Are all camper 12V fridges the same?

[Ayjay]

I had reason to take out the Domestic CRX50 fitted in my van yesterday (I gather that model has since been replaced but the new version looks broadly the same). I was struck by how light and flimsy it seemed to be once I'd got it out and wondered whether all the similar ones on the market were basically the same (I'm thinking of the cheaper Transporter HQ or Just Kampers ones but there must others out there). A very wise man once said something like 'Strong, Cheap and Light - pick any two' and that's usually correct with any engineered product but IIRC the Dometic was something like £500 when it was bought about 6 years ago and it looks like the replacement model (NRX50) is slightly more. Compare that to a home kitchen fridge and you can get one that's twice the size for just over £100 if you buy a cheap one or push the boat out for £200.
I don't know enough about electrickery but wondered whether the Dometic being priimarily designed for 12V rather than 240V might explain it or is it just the campervan tax that accounts for the difference?

 

[Badjamin]

I just bought a just kampers fridge but it's wrong for my set up so goin back. Still in box. Feels lighter than I'd expected £279 JKF50

I'm gonna get an alpicool in rhe coming weeks - THQ is an alpicool also. I know a lot of folk have it.

 

[Falcon300]

I had reason to take out the Domestic CRX50 fitted in my van yesterday (I gather that model has since been replaced but the new version looks broadly the same). I was struck by how light and flimsy it seemed to be once I'd got it out and wondered whether all the similar ones on the market were basically the same (I'm thinking of the cheaper Transporter HQ or Just Kampers ones but there must others out there). A very wise man once said something like 'Strong, Cheap and Light - pick any two' and that's usually correct with any engineered product but IIRC the Dometic was something like £500 when it was bought about 6 years ago and it looks like the replacement model (NRX50) is slightly more. Compare that to a home kitchen fridge and you can get one that's twice the size for just over £100 if you buy a cheap one or push the boat out for £200.
I don't know enough about electrickery but wondered whether the Dometic being priimarily designed for 12V rather than 240V might explain it or is it just the campervan tax that accounts for the difference?

We bought the Dometic NRX80 as wanted a bigger fridge for longer trips… yes expensive but I believe in buy once not cheap twice…

Regarding 12v fridge compared to 230v… a 12v unit uses a compressor… basically uses less power.. about 40% of a domestic house fridge. So much more economical on power usage

Our Dometic NRX80 ran at 34w consumption on eco mode on our recent trip in Europe… which was almost 5 weeks… outside temperatures between 25-36 degrees overnight 20 degrees

 

[Alster]

All domestic house fridges have a compressor system. I think the 12v compressor fridges have a 240v ac compressor and a inverter to convert the 12v to 240ac which would add to the cost plus market forces mean that they can charge more for a niche product. It’s the same in my trade- a built in dishwasher has no painted door and no side panels or worktop yet is more expensive!!