Installing A Thetford 12 Volt Compressor Fridge Freezer - Latest Upgrade To Our Off Grid Motorhome

I install a very efficient and quiet 12 volt compressor fridge freezer in this latest upgrade to our off grid motorhome.
Thetford T2160 is a 12 volt compressor fridge freezer.
A superb fridge/freezer for van life, RV, campervan or motorhome use.
#motorhomeliving #thetford #retirementgoals

[@glyngibbs9489]

Another great video. Giving us the confidence to tackle these jobs ourselves.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Glyn, A few setbacks along the way, but nothing too serious..! ATB, Steve

[@VirgilVanWelzen]

Very helpful 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Glad you liked it. 👍🏼

[@Fiat_Racing]

Nice job... 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Adrian 👍🏼

[@Fiat_Racing]

@@TheWrinklyNomads You welcome...

[@jeremyburgum4125]

This video is so useful. I learned far more from this than from reading the installation manual. 👍

[@daviscrt]

Nice to know a few friends to help you out. Great information. Thanks Don

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Don, Yes, very handy.... And they were only working around the corner to me as well. Certainly helped..! ATB, Steve

[@jambottle]

Great video. I have a very similar 3-way fridge to the one you replaced, from 2005. Last year I decided to change the cooling unit on the back as I was concerned how corroded it was (would probably have lasted a lot longer but now have piece of mind). I contacted Dometic for the replacement part numbers and they suggested the new updated ones and a new style of gas burner to go with it. Not many retailers will sell direct, most only sell to certified installers, but I found one and paid about £700. Had the same challenges man-handling the heavy fridge out of the van. I ended up removing the passenger seat and going out the door. New unit runs really well and should last for years but I’m still tempted to switch to a 12V compressor in the future to reduce my reliance on LPG. Maybe whenever I change batteries and move to lithium, add some more solar etc. It will be interesting to see energy consumption over time to see how much solar and battery you need for such a fridge. 😊

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Jambottle, Apparently when the van was new, the old fridge would have been installed via the window...!! But yes, it was a bit of a wiggle to get it in. Power consumption, so far, has been better than expected. Less than 4 Amps when running. I also put it into night time mode each evening and that bearly uses anything. So very pleased with it. ATB, Steve

[@lambertdesir4421]

GREAT !!

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Lambert 👍

[@ThetfordEurope]

Wonderful video and great install. Thanks for sharing, Steve!

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi, Thank you 👍 The fridge has been in a while now and works very well, even in 40 degs+ temperature while we were away in Europe... Makes the odd gurgling noise now and then though...😂 All The best, Steve

[@marcdewilde518]

Another great video Steve! Keep them coming and ATB!

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thanks for watching Mark 👍

[@nzhillbilly6468]

Nice Fridge, good job 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you. Happy with it so far….

[@victormeldru]

Great video. My 3 way has just stopped cooling so I've ordered the Thetford compressor fridge freezer 👍🏻😎

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

We're in Europe been in Europe for the last 4 months. Very hot, 32degs some days and the fridge has performed effortlessly. No problems at all. Seems to cope with all conditions and uses very little power as well. So all in all a good decision! 👍 ATB, Steve

[@nickchezontour8356]

Thanks for the video, should be fitting the same fridge soon, given up with our "mind-of-it's-own" absorption fridge

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Nick, Been running constantly since this video now.. Very good fridge/freezer👍

[@kevinhughes9801]

Good stuff thanks for sharing

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Kevin, Thanks for watching.. 👍

[@gdog1443]

Nice install, good work 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you, Glad you liked it 👍

[@glennkirtley4568]

Nice and neat job. Well done .

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Glen👍🏼 And thanks for watching..

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Glen👍🏼 And thanks for watching..

[@chrisb7762]

Tricky job, we’ll done sorting, not easy.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thanks Chris, Turned out ok considering the few problems...! ATB, Steve

[@michellamers8744]

I installed the same fridge, you must close the outside ventilation openings because it vents on the front. Rfm 😅

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Michel, Yes, the top and bottom outside vents definitely effect the performance if left open. I cut a piece of polycarbonate sheet to just fit inside the vent grills and glued in place. That way I have the old removable grills on the outside should I need to check anything at the back of the fridge..👍 ATB, Steve

[@martinj9251]

Hi we have just purchaed a second hand one of these and having trouble working out what is the 12 volt supply and the 230 v supply? Any help appreciated

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Martin If it the same fridge/freezer as my one, then it’s 12volt DC only. Do not connect any 240volt power to it, you do damage..! Regards Steve

[@lyntonturner4649]

Did you get a draft coming from the fridges front vent from cold air from outside

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

I left the old air vents on the outside but also blocked them up from the inside. The fridge itself doesn't need external air but flows from the front, up and behind... So there's not any cold external air at all 👍

[@andyhopper2100]

but How have you fixed it in position within the cabinet ?.. Have you screwed through from the inside of the fridge, through the fridge wall and into the surrounding cabinet ?

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Andy The fridge has two fixing holes, top and bottom, on each inside wall. You screw through to secure in place and the the access hole has a matching white cap that goes over it. Nice n tidy 👍🏼

[@andyhopperart470]

@@TheWrinklyNomads thankyou :) wasn’t seeing what was right there ! 👍

[@lyntonturner4649]

How’s the fridge going after 4 months is it ok on your solar and agm batteries looking at get one myself as Dometic has packed up

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi So Far so good… I haven’t turned it off since the installation and it’s running fine. Solar easily copes with it as well. I put it night time mode each evening, it’s quieter then. Been in Europe for last four months,35degs some days and run fridge on 80% and fluctuate 80-100% for freezer. I have also changed the AGMs since that install video to lithium. (video in playlist) Expensive, but so far, worth it 👍🏼 ATB, Steve

[@lyntonturner4649]

Cheers Steve happy travels

[@themartinandersson]

I have the Dometic RC 10.4T 90L which has huge problems with everything from the door to noise and especially loads of condensation dripping down all over my products and collecting at the bottom of the fridge, this is without the removable freezer compartment. With the freezer compartment, no water problems but also loads of ice building up on the ceiling inside the fridge compartment, so now I have to turn off the machine and defrost about once per week. Pretty much an unmanageable situation. How does the Thetford fridge work in this regard, loads of ice building up? Can you run the freezer compartment of the Thetford with low enough temperatures that the entire unit turns into a fridge only? And if so, any problems with water dripping over the products and/or building up at the bottom?

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Martin, I've had the Thetford running, non stop for about 7 months now. Been over there in Europe for 4 months in 40 degs heat as well. Although the fridge itself performed effortlessly, keeping everything cold, including the ice cubes in the freezer and all frozen foods. It does have its problems It suffers slightly with much the same problems you have described.!! It does suffer from water forming and puddling in the lower section of the fridge. If you turn the fridge up a notch it will also freeze that water making the drawers stick.... that is very annoying. Over the 7 months we have had to break off of excess ice that form in the freezer department and then it jams the door so you need to force it open.! Another annoying problem which happened 3 times while in Europe. Noticeably it only really happens in hot climates, especially if we have it running on maximum. I have never tried turning the freezer down to minimum so can't comment on using it as a fridge. We have been back in the UK for a month now, (21degs) with it set on the lower settings, and it hasn't been a problem. It is does have a night time setting, preventing it for running too much, which is good. But it also makes funny noises like running water when on a night?? Generally I do think a compressor fridge is the way to go if you've got the power. All the best Steve