Compressor fridge vs absorption — which for a van?

Been looking at this for ages and can't quite decide. Currently running a small Dometic absorption fridge in my converted van, but it's absolutely dreadful — takes forever to cool down and honestly feels like it's just existing rather than actually working properly.

I've got a decent battery bank (LiFePO4, 400Ah) and a 3kW inverter, so power-wise I'm not stretched. The thing is, I'm concerned about the draw from a compressor fridge. I know they're more efficient overall, but I'm doing quite a bit of winter camping, and I've read mixed things about how they perform in cold weather.

My setup currently: 400W solar, Victron MPPT, Multiplus II, and enough battery to theoretically run most things. Realistically though, I don't want to be cooking my batteries just to keep food cold.

Questions:

• If you're running a compressor fridge, what's your actual power consumption like? Real numbers, not marketing bumf?
• Has anyone had issues with them in sub-zero temps?
• Are there decent mid-range options that aren't £1500+? Looked at Fogstar and Waeco but the prices are mental.

Also, would I need to upgrade anything in my current setup to make it work properly, or am I overthinking this?

Cheers for any real-world experience on this one.

Absorption fridges are proper temperamental, especially in a van where ambient temps fluctuate. Had one in my boat years back — nightmare in summer, barely worked in winter either.

Switched to a Waeco compressor unit and never looked back. Yes, they draw more power, but they're reliable and actually get cold when you need them to. The trade-off is straightforward: bigger battery bank or more solar panels.

The real consideration for van life is weight distribution and power management. A decent lithium setup with 400-500W solar will handle a compressor fridge without drama. Absorption makes sense if you're permanently hooked to mains gas, but that defeats the "off-grid" purpose.

What's your current battery capacity, @Louise1984? That'll determine whether a compressor is viable for your setup.

Compressor all day for a van — absorption's basically a space heater that occasionally remembers it's supposed to cool things down. I switched from a Dometic to a Waeco CFX and the difference is night and day, especially when you're parked in the sun or doing longer trips. Yes, they drain your battery more, but if you've got decent solar (and let's be honest, if you're converting a van properly you should), it's a non-issue. The CFX draws about 0.6A at 12V when compressor's running, which is peanuts compared to the peace of mind of actually cold beer in July.

Only real downside is noise — they whirr a bit — but honestly prefer that to the smell of a Dometic slowly giving up the ghost at 2am.

Compressor's the way forward for a van, honestly. Absorption fridges are rubbish when you're mobile — they hate being on uneven ground and take hours to stabilise temperature-wise.

I've got a Vitrifrigo compressor in my conversion and it's night and day compared to absorption. Uses more power, sure, but if you've got decent battery and solar setup it's manageable. The key is sizing your system properly — I'm running 400W panels and a 200Ah LiFePO4 battery, which handles the fridge cycles without drama.

Dometic make decent compressor units if budget's tight, though Vitrifrigo and Waeco are solid too. You'll want decent insulation round whatever you pick — helps the compressor work less hard.

One thing @OldSailor86 mentioned about temperatures fluctuating is spot on. Absorption fridges genuinely struggle with that. Compressors are far more forgiving.

If you're already running leisure batteries and some solar, compressor's barely a consideration from a power perspective. Just make sure your leisure wiring can handle the startup draw

Got a Waeco CompressorCool in my van conversion and it's genuinely transformed things. The key difference nobody mentions enough is that absorption fridges need to be perfectly level and hate vibration — fine on a moored narrowboat, absolute nightmare when you're driving.

Compressor fridges draw more power but they're actually more efficient over time because they actually work rather than just existing. Mine pulls maybe 50-60W running on 12V, which beats having the van sat in the sun all day with an absorption unit that can't keep up.

Only caveat: you'll need decent battery capacity and ideally solar to offset the draw. I'm running 400Ah LiFePO₄ with 600W of panels and never had an issue, even in summer.

@Louise1984 what's your current battery setup? That'll determine whether compressor makes sense. If you're on a tiny budget with minimal solar, absorption might be all you can manage, but honestly you'd be better off saving a bit longer for compressor rather than replacing a dud absorption unit.

I'm going to push back slightly on the pile-on here. Yes, compressor fridges are brilliant for vans — I've run a Waeco myself — but absorption does have a genuine advantage if you're stationary a lot.

The issue Louise is hitting is that she's using it like a compressor fridge. Absorption needs time to reach equilibrium, especially if you're moving about. Once settled, they're remarkably efficient on gas, which matters if you're off-grid for stretches. But for a van that's regularly on the move? Honestly, they're a liability.

What swung it for me was power consumption. My Victron setup shows a quality compressor fridge pulling maybe 40-50Ah per day in summer heat, whereas my mates with absorption units are running through gas canisters like nobody's business — and that's the hidden cost nobody mentions.

For a van specifically, compressor is the answer. But Louise, before you bin the Dometic entirely — have you checked it's actually working properly? Some of those units just fail quietly. Worth a diagnostic before investing in a new unit.

What's your actual

Right, I'll add a different angle here. Been through this exact dilemma in my box van setup, and the real problem with absorption fridges whilst mobile is they genuinely struggle when you're bouncing down a rough track — the cooling cycle gets disrupted by vibration and angles. Compressor's more forgiving because it doesn't rely on gravity in the same way.

That said, power consumption's the trade-off nobody mentions enough. My Waeco CompressorCool pulls around 40-50A on startup, which absolutely hammers a leisure battery if you're not solar-heavy. Absorption sips maybe 5A but runs inefficiently when you need it most (summer, parked up in the sun).

What's your actual power setup like, @Louise1984? That's the real decision-maker. If you've got decent solar or a generator, compressor wins hands down. If you're relying on a standard alternator charge whilst moving, you might find yourself rationing fridge use anyway — at which point the absorption's lower draw becomes less painful.

The absorption you've got is probably just poorly installed or needs the fins cleaned. But yeah,

The battery drain is the real wildcard nobody talks about enough. Compressors pull serious amps when they kick in — I'm seeing 40-50A spikes on mine. Absorption fridges are gentler on the system but yeah, they're rubbish at cooling in warm weather.

If you're planning proper solar + battery storage (say 400Ah LiFePO4 minimum), a compressor Waeco or Engel is worth every penny. You get proper cooling in minutes, not hours. But if you're running a small leisure battery setup, you might actually be stuck with absorption unless you're happy upgrading the whole electrical side.

Worth checking: what's your current solar wattage and battery size? That'll tell you whether a compressor fridge is realistic or if it'd just tank your system. Also consider where you'll be — if you're parked up regularly with good sunlight, compressor all day. If you're moving about constantly in UK winter, absorption might actually be tolerable.

Right, I'll tell you what I've learned the hard way. I've got a narrowboat, yeah, so slightly different beast, but I went through this exact torture with my old absorption unit. Honestly, it was like watching ice melt in reverse — took about six hours to get anything remotely cold.

Swapped it for a Waeco compressor fridge last

I've got a Fogstar 12V compressor fridge in my garden office setup and it's been brilliant, though I'll be honest about the trade-offs. The cooling is genuinely quick compared to absorption units — mine pulls down to proper temperature in about 20 minutes, which matters if you're living in it.

What @MarineGaz said about battery drain is spot on. Mine draws roughly 40-50A on startup, then settles to around 8-10A when running. That's why I paired it with a decent lithium bank and decent solar — you need the headroom. Absorption units won't spike your draw like that, but you're stuck with that glacial cooling Louise is already frustrated with.

The other thing: compressors get noticeably louder when they cycle. Not a dealbreaker in a van, but worth knowing if you're parking near others.

If your battery setup can handle the draw and you're planning proper solar anyway, the compressor wins hands down on usability. If you're running minimal power and mostly stationary with hook-ups, absorption might suit you better. But sounds like Louise needs something that actually *

What size battery bank are you running? That's the real deciding factor for van life, I reckon. Compressors are definitely more efficient overall, but they need decent capacity to handle those startup surges @MarineGaz mentions. Absorption units are gentler on batteries but hopeless in warm weather. How often are you actually off-grid versus hooked up?