Refrigerator Replacement Size Options

[JDT]

Yea, another fridge post. May be the hot weather but I blame RickT and his post about installing the Samsung. Got me all excited I could do this but I don't have enough room.

I have the width and depth as probably most do with a 1200LRIM already in place but not the height. The Samsung is 69 3/4" tall at the hinges and the most I have is 66 to 67", and that is all the way to the ceiling. One of the furnaces is below the fridge. I could probably lower the support it sits on but I could not find the clearance specs for the Atwood in my owners manual so don't know if that is an option. I have the ability and tools to make any modifications needed.

I did some research but could not find anything in a counter depth fridge with a reasonable capacity within my specs. Also, I would like to be able to run if off my 2000w inverter without changing the converter. Anyone found or done one that I could use?

As a side note, I am disappointed with the Norcold. I recently put 2 of the 5" computer fans on the back to draw more outside air over the coils and added a twin bladed type that attaches to fins on the inside. Had it running since last Monday getting ready for our big trip next week to Colorado and cooler temps. Put ice cream in Wednesday, checked it this morning and it is still soft. The back of the freezer registers -1 with my infrared thermometer so don't understand that. I know it has been over a 100 for what seems like an eternity but it is in a garage and out of the sun.

[Triker56]

What is the RV cut out size used to install your 1200?

[JDT]

32 11/16 wide X 63 1/4 high is the framed opening. There is still some room at the top and sides as they are trimmed out with some maybe 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" oak, which I could remove to gain more width and height. Depth is a concern because the left side is past where the hallway begins. If it is a full door fridge the door might hit the hall wall when opened, plus the opening is 24" deep and I don't want that much overhang. That is why I would prefer a counter depth model that is closer to the depth of the Norcold.

Also, getting it in the door is a concern. I really don't want to deal with removing windows of any kind. If I take my front door off I have just a tad over 26 1/2" to work with. I did find some 18 cu ft models at Lowe's this morning that might work, but they are full door types and with the doors off are just at 26 1/2 deep. A little too tight for my comfort level.

[Sammie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDT Yea, another fridge post. May be the hot weather but I blame RickT and his post about installing the Samsung. Got me all excited I could do this but I don't have enough room. I have the width and depth as probably most do with a 1200LRIM already in place but not the height. The Samsung is 69 3/4" tall at the hinges and the most I have is 66 to 67", and that is all the way to the ceiling. One of the furnaces is below the fridge. I could probably lower the support it sits on but I could not find the clearance specs for the Atwood in my owners manual so don't know if that is an option. I have the ability and tools to make any modifications needed. I did some research but could not find anything in a counter depth fridge with a reasonable capacity within my specs. Also, I would like to be able to run if off my 2000w inverter without changing the converter. Anyone found or done one that I could use? As a side note, I am disappointed with the Norcold. I recently put 2 of the 5" computer fans on the back to draw more outside air over the coils and added a twin bladed type that attaches to fins on the inside. Had it running since last Monday getting ready for our big trip next week to Colorado and cooler temps. Put ice cream in Wednesday, checked it this morning and it is still soft. The back of the freezer registers -1 with my infrared thermometer so don't understand that. I know it has been over a 100 for what seems like an eternity but it is in a garage and out of the sun.

JDT, You didn't say weather or not the fridge compartment is working at normal temperatures. The freezer can measure -1 at the very back but still not be cold enough in the storage area to keep your ice cream hard. Also if its 100 degrees where you are, it's pretty tough for these Norcolds to stay nice and cold like a regular home model. Just a thought! If you decide to keep the Norcold you can replace the cooling unit with one of the Amish Built Units like I did. I've had mine up and running for about 3 weeks now and the inside temperatures so far have been very promising (10 degrees freezer) and (34 degrees fridge) with a setting of #4 and outside temperature of 90 degrees. Here's a short video I made showing the installation of the cooling unit, Fans and added fire extinguisher.

Sammie

[JDT]

Sammie, congrats on the professional install and video. Very impressive. I had not really thought about replacing the cooling unit. The fridge itself is fine. We generally spend about 90 days/nights in it each year, never longer than 3 weeks at a time and have found it meets our needs space wise.

I did take the fridge temp this morning before it got too hot outside and 40 degrees was as low as I could find. That probably is not bad as we keep the Samsung in our house at 38. It has been over 100 every day for what I think is as far back as I can remember. It has been insufferable here. The night temps are not even dropping below 80. So, yes the fridge is having to work hard, I'm sure. That is why I added the extra cooling fans, too see if I could get some improvement. At least the coach is inside and not in the sun.

We leave Monday for higher ground, first to Cheyenne, Wy for a week of Frontier Days, then to Estes Park, Co for maybe 2 weeks. We have to dry camp at Cheyenne as that is all we could find. It will be our first dry camping experience since we bought the coach in 05. Temps in Cheyenne have been in the mid 80's for highs. Estes Park will be even cooler. I'll see how the fridge works in those temps.

I'll see how it goes on this trip and probably several others before winter as I will probably do any changes during the winter down time.

Thanks for the advice. Something else to think about.

[KIX]

JDT...........somewhere on IRV2 there is a post with pics of a French door residential reefer installed with a furnace under it. Seems like the reefer was a stainless steel French door one but not a Samsung.
Sorry i can't remember more to help you find the thread

[RustyTools]

I think the thread KIX is talking about is authored by "Here's Lucy" or something like that. I ran across it during my research, but sadly didn't bookmark it. Seems they put in a Whirlpool maybe (??).

Dunno if it'll help but one of my furnaces has a shelf almost sitting right on top of it. Maybe stuff a bit of insulation (or that insulating board material) between your furnace and the new frig shelf?

I'm also thinking maybe cut out the middle of the new frig shelf (since you really only need support where the wheels & levelers travel) to give some breathing room above the furnace? In other words, make the frig shelf kinda 'U' shaped, or even 2 narrower (ie, like maybe ~1 ft wide by 26" or whatever deep) pieces so's air can flow up/down thru the middle.

HTH

[Jobert]

Here is a link to one referring to the Samsung Fridge replacement, you might want to cruise that. Our 1200 hsa worked pretty good so far in this heat, Would probably prefer to replace the cooling unit with the Amish unit rather than replace fridge, but haven't had to cross that bridge yet. Hope this might help. Happy Trails Bert


Replaced Norcold 1200 with a Samsung RF197

[JDT]

Jobert, thanks, that is the thread I have been following. HTH, I like your idea of having a cut out in the middle for the furnace.

I finally found the specs for my Atwood furnace. It only requires 1/2" clearance from any combustible material on the top and sides. I measured and I have 5" clearance from the top of the furnace to the support floor for the fridge. That would give me about 70 inches from the ceiling leaving the 1/2" clearance. The Samsung is 68 5/8" without the top hinges but 69 3/4 with them. Working with that figure and allowing for a 3/4" piece of plywood for the support I would be 1/2" short. If I cut out for the furnace I could make up that 1/2" plus an inch or so more. My only concern is the heat from the furnace affect on the fridge above it. It would probably be several inches above it.