What is a 3 way camping fridge?
For many years the 3 way camping fridge has been the fridge of choice for camping, camper van or motor home owners. Most camping fridges can be powered 3 ways. This means they can powered by either LPG gas (normally propane or butane) , a 12 volt vehicle battery or a 240 volts mains power electric supply.
The size of camping fridges usually varies anywhere between 30 litres to 150 litres and as with normal household fridges they come in various styles and dimensions, and ultimately the space available in your caravan or motor home will ultimately decide which size and shape of fridge is most applicable for your particular 3 way camping fridge.
LPG Gas Supply
The majority of all caravans utilise gas to power and charge the 3 way camping fridge. As with the caravan oven, they are often LPG gas operated and the hot water supply is usually gas powered too, this makes the 3 way camping fridge the perfect addition to your caravan set-up.
Power Supply
If you are using a 3 way camping fridge you may often notice that your caravans are wired to utilise both the 240 volt mains supply or the 12 volt battery supply. The 240 volt is usually a plug-in in type supply from your camp-site or from a building nearby. It is worth noting that usually a 15 amp plug is required to prevent any damage to your 3 way camping fridge. The 15 amp plugs are not normally fitted as standard into buildings so be sure to check that your extension lead is compatible with 15 amp fuses.
The majority of modern caravans also have a 12 volt battery installed. This usually controls all the electrical devices in your caravan and this includes your 3 way camping fridge. The 12 volt battery should be charged on a regular basis. This can be done with either a battery charger or with jump type leads connected to your car. To ensure proper charging most caravans haves switch fitted to allow the caravans 12 volt battery to be charged whilst connected to the mains power supply. This is highly recommended if you intend to use the 12 volt supply with your 3 way camping fridge.
You should note that your 3 way camping fridge may struggle to maintain premium performance whilst using a 12 volt supply though most modern models will perform better. You can improve the performance of the fridge by putting an extraction / ventilator fan to the rear of the fridge to improve ventilation and airflow. You can purchase these readily at most caravan supply and accessory shops.
The 3 way camping fridge is by far the most common fridge installed in caravans, camper vans and motor homes. It is important that you weigh up the power supply options and decide which option is best for you.
Though the mains supply is most common at caravan sites you may find yourself in a position where you do not have access to a 240 volt supply and may need to revert to the 12 volt or LPG gas option.
Where to buy a 3 way camping fridge?
The best place to buy your 3 way camping fridge is currently online. Though you may get great deals from your local caravan supply and accessory shop these can often be overpriced. The main advantage of buying local however; is they often offer discounts for various club members (for example the caravan club).
There are always great deals to be found online. The majority of 3 way camping fridge suppliers have their own website and in particular Waeco and electorlux cater well for the online buyer.
We have gathered a large selection of 3 way camping fridges here, please take a look at our selection by using the links in the left hand navigation bar