RV Fridge Conversion to Residential Electric

[Jager]

So I have search on here and found a few threads on this, most of them older and the make / models of the fridges are no longer available. So I have some general questions . . .


1) If you converted your coach did you do it yourself of pay to have someone do it?



2) Did the new / old fridge come in and go out through the front door or did you do a window (which one)?


3) If you went in through the front door did you have to remove the door frame? Front passengers seat? or anything else?


4) In my camper the RV fridge is 64" tall (approximately) but appears to sit in top of a 4 or 5" platform? Did your's do that also?



5) In that same platform I have the central vac system. Did you have to deal with that as well?



Any help would be appreciated . . . even if you point me to a different thread. My biggest issues are 1) Finding the replacement to fit the hole and 2) getting it in the coach.





Thanks,



Tom

[Podivin]

If you haven't already, you might consider converting your existing fridge to cool the same way that I residential does. If/when mine goes bad that's the way I'll go. Doing so removes all of the 'will it fit' type questions.

The link below will drop you in to the middle of a thread here, there is a video if you scroll down a bit. Then you can do extra research if interested.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/jc-r...-404053-4.html

[FatChance]

I replaced our Norcold with a Haier 15cf residential refrigerator from Home Depot. I did all of the work myself. The old refrigerator went out the front door and the new counter depth refrigerator came in the front door (I removed the doors on both refrigerators). I did unbolt the passenger seat to make it easier and did not remove the door frame. Our coach has a furnace and subwoofer under the refrigerator and I lowered the refrigerator cabinet floor about 2" so the new refrigerator would fit.

I left a small gap between the refrigerator and the cabinet face frame (because I closed off the side and roof exterior vents because we full-time in hot and cold weather) to provide the recommended clearances for proper ventilation.

[Jager]

Podivin - Thanks for the JC info. I want LP completely out of my coach. So going full electric.





FatChance - Thanks a ton for the make/model info. I really wish someone made a plug and play that fit this hole. I don't get why someone doesn't do that? Anyway as I mentioned in the other post . . . The Samsung needs like 70 or 71" in height. I just don't have that so trying to come up with other options.





Tom

[FatChance]

You don't want a replacement that "fits the hole". Since you need air circulation with the recommended clearances and should close off the old exterior vents, it should not be sealed to the face frame like the RV refrigerator. Unless you don't care about doing it right, that is, IMHO.

[Spk64]

Just to give a visual on why the clearances are important. These also vary depending on specific models or Mfg. My Frigidaire required side and top clearance. This is where the condenser coils are located so they need to get rid of the heat.

[Podivin]

Originally Posted by Jager

Podivin - Thanks for the JC info. I want LP completely out of my coach. So going full electric.

Tom

Understood. Just as an FYI they DO have an option that is electric only, no LP. It essentially turns your existing fridge into an residential, using the same type of cooling system found in a residential. Check out their home page for details.
Note that I'm not pushing for that, I've got no dog in this race, just want you to know that it's an option.

[Jager]

Originally Posted by Podivin

Understood. Just as an FYI they DO have an option that is electric only, no LP. It essentially turns your existing fridge into an residential, using the same type of cooling system found in a residential. Check out their home page for details.
Note that I'm not pushing for that, I've got no dog in this race, just want you to know that it's an option.

Podivin - Thanks. I didn't realize they could turn my current fridg into an all electric. I'll look into that.

[Jager]

As I expected there is a ton of threads on here about doing this . . . Copying a few of the better links in here for anyone else that may follow this trail of bread crumbs . . .

Replaced an RV Fridge with a Residential Unit - iRV2 Forums

Perhaps one of the best . . .

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f54/out-g...tag-81685.html

Another one . . .

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f54/new-f...dow-93522.html

On the Amish system . . .

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f54/the-o...lem-83336.html

Another good read
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/refr...de-399936.html

This one was very good also. Several links that I recommend following.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f274/swap...os-341038.html

At the end of the day the biggest problem we all face is finding a unit sized that will work. The majority of the people bought the Samsung unit. Nice unit and it would work great except it is nearly 72" tall. There were (are) other shorter options . . . One guy used a Haier HRB15N3BGS. At only 68" in height it is much shorter.

Anyway . . . several of the threads I found and looked at. Some very good information.