How does a RV fridge work?
Jul 17, 2024
| When you decide to take an RV road trip, it is likewise quite important to consider the various RV refrigerator issues, in addition to the operation of other equipment in the RV. What are the differences between a refrigerator used in an RV and a home refrigerator? Below we will look at some of the issues related to RV refrigerators and how to use LiFePO4 batteries to power an RV refrigerator. Types of refrigerators The type of refrigerator referred to here is the type of refrigerator used in RVs, which are mainly categorized as: absorption refrigerators and compressor refrigerators. Absorption refrigerator Absorption refrigerators consist of a generator, condenser, and evaporator, and the effect of refrigeration is achieved through repeated physical changes in heat absorption and exothermic reactions. It does not use Freon, which protects the ozone layer of the atmosphere, and it does not have a compressor or any mechanical transmission part, so it does not produce any noise, and it is an environmentally friendly high-tech product. This type of refrigerator can run on DC or AC power, or on LPG, using a heat exchange system to exhaust warm air and cool the interior. However, considering safety issues, it is recommended not to run the refrigerator on LPG while driving. Compressor Refrigerators A compressor refrigerator consists of a compressor, condenser, filter drier, capillary tube, and evaporator, which are important parts connected into a circuit. It can be powered by battery or shore power. Similar to a household refrigerator, a compressor is used to maintain low temperatures and preserve food. Absorption Refrigerator vs Compressor Refrigerator Absorption refrigerators rely on an airflow exchange system that consumes more propane but can run off-grid for extended periods of time. Compressor refrigerators use a compressor motor to achieve low temperatures and maintain consistent cooling regardless of the external ambient temperature. And they work well on uneven terrain, making them ideal for camping. Battery power is available, but additional solar power may be required, as this refrigerator relies primarily on electricity rather than natural gas. Absorption refrigerators are less efficient and drain batteries quickly when running on 12V power only. Solar and DC-DC chargers can help alleviate this problem. And it has to be level and have proper ventilation to run efficiently, is susceptible to ambient temperatures and can usually only lower the internal temperature to a certain level below ambient, and uses more fossil fuels to run a three-way refrigerator on propane. Domestic refrigerator Domestic refrigerators usually operate on 220V AC and can use a single source of operating energy, making them unsuitable for RV off-grid living. As mentioned above, RV refrigerators can be powered using 220V power, 12V power, propane gas, and even additional solar power. While home refrigerators are large and inexpensive, they have a large, noisy footprint and consume a lot of energy, and are definitely not a good choice for RVs. Considering the overall space of an RV, a home refrigerator takes up more space. Generally ordinary household refrigerator, after buying home basically not too mobile. Caravan refrigerator installed in the car, the refrigerator with the car to move, encountered bumpy roads also have to endure the torture of high intensity. Using a home refrigerator, it is easy to be damaged and strike under these conditions. In order to meet the caravan use, the caravan refrigerator in some complex road conditions and harsh climate environment will maintain a good performance, has been specially tested, can be in the caravan journey to maintain the performance. Many motorhomes are now equipped with the required equipment such as air conditioning and refrigerators. However, if you want to replace them yourself as needed, then you need to consider which refrigerator to choose and the way you feed it. Use battery to supply energy to the caravan refrigerator, (of course, need to take into account the actual access to the total power of the electrical appliances), alone to supply energy to the refrigerator, taking into account the caravan refrigerator required voltage, current, power, as well as the required operating time, select the appropriate battery, lithium iron phosphate battery has high energy density, superior performance and environmental protection, compared with the lead-acid batteries, the usable capacity of up to 100 percent, so in the choice of batteries for the caravan, can consider the LiFePO4 battery. At present, SANFOU LFP series has a lot of choices, 12.8V100Ah, 12.8V100Ah UpGrade, 12.8V200Ah, 12.8V300Ah and so on, according to the actual need to choose. Calculate the number of watt-hours needed to power the refrigerator. Check your RV or vehicle manual or ask a professional. Significant differences exist depending on the mode (AC, DC, Low Voltage) used in the absorption refrigerator and the size and style of the compressor refrigerator. To calculate power consumption: volts x amps = watts and to calculate watt-hours: watts x hours = watt-hours. Assuming a SANFOU 12.8V100Ah LiFePO4 Battery is selected with an energy of 1280Wh, calculating the time can be done using Wh/W to get the power supply time, but note that although LiFePO4 batteries can be discharged to a depth of 100%, it is recommended that in order to prolong the life of the battery and to maintain its performance, it is important not to over-discharge it so as to activate the BMS protection, and the phenomenon of not being able to Charging phenomenon. |
