Motorhome and Campervan Fridges and Freezers

New Vitrifrigo 14 Litre Top Opening 12 Volt Fridge

Vitrifrigo will be launching their new 14 litre top opening 12 volt fridge at the NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show from 16th 21st October. The C14 is just 225mm wide making it ideal for small campervan and motorhome conversions, fitting where space is a premium or where kitchen work tops are narrow.

Compact Dimensions for a Top Opening 12 Volt Fridge

With a width of just 330mm and a depth of just 225mm the Vitrifrigo C14 is the smallest ‘built-in’ top opening 12 volt fridge on the market. The compact dimensions means you can build a fridge into a space that no other 12 volt fridge will fit. Either providing the option to fit a fridge to a small conversion, or allowing you to maximise the space for a bigger bed or other important components, without sacrificing the benefits of having a proper fridge. As a top opening 12 volt fridge will also provide far easier access, especially in a smaller campervan conversion where the bed can often obstruct a front opening fridge door.

The fridge is supplied with the Danfoss BD35 compressor attached with 1.2m of refrigerant pipe to allow you to remote mount the compressor in a location that suits your design. The thermostat is also designed to be fitted externally to the box so that you maximise the full volume inside the cabinet. The standard lid is supplied with hinges which can be removed if the lid is to be mounted directly onto the work top for a different hinge or lift out arrangement.

Alternative Top Opening 12 Volt Fridge

The C14 is designed as a very specialist top opening 12 volt fridge and this does reduce the volume of the fridge. If you have more space available you may be better off looking at Vitrifrigo’s larger alternatives – C40L and C37L For full details on the range of top opening fridges and freezers follow the link below to Penguin’s web shop:

Campervan and Motorhome top opening fridges

12 Volt Fridges at NEC Caravan and Motorhome Show

Penguin Refrigeration,UK distributors for Frigoboat, and Vitrifrigo 12 volt fridges and freezers will be exhibiting at the NEC Caravan and Motorhome Show from 16th to 21st September 2012 – Stand 10.90 in the Hall with the motorhome converters.

Large Range of 12 Volt Fridges and Freezers on Display

Penguin Refrigeration will be displaying a large range of their DC 12 volt fridges and freezers including Vitrifrigo latest C29 portable and C14 top loader. Dedicated to the supplyof 12/24 volt DC refrigeration Penguin supply many of the UK’s leading panel van converters and will help you to choose the best 12 volt or 24 volt fridge or freezer to give the best solution and efficiency for your specific motorhome or campervan. See our website for more information: http://www.penguinfrigo.co.uk/12volt-fridges-and-freezers-for-campervan-motorhome-and-rvs/

On display will be the latest examples of Vitrifrigo 12 volt fridges and freezers, including the C39i and C42L, shallow depth fridges ideal for VW T5 and Bongo conversions, as well as the larger C75L with remote compressor and C85i 90 litre fridge, now standard fit throughout the Vantage Motorhome range.

Technical Advice for 12 Volt Fridges

As ever during the show Penguin technical staff will be on hand to help and assist, offering advice and answers to just about any 12/24 volt fridge or freezer related question. So whether you require advice on power efficiency and management, spare parts or about new 12 fridges in general, Penguin will be able to help you.

Special Offers on all our 12 Volt Fridges

Penguin will also be running special promotions at the show with a 20% discount on all 12 volt fridges and freezers systems bought during the show.

We look forward to seeing you from 14th to 23rd September at our stand 10.90 in the Converters Hall.

Motohome Monthly’s Solar Powered Fridge Test

If you did not manage to see the Motorhome Monthly article on specifying and running a solar powered fridge featured in their February issue it is now available for you to down load from our website.

Vitrifrigo Solar Powered Fridge

The article was produced in association with Penguin Refrigeration, who supplied the 62 litre Vitrifrigo fridge and Actionvan who provided their rental Campervan with 55W Solaris Solar panel already fitted to the roof. The article runs guides you through the best way to specify and install a solar powered fridge, to ensure maximum efficiency and that everything is sized correctly. Over the period of the test the fridge ran constantly powered soley from the 55 Watt solar panel fitted to the roof of the motorhome.

The System in Practice

The installation was completed in May 2011 and initially the weather was hot and sunny with average temperatures during the day well above 25 degrees C. However, towards the end of the test, the weather deteriorated with more cloud cover and several exceptionally humid overcast days. The solar powered ridge was used on a daily basis, with the thermostat set midway giving a constant measured temperature of 6 degrees C inside. Over the weekends there was also occasional use of the stereo and the LED lighting. Over the 36-day test the only source of charge for the battery was from the 55W solar panel, which comfortably kept the battery condition well above its minimum (50 per cent), putting in more charge than the average daily discharge of 14.9 amp hr.

Did the Solar Powered Fridge Work?

Undoubtedly yes! This truly was a solar powered fridge. The test proved that a correctly installed and ventilated DC compressor fridge can run constantly for well in excess of a month from a battery powered solely from a solar panel. To achieve this required a quality fridge cabinet, with single evaporator and an efficient condenser, combined with a deep-cycle AGM battery and a rigid solar panel.

For more details of the fridge featured in this article follow the link to the C62i www.penguinfrigo.co.uk/shop/#c62i

All Vitrifrigo 12 Volt Fridges are E-Mark Type Approved

Vitrifrigo are now certified E-mark type approved, ensuring their complete range of 12 volt fridges are suitable for use on all new motor homes and campervans manufactured in the and UK. Vitrifrigo have taken this proactive step to support and help all UK manufacturers meet the new European legislation which comes into force at the end of April this year. The new European type approval requires all new registration motorhomes and campervans produced in the UK to conform to a European wide certification scheme.

Certified and Energy Efficient 12 Volt Fridges

The type approval process that all UK motorhome and campervan manufacturers are currently working through with the VCA requires many tests and vehicle safety checks. The conformity of the 12 volt fridges is required to ensure there is no electrical interference from the fridge compressor or electrical thermostat while the vehicle is running. Vitrifrigo use the Danfoss BD35 compressor as standard throughout their range of 12 volt fridges, which combined with their unique aluminium finned, forced air condensers ensures that their 12 volt fridges are the most efficient possible.

Manufactured exclusively in Italy, Vitrifrigo 12 volt fridges are built using the best standards of manufacture and quality control with the range catering for all sizes of motorhomes from the C39i, C42L & C51i fridges ideal for the VW t5 Transporter, Mazda Bongos or Nissan Granvia’s through to the C85i, C115i or DP2600i fridge freezers for the larger panel van and horse box conversions. For more details of the range available follow the link to our

12 volt fridges

Motorhome Manufacturers Increasingly Opt for 12V Compressor Fridges over Traditional 3 Ways

Many top UK motorhome manufacturers and converters are already committed to 12v compressor fridges in their motorhomes and campervans, including Vantage Motorhomes, East Neuk, Jerba Campervans and the multi award winning Hyundai from Wellhouse Leisure.

WHY ARE ALL THESE LEADING COMPANIES USING 12V COMPRESSOR FRIDGES OVER THREE WAY FRIDGES?

1. Efficiency.

Compressor fridges are far more efficient when run on electricity 12v or 240v. A 3 way fridge running on 12v will draw approx 9A plus continuously (+9A per hour). A 12v compressor fridge power requirement can be as low as 0.4A per hour for a 40 litre fridge.

2. Provides a truly independent fridge system

12V compressor fridges will run on solar power. Our tests suggest that as a rule of thumb for Vitrifrigo cabinets is that approx 1W of solar panel will provide enough power for a litre of refrigeration, (UK summer), giving you total freedom and ability to go truly ‘wild camping’.

3. Fast cool down

3 Way fridges take a long time to get cold because the cooling system relies solely on convection and gravity to make the ammonia flow. 12v compressor fridges will reach temperature within 15-30 minutes of turning on.

4. Greater Reliability

3 Way fridges will not work on a gradient due to the gravity required to make the process work. 12v compressor fridges will work on an angle of up to 30°!

5. Lower heat output

3 Way fridges generate significant heat due to the heating fundamental to the process and do not perform well in higher ambient conditions.

6. Easy to install

12V compressor fridges are easy to fit, you do not need a Corgi approved gas fitter, just a good source of 12 volt power and correctly sized cables.

7. No external vents required

No unsightly exterior vents required. A good installation will ensure good air flow past the condenser of the 12v compressor fridges cooling unit, but does not require external vents.

What are the disadvantages of 12V compressor fridges

1. They are not silent in operation.

The compressor is extremely quiet, but the cooling fan is quite audible on standard compressor fridges. However, following some recent work carried out with UK motorhome builders, Vitrifrigo have introduced new quieter fans across their range of 12v compressor fridges. Cutting the noise of the fan by half means that they are now barely audible from 1m distance or when built into the kitchen furniture of the motorhome.

2. Compressor fridges do not run on gas.

This is also an advantage if you want your motorhome to be gas free or are conscious of the cost of buying gas to run your fridge compared to the equivalent cost for the electricity to run 12v compressor fridges

Distributed through Penguin Refrigeration in the UK, Vitrifrigo provide the most extensive range of 12v compressor fridges in both front and top opening configurations.

For more details visit our Motorhome & Campervan page

Penguin Refrigeration move to larger premises in Havant

Penguin Refrigeration move to new, larger premises in Havant, Hampshire.

The new facility will allow Penguin to further develop their refrigeration and air conditioning products and services supplied to the marine, superyacht, motorhome and caravan industries.

The new HQ at Unit 2B Alexandria Park, has more than doubled both their office and warehousing/production capacity. The move did not come a moment too soon as the old warehouse was full to busting with stock, taking more than three articulated lorries to move the bulk of Penguins fridge, freezer and air conditioning products the short distance from their old premises to the new site in South Havant.

Crucially the additional office space will provide Penguin with the opportunity to develop a full design office with aftersales service and support for the increasing sales of their luxury and superyacht ranges. The additional warehousing and workshop space also ensures Penguin continue to maintain high levels of stock for their core marine and vehicle products on which the business is built.

Penguin Refrigeration’s new contact details are:

Unit 2b, Alexandria Park

Penner Rd

Havant

Hampshire

PO9 1QY

Phone, fax and email stay the same:

Tel: 02392 453430 Fax: 02392 453293

Email: sales@penguinfrigo.co.uk

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