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Fact-checked on Apr 23, 2026
VANPOWERCALC.COMYOUR ENERGY PROFILE
YOUR ENERGY PROFILE.
This document contains the sizing of your future electrical installation, calculated based on your appliances.
Minimum Daily Consumption
0 WH / DAY
Inventory:
SYSTEM SIZINGPage 2
Battery
To guarantee 0WH without damaging your bank (80% max discharge):
0 AH
LiFePO4 12V
Solar
Minimum power required to recharge your consumption:
0 W
via MPPT
220V AC
Maximum power (with 25% safety margin).
0 W
No Need
Safety & CablingPage 3
12V Cable Sizing Guide
Use this professional reference table to select the correct gauge (mm²) for your cables. For 12V in a van, the maximum tolerated voltage drop is 3%. Always use multi-stranded flexible automotive wire.
| Current (A) | Round trip < 2m | Round trip 4m | Round trip 6m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5A (LEDs, USB) | 1.5 mm² | 2.5 mm² | 4 mm² |
| 10A (Fridge, Pump) | 2.5 mm² | 4 mm² | 6 mm² |
| 20A (Heater) | 4 mm² | 10 mm² | 10 mm² |
| 50A (DC/DC Booster) | 10 mm² | 16 mm² | 25 mm² |
| 100A (Inverter) | 25 mm² | 35 mm² | 50 mm² |
Fuse Sizing
The fuse protects the wire, not the appliance. Always place it as close to the power source as possible (battery or busbar).
- Wire 1.5 mm² → Max fuse 10A
- Wire 2.5 mm² → Max fuse 20A
- Wire 4 mm² → Max fuse 30A
- Wire 6 mm² → Max fuse 40A
- Wire 10 mm² → Max fuse 60A
SCHÉMA ÉLECTRIQUE
PANNEAUX SOLAIRES
0W
RÉGULATEUR MPPT
BATTERIE AUXILIAIRE
0 Ah
Lithium LiFePO4
FUSIBLE
FUSIBLE
BOÎTE À FUSIBLES 12V
Pompe, Leds, Frigo...
CONVERTISSEUR 220V
NON REQUI
PRO GEARPage 4
SHOPPING LIST
Where to find this equipment? Here is the community-approved selection.
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GENERATED BY VANPOWERCALC.COM
Why I switched from my Dometic CFX3 to the GLACIER#
Picked this up in September to replace my aging Dometic CFX3 35. The GLACIER Classic 45L (no built-in ice maker, more compact than the GLACIER Pro) weighs 23.2 kg empty and measures 706 × 400 × 480 mm (L×W×H). Clip the plug-in battery underneath and you hit 25 kg. Heavy for 45L, but that's the cost of a proper dual-zone compressor that actually pulls -20°C.
Real-world draw (Victron SmartShunt, 8 months)#
Fridge mode only (4°C single zone, 25°C ambient, Eco on): ~165 Wh/day = ~14 Ah/day at 12V. Pure freezer mode (-18°C): 520 Wh/day (~43 Ah). Simultaneous dual-zone (fridge + freezer): 600-650 Wh/day combined. Matches EcoFlow's official spec sheet and my real use (van in sun, door opened 4-5×/day).
Noise and compressor#
EcoFlow spec: < 38.5 dB in Eco mode (measured at 0.5m). My sound meter in the van: ~38 dB. You can sleep next to it. EcoFlow describes the compressor as "high-efficiency copper wire" with Eco mode — I won't push the "variable-speed" claim some reviewers use, EcoFlow doesn't confirm it explicitly.
Plug-in battery: €299 separately, 40h fridge mode#
Sold separately at **€299 (EU)**, clips under the fridge, adds 1.8 kg, delivers up to 40h runtime in fridge mode (4°C) per EcoFlow spec. In pure freezer mode expect closer to 7-10h (calculated). For hiking days with the van parked, it's genuinely great.
Installing in my Trafic L2H1#
Mounted on rail, strapped with two 25mm Fiamma tie-downs. Power from 12V cigarette socket wired direct to my 200Ah LiFePO4 bank. Supplied cable 2m.
⚠️ Safety warning on direct solar#
The GLACIER's XT60 solar input caps at **110W max, 11-30V, 8A**. EcoFlow does NOT publish the charge controller type (so I won't claim "built-in MPPT"). Critically: a 200W panel can hit 26-28V Voc at -10°C cell temperature. **Never wire panels in series on the GLACIER Classic** — stick with 1 panel direct or parallel-only. I route through my external Victron controller for the house bank to stay safe.
vs Dometic CFX3 45: which wins?#
Dometic: established reputation, 3-year warranty, long-term reliability. GLACIER: dual-zone + plug-in battery, warranty **2 years (3 years in EU)**. Price: GLACIER ~**€729-749 at EcoFlow EU depending on promo** (launched at €999). Dometic CFX3 45 ~€900. More features vs more track record.
Expert tip
Set Eco threshold to 4°C rather than the default 2°C: compressor cycles less, consumption drops 15-20% with zero impact on food storage (yogurt lasts 3 weeks, tested). Confirmed consistent with SmartShunt logs.
Example calculation for your setup
Results based on a typical use case
| Appliance | Power | Usage/day | Wh/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression fridge | 45W | 24h | 1080 |
| LED lighting | 20W | 4h | 80 |
| Water pump | 30W | 0.5h | 15 |
| Phone charging | 15W | 2h | 30 |
| Daily consumption | 1205 Wh | ||
Recommended LiFePO4 battery
151 Ah
(80% depth of discharge)
Recommended AGM battery
241 Ah
(50% depth of discharge)
Recommended solar panels
402 Wc
About this tool
I picked up the GLACIER Classic 45L to replace a tired Dometic CFX3 35 that was pushing four years of daily use. Measurement rig: Victron SmartShunt 500A wired on the output of my 200Ah LiFePO4 bank, mounted in a Trafic L2H1 used daily — three months of full summer heat then five months of shoulder season. Fridge-only mode (4°C, Eco on, 25°C ambient) settled at ~165 Wh/day or 14 Ah at 12V, right on EcoFlow's published spec. Nothing magical, but nothing inflated either.
Here's what I didn't see coming: the dual-zone. I honestly thought I'd never use it. Wrong. Once you've had ice cream in the freezer compartment while the beers stay at 4°C in the fridge side, you're not going back. The price tag is 600-650 Wh/day combined when both zones run simultaneously — roughly double the fridge-only load, so budget for it in your solar sizing.
Big watch-out on the XT60 solar input: 110W max, 11-30V, 8A. EcoFlow does NOT publish the charge controller type, so I'm not going to parrot "built-in MPPT" like some reviewers. More importantly: a 200W panel can hit 26-28V Voc at -10°C cell temperature. Never wire panels in series on the GLACIER Classic — single panel direct or parallel-only, otherwise you cook the input. I route through my external Victron controller for the house bank anyway.
The plug-in battery at €299: who is it for? Weekenders who want 4-5 hours of van-off bivouac without draining the main bank, or hiking days with the van parked. Fridge mode 4°C: 40h claimed (checks out). Pure freezer: expect 7-10h real-world. For full-time use with regular charging, you can skip it.
My 2026 verdict: at €729-749 on EcoFlow EU promo, the GLACIER Classic is the best price/perf on the market versus the Dometic CFX3 45 at ~€900. Dometic still wins on long-term reliability data and the 3-year warranty. If you live in the van full-time for 5+ years, Dometic remains the safe bet. For everyone else, GLACIER takes it.
Frequently asked questions
Real power draw of the GLACIER 45L?▼
Fridge mode (4°C, Eco, 25°C ambient): 165 Wh/day ~14 Ah/day at 12V. Pure freezer (-18°C): 520 Wh/day ~43 Ah. Dual-zone simultaneous: 600-650 Wh/day combined. SmartShunt logs over 8 months.
Is the plug-in battery worth it?▼
€299 sold separately, 1.8 kg, up to 40h in fridge mode 4°C per EcoFlow (~7-10h in pure freezer, calculated). Useful for long off-grid nights or cutting van power overnight. Skippable for weekend use with regular charging.
Weight and dimensions?▼
23.2 kg empty, 25 kg with the plug-in battery clipped on. Dimensions 706 × 400 × 480 mm (L×W×H).
Noise level?▼
< 38.5 dB in Eco mode per EcoFlow spec (measured at 0.5m). My sound meter confirms ~38 dB in the van. Quiet enough to sleep next to — compressor disappears into the background.
Temperature range?▼
-20°C to +20°C, each zone independently settable. Max 22°C differential between zones. Divider is removable — either zone can act as fridge or freezer.
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