What it is
The T1090E is a built-in 12V compressor fridge with a curved back, sized for panel van kitchen blocks. Part of Thetford's T1000E series, launched 2025. It directly replaces the discontinued T2095E with the same external dimensions and the same install aperture, but with a clearer LED control panel and better off-grid efficiency.
The compressor runs on 12V or 24V DC straight off your leisure battery. There is no gas option and no built-in mains supply, so it holds temperature properly in hot weather and on a slope the way an absorption fridge cannot.
The curved back is the headline change. It lets the fridge sit close to the van wall without the cabinet having to be squared off, which frees a little extra worktop depth.
Drop-in replacement for the T2095E
If your van was built around a T2095E and the unit has failed or you want a refresh, the T1090E is designed to drop into the same installation aperture without rebuilding the cabinet. Same external dimensions, same depth, same mounting points. You change the unit; the cabinet stays.
Always measure your specific cabinet against the spec dimensions below before ordering. Older retrofits have carpentry tolerances that vary; better to confirm than to cut something twice.
Specifications
- Brand
- Thetford
- Series
- T1000E (launched 2025)
- Total capacity
- 84L (78L fridge + 6L freezer)
- External dimensions (H × W × D)
- 975 × 418 × 486mm
- Built-in depth
- 506mm
- Power
- 12V or 24V DC
- Energy consumption
- About 0.3 kWh / 24h (~26-28 Ah)
- Climate class
- SN-T
- Freezer minimum temperature
- -9°C
- Control
- LED panel with Night Mode
- CI-BUS
- Compatible
- External vent required
- No (compressor fridge)
- Back shape
- Curved
- Weight
- ~21 kg
- Warranty
- 3 years
Manufacturer verified·Thetford product pageTrade documentation·Jacksons listing
Energy consumption varies between Thetford documents (0.28 to 0.32 kWh per 24h depending on source); we list "about 0.3" rather than picking one figure. The "8 days on 2x95Ah" claim is a Thetford marketing figure, not independently measured.
Will it run on my leisure battery?
Will it run on my leisure battery?
Conservative estimate. Solar figure assumes 4 effective sun hours per day (UK summer average).
Daily use
26.4 Ah
at Average cycle at 25°C ambient
Days off-grid (no solar)
3
of 80 Ah usable
Net daily delta (with solar)
+6.9 Ah
Solar covers it
Numbers are a guide. Real draw varies with ambient temperature, how full the fridge is, how often the door opens, and whether you pre-cool food before loading it.
Features
- Curved back lets the fridge sit close to the van wall
- LED control panel with Night Mode — easier to read, quieter overnight
- CI-BUS compatible for integration with van control systems
- No external vent required (compressor fridge vents internally)
- Freezer compartment down to -9°C
- 12V or 24V DC native operation
- SN-T climate class — designed to keep working in cold and warm climates
- Drop-in replacement for the T2095E it succeeds
- 3-year Thetford warranty
Fitting it
- Cable sizing matters more than people realise. 6mm² minimum tinned cable for any run over 2m. The single most common reason a 12V compressor fridge will not cool properly is voltage drop on undersized cable. Do not skimp here.
- Built-in depth. Allow the recommended 506mm built-in depth in your cabinet design.
- Ventilation clearance. About 25mm rear and 25mm top for the heat exchanger. No external roof or floor vents needed (unlike 3-way absorption fridges).
- Power. Wire to the leisure circuit via a 15A inline fuse. The startup current draw is higher than the running figure; size your wiring for the worst case.
- Cold-weather operation. The T1090E has a Night Mode but no dedicated Winter Mode. SN-T climate class means it is designed to keep working in cold and warm ambient temperatures, but if your van is going to sit stored through UK winters consider the Dometic NRX range as a Winter Mode alternative.
The fridge itself is a competent self-build job. The cabinet around it is where the real work lives.
What's in the box
- Thetford T1090E fridge unit (variant as selected)
- Fitting instructions
Order alongside: 6mm² tinned 12V cable, a 15A inline fuse, and optionally a Thetford-approved mains adapter if you want 240V hookup support.
How it compares
vs the T2095E it replaces
Same install aperture, same external dimensions. The T1090E has a clearer LED control panel and improved efficiency. If you are replacing a failed T2095E, this is the correct part.
vs the Dometic NRX range
Comparable size class. The NRX has Winter Mode for stored vans through UK winters, which the T1090E does not match directly. The Thetford has Thetford's 3-year warranty (vs Dometic's 2). If you store your van through winter, the NRX is the safer call.
vs the Waeco WCR range
The WCR50 (smaller) sells at about half the price; the WCR150 (larger) is the only option above 130L. For the 80L size class, the T1090E and a Waeco WCR80 are competing options at similar price points; the Thetford is the more current platform.
See our full guide: Campervan fridges explained.
Questions and answers
Is the T1090E really a replacement for the T2095E?
Will it fit my existing T2095E hole?
How much power does it draw?
Touchscreen or LED control panel?
Is it really 90 litres?
Mains and 12V?
What cable do I need?
Delivery and returns
- Free UK mainland delivery on this product.
- 14-day returns on unfitted, unopened units (we cover return postage). See our Returns Policy.
- Covered by the 3-year Thetford manufacturer warranty.
Related guides and products
- Pillar guide: Campervan fridges explained
- Smaller alternative: Dometic Waeco WCR50 — for compact van builds