature, trying to reduce pollution and waste as little as possible.
A revolution is taking place on the market for recreational vehicle refrigerators. Thanks to technological innovations, compressor technology is becoming more and more popular much to the disadvantage of absorption/trivalent refrigerators. The reason behind this trend is the better performance that compressor refrigerators offer.
Let us briefly look at how they differ to better understand their respective advantages and disadvantages.
A compressor refrigerator works like the one at home. It has the same output and offers maximum comfort. The heart of the refrigeration system is the compressor itself, which is the key component. Powered by 12V, the compressor pumps refrigerant into the evaporator circuit, which absorbs heat through the change of states of the gas itself. Parameters such as cooling capacity and time, consumption, and possible noise are also relevant to the compressor. Certainly, the quality, brand, design, and all other elements of the refrigerator provide further levels of differentiation, but to better understand the importance of this component, we can compare the compressor to the engine of a car. This defines the fundamental parameters of power and efficiency that condition the output and performance.
Top 3 advantages of a compressor refrigerator
This type of refrigerator widely used in the past, has a more complex operation. The process of cooling food and drinks takes place in a completely different way than in a compressor refrigerator. To start the refrigeration process, a burner or an electrical resistance needs to generate heat. This heat triggers a physical reaction: inside the closed circuit, an ammonia-based compound is heated until it evaporates. This runs down the coil behind the refrigerator, condenses, and recirculates in the tank to start the cycle again. Cooling inside the refrigerator is the result of heat exchange. There are three ways to generate the heat necessary to activate the physical reaction: gas, 220V, or 12V. This is why they are also called trivalent.
Motorhomes with absorption refrigerators need special ventilation grilles and sometimes additional fans; some even have a ceiling mushroom. These elements allow us to immediately see what type of system is present in the motorhome.
Top 3 disadvantages of a trivalent/absorption refrigerator
Let's cut to the chase. Which solution is the best: an absorption/trivalent or compressor?
Market experts usually tend to distinguish between the modes of use, which historically could lead to one choice or the other. Those who like to experience life far from civilization and electricity grids have more reasons to choose the trivalent, while those who prefer relaxing at campsites and facilities with an electricity grid connection enjoy the greater comfort of the compressor fridge.
“Today, however, thanks to the technological innovations that are becoming commonplace for those who enjoy life in a motorhome, this reasoning loses relevance. The key issue is related to energy consumption, and today, lithium auxiliary batteries with tools to recharge them using renewable energies provide an efficient and effective means of allowing the compressor fridge to be used away from the mains.”
Let us look in detail at the various points, extending the analysis to all the elements that a motorhome owner might consider.
Absorption Refrigerator: It takes many hours for the inside of the refrigerator to cool down, about 8 hours to reach temperatures of around 4°C. This implies activating the system well in advance and having to wait before the fridge can be used.
Compressor Refrigerator: Cooling times can be less than 2 hours for the best performing products.
Absorption Fridges: Their versatility due to the three operating modes is a strong point. However, gas needs to be refilled, and if it runs out, it is a problem. Users must always have a spare cylinder ready, and if it is missing, it must be bought again. When going abroad, the connections may be different.
Compressor Refrigerator: Consumption is a concern for average users, and with generic compressors, it remains a problem. Secop compressors have always been the most efficient on the market. Today, thanks to the BD Nano and its extraordinary efficiency, the problem is greatly reduced. Furthermore, thanks to lithium auxiliary batteries and the possibility of recharging them with renewable sources such as photovoltaic panels, compressor consumption is no longer an issue.
Absorption Fridge: This is another strong point of the trivalent solution; it is not very noisy.
Compressor Fridge: With generic compressors, the compressor hum can be disturbing. Secop compressors and the BD Nano are the quietest on the market. The BD Nano specifically is the quietest, as proven by tests and shown in the graphs at the end of the article. With this solution, users are free to enjoy quiet and relaxing moments during your vacation.
Absorption Fridge: This is among the sore points of these fridges. With high outside temperatures (30-35°C/86°-95°F), the refrigerator cools but with a delta temperature of -20°C/68°F versus the ambient temperature. This is why butter in an absorption fridge melts; in a compressor fridge, it doesn't. You risk compromising and throwing away food that suffers most from the heat while drinks remain hot. These temperatures are found today even in northern Europe.
Compressor Fridge: It works like the one at home, without compromise. Fridges with the BD Nano maintain stable temperatures perfectly, even reaching -18°C/0°F with outside temperatures above 35°C/95°F, allowing you to always enjoy fresh food and cool drinks.
Absorption Refrigerator: Maintenance is more complex, requiring experienced refrigeration specialists capable of fixing this more complex system than the classic circuit with the compressor. For example, the burner needs to be cleaned regularly, and the chimney needs to be flushed with compressed air. In addition, the gas cylinder connection can change depending on the country, increasing the complexity of managing this type of refrigerator.
Compressor Refrigerator: Since the circuit is the same as a domestic refrigerator, it does not require specific skills. Any refrigerator technician can control and fix it in case of a fault, simplifying life for users and reducing costs.
Absorption Refrigerator: Thanks to the three alternatives for triggering the refrigeration cycle, this was definitely an advantage of the trivalent before the spread of lithium batteries and tools such as portable photovoltaic panels for recharging them far from the power grid.
Compressor Fridge: With today's tools, it is possible to recharge a battery in various ways and relatively quickly (photovoltaic panels, with the motorhome engine). If, in addition, lithium batteries are used and the low consumption of Secop compressors and the BD Nano are considered, then the problem is scaled down and easily manageable even when camping off the beaten track.
Absorption Fridge: An inclination of more than 2.5° should be avoided, and it is better not to expose the side of the vehicle with the fridge to the sun.
Compressor Fridge: With the compressor fridge, the position of the vehicle is irrelevant for its functionality – you have one less thing to think about.
Secop has developed and launched the BD Nano, the smallest, most efficient, and most powerful compressor in its class. This product was designed to solve the problems plaguing the segment, such as energy consumption and noise, and is the most efficient and quietest compressor. It is ideal for refrigeration solutions in RVs and motorhomes.
From the graphs below, we can see that compared to the previous compressors in the Secop range, which were already top in terms of quietness, efficiency, and quality, the BD Nano offers greater efficiency for the same cooling capacity, thus reducing consumption and related worries. The battery discharges more slowly, always maintaining the ideal temperature in the refrigerator.
In addition, it is much quieter than its predecessors. It is virtually undetectable and will not disturb adventurers even on the quietest, starry nights, far from the noise of civilization.
Another feature is reliability. As mentioned before, the compressor is to the refrigerator as the engine is to the car. So, it must be reliable and last a long time. As a testament to durability and reliability, the BD Nano complies with ISO 16750, which certifies resistance to vibration and increased stability during transport. In addition, it is manufactured in a factory that complies with IATF16949, a specific standard for the automotive industry, demonstrating extreme quality throughout the production process.
