The motorhomes and RVs are designed with important amenities to keep your long trips as comfortable as possible. In addition to the bedrooms, bathrooms, and living room area, these vehicles also have refrigerators to store your edibles for a long time period.
However, vehicle owners have a hard time selecting the right brand for these refrigerators, but Dometic and Norcold are the two most common and preferred choices. So, let’s see which brand offers better refrigerators!
Norcold vs Dometic
Comparison Table
| Features | Dometic | Norcold |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $579 to $6999 | $480 to $5500 |
| Number of refrigerator models | 76 | Six |
| Warranty | Two-year | Two-year |
| Smallest sizes | 21qt. | 1.1 cubic feet |
| Largest sizes | 13 cubic feet | 5.5 cubic feet |
Norcold
Norcold is one of the most popular brands in the marine and RV refrigeration industry. That’s because they have an array of quiet and compact refrigerators.
Their refrigerators have a smaller footprint but still provide sufficient storage for food. In addition, the door bins are usually adjustable, which helps customize the storage area. Also, the refrigerators are stylish.
Norcold is known for its energy-efficient refrigerators, making it perfect for RVs. The refrigerators are designed with an evaporator and a compressor, which means they can freeze and cool food items.
In addition, refrigerators have a consistent and steady temperature buildup, irrespective of the surrounding temperature.
Some refrigerators also have a hermetically-sealed compressor to offer protection from low voltages. This means that when the battery voltage is low, the compressor automatically turns off to prevent damage to the refrigerator.
History
This is an American brand based in California and has been producing RV refrigerators since the year 1959. The company was acquired by the Stolle Corporation in 1963, which resulted in the expansion of the refrigerator models.
This company started in California, but to cater to the demand in the Midwest, they shifted to Sidney, Ohio, in 1964. In addition to the RV refrigerators, Norcold also started producing cooling units in 1989. Later, the company was acquired by Thetford Corporation in 1997.
Models
Norcold designs and manufactures different types of refrigerators. To begin with, there is a lineup of portable refrigerators that look like coolers and consume less electricity. These are extremely small units, which are easy to move around.
In addition, they have AC/DC refrigerators that work with 24V or 12V DC connections or 120V AC connections.
As far as RV refrigerators are concerned, there are different models that operate on propane gas, 120V AV, and 12V DC. Two of the most popular RV refrigerator models include;
- NRF-30 – this is a 1.1 cubic feet refrigerator, making it a perfect choice for people who need something portable. The users can control the temperature with the help of an electronic control panel, and there are customizable levels to prevent the battery from draining. This model has a stainless steel interior, which not improves cooling but prevents staining as well.
- NRF-60 – this is the 2.1 cubic feet refrigerator that’s designed with CFC-free insulation foam as well as refrigerant. There are removable wire baskets that ease cleaning, and there is a separate refrigerator compartment that prevents the freezing of the food.
Design
The majority of RV refrigerators are designed with an absorption cooling system that utilizes the heat source, such as electricity or LP gas. It transforms the ammonia-based refrigerant into a gas, which is circulated in the unit with the help of metal coils.
When the refrigerant passes through these metal coils, the heat is absorbed from the surrounding air and becomes liquid. Also, this liquid refrigerant is passed through the metal coils to optimize the cooling process.
The refrigerators have a strong and durable build and can hold up to rigorous use. However, these refrigerators are prone to issues in case there are voltage fluctuations, so it’s best that you install a stabilizer.
The majority of RV refrigerators operate off of electricity and propane and can automatically switch between these power sources.
In case you use propane, it needs a bit of electricity to ignite the flame and shifts back to propane power when the flame lights up. On the other hand, if you plug it into the generator or shore power, the refrigerators will operate on electricity only.
Dometic
Dometic has some of the best RV and marine refrigerators available, and all of them are designed with energy efficiency in mind. In addition, they have user-friendly features and comfortable handles, promising easier control over the unit.
They have an array of recreational fridges available, including compact units and mid-sized drawer refrigerators.
The refrigerators are designed with noiseless absorption, so you don’t have to worry about the fridge making whirring sounds. In addition, the compressors used by Dometic are extremely efficient, promising safe storage of food. Also, all refrigerators have sleek and modern designs.
History
Dometic is a Swedish company that’s known to manufacture an array of products for recreational vehicles, including refrigerators. The company is operating in Asia Pacific, EMEA, and America. The products are available in over 100 countries.
Their headquarters are in Stockholm, Sweden. The company has become popular for its sustainable products as all the electronics have a low-carbon output.
Dometic has 25 manufacturing and assembling units in eleven different countries, but their products are sourced to over 100 countries as they have a global network.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Dometic is a pioneer of RV electronics as they displayed the first refrigerator in 1925, with which the mass production of these refrigerators started. Dometic designed the silent absorption technology for the boat and RV refrigerators.
Models
Dometic has one of the most comprehensive ranges of RV refrigerators available, and all of them are extremely convenient. There are compressor-based refrigerators that offer high-performance cooling, irrespective of the ambient temperature.
In addition, some models are battery-powered and can be connected to a solar power system. Some of the most popular RV refrigerator models include;
- CFX-50W – this is a portable refrigerator that has a separate freezer compartment. It has noiseless operations, and there is a Wi-Fi app available for controlling the temperature. It has a temperature range of -8 degrees Fahrenheit to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a detachable lid, dairy compartment, removable baskets, and interior lighting. Also, there are soft-touch digital controls.
- CRX-65 Coolmatic – this is a three-in-one unit that’s perfect for cooling and freezing. These two features can work simultaneously as well. In addition, it has an intelligent compressor speed control, which promises 25% less energy consumption. It also has an automatically adjustable fan speed and temperature control. Lastly, there is a soft-touch control panel available for controlling the refrigerator functions
Design
Dometic focuses on advanced technology, and they are the pioneers of silent absorption technology. The majority of models are designed with digital displays, interior lighting, and various USB ports that can be used for charging other small electronics.
The digital display has various power settings, and the colored lights allow the users to see if the refrigerator has reached a specific temperature or not. In addition, there are battery protection settings that allow users to reduce their power consumption.
The refrigerators have a click-to-close top lid, which means the excess air doesn’t escape. Moreover, there are durable handles that can be folded down to save space.
All the RV refrigerators run on 24V and 12V DC power and 110V AC consumption. Overall, the refrigerators have quick cooling and can maintain sub-zero temperatures, given the high-end insulation.
Final Verdict
The bottom line is that both Norcold and Dometic have high-end RV refrigerators available, but Dometic has more models available. However, you need to remember that Dometic refrigerators are small, which makes them challenging to repair.
For this reason, Norcold is a more recommended choice as their refrigerators are more durable and are easy to repair, even if something happens.
