12v Fridge, Dometic vs Norcold

[CyrusL]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on replacing our 2-way fridge with a 12v. We have the battery power for it and upgrading the 12v wire to accommodate the extra power will be very easy considering where our panel is. I've decided not to do the Amish upgrade of our existing unit. We really want the extra 2 cubic feet with the replacement. And since our existing unit is not that old and working just fine I figure I can sell it for a little bit to offset the cost.

Anyhow, I'm, deciding between the Dometic and Norcold versions. There's not much of a price difference. They both will pretty much drop into the existing space without modification. So, my preference would be whichever is likely to last longer and have good support if something goes wrong with it.

What kind of experiences do y'all have with these two products and/or companies? I have done lots of searching and reading, but there's not much that I've found about the DC fridges. It's mostly about the absorption or A/C fridges.

Thanks in advance for any insight you might have.
Cyrus

[tbush]

We replaced our gas/electric dometic with the dometic dmc4101 12 volt refrigerator in May of 2022. We ran a 10 gauge wire to replace the original 12 gauge wire. So far we are very pleased with it. No problems at all. We also installed an Everchill 12 volt 16 cf from Rec Pro in our daughter's Grand Design Solitude that replaced her problematic Norcold 2118 in December 2022 and so far so good. Both are running like champs. Hope this helps.

[Ray,IN]

Just to be clear there is a 12VDC version of the absorption cooling units. I assume you really want a compressor-style cooling unit.

[CyrusL]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Just to be clear there is a 12VDC version of the absorption cooling units. I assume you really want a compressor-style cooling unit.

Interesting. I didn't realize there was a 12-volt absorbtion model. Yes, I definitely mean a compressor fridge.

[kwftlaud]

I have 2 12 VDC compressor Norcold refrigerators. They both work great.
It is surprising how little current they draw.

I understand why you would make the upgrade. I live in Florida and the absorption units struggle to keep cool in our heat.

But if your unit is working correctly, why the change? Just to run on DC? You could easily just add a small inverter just to run the fridge. The AC heat source is a simple heating element so running it on a inverter should be a simple upgrade. On mine it would simply be moving the AC plug from the outlet on my RV to a outlet on an inverter.

[BnB]

Last year we purchased a new Grand Design 22RBE, great little trailer. I had a Dometic 12v and they attach a 165 watt solar to it. The combo worked great to keep the fridge running. We were out for 4 months straight and after 3 months the fan in the freezer that circulates the cold air stopped. Long story short, I never could get another new fan to replace the broken and it took Dometic several months to send me a new refrigerator. I really like the concept of the 12v fridge and things break so I can’t really not recommend the Dometic. We sold the GD, not because of the fridge issue, and bought back in to a motorhome, just personal preference.

[Rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Just to be clear there is a 12VDC version of the absorption cooling units. I assume you really want a compressor-style cooling unit.

Originally Posted by CyrusL

Interesting. I didn't realize there was a 12-volt absorbtion model. Yes, I definitely mean a compressor fridge.

While I believe there are 12 volt absorbent units, with a 12 volt heating element. There are also 12 volt compressor conversion units to replace the gas/ 120 volt absorption unit.
I installed the later on our Dometic 2862 refer, it works great.

[litzdog911]

We went with the Norcold N10DC because it was an exact replacement fit for our Norcold N8X. It's been working great for 2 years now.

[Jack Flack]

We aren't ready yet, but are planning on switching away from our absorption fridge in our super C. Our absorption fridges have never keep things cold when we are traveling in hot country.