Vitrifrigo Refrigerators

Vitrifrigo is the Italian manufacturer of 12- and 24-volt compressor-based fridges and freezers for motorhomes, campervans and boats. They set the industry standard in terms of energy consumption, reliability and the ability to operate correctly when tilted – something that is particularly important on a boat.

Compressor-type fridge versus absorption fridge
The difference lies in power consumption and performance. A 12 V compressor fridge consumes between 300 and 500 Wh a day, depending on the ambient temperature and usage; it cools effectively even when it’s 40 degrees outside, and does not need to be levelled.
An absorption-type refrigerator consumes considerably more power in electric mode, becomes less efficient in hot conditions and requires levelling. That is why a compressor is almost always fitted in modern motorhomes and on boats.

How much battery power do you need?
This is the figure that is most often underestimated. A 60-litre compressor fridge consumes around 400 Wh a day in summer, which is about 33 Ah at 12 volts. With a 100 Ah lithium battery You get three days’ battery life, and that’s it; if you also use the lights, the pump and your laptop, the actual battery life drops to just over a day.
That is precisely why solar panels are fitted to motorhomes: the fridge draws power continuously, which means the battery needs to be recharged every day.

Which model to choose
By capacity and type: chest, door or built-in, with or without a separate freezer. For marine use, models designed for tilting and with an evaporator suited to the available space are of particular interest.
Look at the stated energy consumption in Wh/24h at an ambient temperature of 25 ºC – this is the figure that allows for comparison – and not just the litres.
If you’re installing the entire electrical system, take a look at the solar kits for campervans, which already take fridge power consumption into account in their sizing calculations. See also the category of camper fridges.
Tell us which fridge you’re going to install and we’ll work out the panel and battery you’ll need: free advice.