A 12V compressor fridge is the only kind that really cools with the engine off: it holds -18 °C to +10 °C in 35 °C heat, uses a fraction of the power of a thermoelectric cooler and runs straight off your leisure battery or solar panel. At Baterías Canarias we stock the full Indel B range, the Italian specialist in mobile refrigeration for campervans, boats, motorhomes, 4x4 and trucks, and we pair it with the right battery and charger so it runs for days off-grid.
| Type | Best for | Capacity | Fitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable fridge | Campervan, car, 4x4, camping, small boat | 20 to 130 L | None: plug into 12V/230V |
| Built-in fridge | Boat, motorhome, campervan with cabinetry | 42 to 140 L | Built into furniture, door or drawer |
| Truck fridge | Under-bunk or under-seat in trucks and vans | 16 to 41 L | Top-loading, integrated compressor |
Cheap thermoelectric coolers only drop 15-20 °C below ambient: at 30 °C in the Canaries your drinks sit at 12 °C. Three-way gas fridges need a bottle, ventilation and a level pitch. A 12V compressor fridge cools and freezes regardless of outside heat, starts in seconds and runs off the same lithium battery you already use for the rest of the van or boat. It is what we recommend whenever there is a leisure battery on board.
We specialise in off-grid power: we work out which battery and solar panel your fridge needs for the days you want to spend unplugged, fit it at our stores in Tacoronte and La Guancha and ship to every island. All Indel B fridges use Secop or Danfoss compressors, include low-voltage battery protection and carry a 3-year legal guarantee.
35 to 60 W while the compressor runs, but it does not run all the time. Real average draw is 0.7 to 1.5 Ah per hour, roughly 20 to 35 Ah per day for a 40-50 litre fridge at 30 °C ambient. A 100 Ah lithium battery keeps it going for 3 or 4 days without recharging.
For weekends, a 100 Ah AGM or lithium leisure battery is enough. For long off-grid trips, 100-200 Ah LiFePO4 plus a 150-200 W solar panel, which replaces each day what the fridge uses. Never wire it to the starter battery: it can leave you unable to start the engine.
Yes, that is the most common setup in campervans and boats. A 100-150 W panel with an MPPT controller covers the daily draw of a 40-50 litre fridge in the Canaries almost all year round. The panel charges the battery and the battery feeds the fridge, so it keeps cooling at night.
If you will use it for more than a day at a time, or in heat, compressor. Thermoelectric is cheaper up front but draws twice the current, cannot freeze and depends on outside temperature. Over time the compressor fridge pays for itself in battery capacity alone.
With a mounting base or a sliding fitting kit, which anchors it to the floor and lets you slide it out to load it. Find them under fridge accessories, along with carry bags, 12V cables and spare parts.
