3 Way Fridges And Camping Refrigerators
673 Way Camping Fridges - What Are They?
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A 3 Way Fridge is a fridge that can be powered in any of three different ways; hence the name. These fridge freezers are popular with people who cannot always depend on reliable mains power. Usually the three viable power sources are mains power, LPG and 12v DC.
Mains Power
If your camping provides 'wall sockets' for access to mains power, you will want to take advantage of it to power the fridge. It is cheap, dependable, and unlimited. Using mains power is without doubt the best choice of power source for your 3 way camping fridge, with only one substantial drawback. It is not available everywhere, only at locations connected to the power grid.
LPG Power
The LPG - or Liquefied Petroleum Gas - 3 way camping fridge freezers are powered by is usually Propane, although sometimes Butane is used as an alternative. When off the grid, using propane to power a small camping fridge is very efficient. Running a fridge off Propane is very common for those living in remote areas; a well-designed fridge can run for several weeks off one single 20lb tank of propane. This is also the ideal power source for an extended camping trip. It allows you a prolonged period of refrigeration with minimal inconvenience and expense.
12v DC Power
The final option for powering 3 way camping refrigerators is to run them on 12v Direct Current. When this option is used, your portable fridge can be powered directly from a car battery through a cigarette lighter. The advantage of this final power source is that it lets you use your fridge freezer whilst in the car. However, care must be taken not to leave the fridge drawing from the car battery when the engine is not running. Without the engine to recharge the battery, the 3 way fridge will drain the battery in a relatively short time. This power source will generally be your last choice, unless you have access to 12v power through a renewable source such as solar panels.
3 Way Refrigerators For Sale
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Solar Powered 3 Way Camping Fridge
If you run your 3 way fridge in 12v DC mode, then one great option you have is to power your fridge off Solar energy. This will require a not insignificant investment in solar panels, batteries, and the other assorted components needed to build a functional solar power generation system.
It is generally simpler to use Propane, but if your circumstances do not allow it then Solar is definitely an option for you.
Conclusion
A 3 way camping fridge freezer is a very useful piece of equipment for someone who wants refrigeration on the road, but does not know what power sources they will have available to them at any particular time.
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This type of fridge would be good for going "off grid" even partly, I have some friends who use no refrigeration but this on propane or solar would be a good alternative.
3-way fridges are so handy for areas where there are no power outlets, it's almost tempting to get off the grid just to try this thing out.
Can't argue with that! I'd really like to live off grid one day, a propane fridge will really keep down the cost of setting up my solar panels.
I think it's so awesome that you can now buy a refrigerator that runs on solar power or other renewable fuels. To think that we have come from having "beasts" that hog energy, weigh a ton, and make noises, to now having 3-way-regrigerators that are energy efficient is pretty awesome.
A "3-way" refrigerator is just a 1-way refrigeration system that makes heat 3 ways. 120v input heats a heating element a lot like a toaster, 12v heats a heating element with the same Watts as the 120v (meaning 10x the current), and propane/LPG heats with a pilot-light size frame. The refrigeration system is called "absorbtion" that operates without a pump.
Non-propane refers that run on 12/24v or 120v uses a pump, and can be tilted 30 degrees in any direction (boat heeled over). A 12v pump refrigerator is MUCH more efficient than an absorbtion model using 12v, or a 120v absorbtion refrigerator operating from an inverter (by battery). Norcold, Sunfrost, and others marketed to solar cabin/sailboat and long-term dry campers.
If your refrigerator CAN use propane, you SHOULD use propane. Your batteries will thank you. Have big tanks and keep full. Solar power users should get a pump-style refrigeration unit, not an absorbtion unit and run off of DC.
Cheers.
WilfordSy 24 months ago
Wow. Pretty cool refrigerator. I think having a 3 way fridge is a great idea! That way you will have different choices on how to run your fridge depending on the available resources :)