Residential fridge... love or hate it???

[LVRVLUVR]

Originally Posted by okie-dokie

My "no cold" Norcold 1200 LRIM, developed a leak in the cooling unit on 04/05/2015. I had it on electricity at the time. A good thing otherwise it could have started a fire. A new amish cooling unit would have cost 1945.00. I installed a new Samsung Refrigerator RF18HFENBSR which has 17.5 cubic inch. for a cost of 1,374.93 I had to remove a side window, remove the doors on new frig. remove a overhead cabinet above the frig opening and drop the existing frig floor by 1 1/2 inches. A lot of work but well worth it. And then I just had to go and buy some Black Cherry Tillamook Ice Cream. The freezer stays at -3 and the frig at 38 degrees. I also do not have to worry about a frig fire. That alone is worth the change. I also have 4 Trojan T-145Plus batteries with a pure sine wave 2,000 watt inverter. Sorry I don't have any pictures. I also did all the Installation with 2 helpers to get it into the window.

I would have bought a new motorhome, but probley wouldn't of had as much fun

[flynnwalter]

89sandman
One thing we all can count on is change. When we first started RVing we wanted to get as far away from others as possible. Years later our desires have changed. As has been mentioned, having a residential fridge makes much more sense if you already have four house batteries and at least a 2k watt inverter. We no longer boondock other than a few times overnight at a Walmart or Casino pkg lot and have experienced no problems running the batteries too low. With the price of diesel fuel for running genny, boon docking for extended nights doesn't make much sense for us very often. Nor do we desire it. But for us, having observed one motorhome fire from a Norcold 4dr 1200 where the owners bailed out their Dynasty bedroom window in middle of the night, and having read about others, our Samsung 197 was a no brainer just for ending the worry. Wife has had 4 back surgeries and that window doesn't look to good for me, much less her. Not to mention the space, constant temperatures--no hot and cool peaks and valleys or mushy ice cream as in Norcold. We are very pleased with our Samsung.

[docj]

BTW anyone who thinks it's difficult to keep residential fridge doors closed while traveling is "looking" for reasons to reject that approach. With our Samsung the fridge doors are secured with a Velcro strap and a hitch pin keeps the freezer drawer closed. Total cost <$5

[becks]

Residential only for us. First thing I installed myself after buying coach used. Would never consider anything else.

[az bound]

I would be interested in hearing from those that voted " Hate it" as to their reasons.
Please expound on the bad experiences with a residential in an RV.

[Clint11]

Ran the gen about 2 hours a day

[Waiter21]

I don't "hate it" but it just doesn't fit my life style.

I have one group 24 coach battery, a Generator, and a 20 gallon tank of propane.

My MH came with a Dometic absorption frig that works just fine and meets all my requirements. It will run a year without having to worry about refilling the tank.

If it failed or needed replacement, I would then need to look at the cost of replacing with another absorption or a residential frig.

I've counciled many individuals who have similar MH configurations as I regarding the choices and options regarding this decision.

If a users MH was configured like mine, with very simple electrical system, and they spent the vast majority of thier life plugged into shore power, This is an easy decision, go for the residential.

However, based on my usage, I would also need to do significant and costly upgrade my electrical systems to support the residential frig.

Then the next part of the equation I would need to answer, would these electrical system upgrades be utilized for other stuff, or just supporting the frig.

[Gordon Dewald]

21 - I would expect if you upgraded the electrical you would utilize it for more than just the fridge. There are many enhancements you would envision. There is something about using a hairdryer or grinding coffee beans and making a coffee in a drip machine at your liesure.

I guess I am trying to say if you have it you will use it.

[alpha99]

Originally Posted by VestaDave

We must have a rare Norcold because ours works great! Ours also has the ability to increase or decrease coldness as desired using the digital readout. Sometimes I need to decrease the coolness because the ice cream is too hard. I just don't get the "nevercold" comment.
It seems that the subject of refrigerators brings out real passion from those who have "switched" to residential units. I think those folks need to keep in mind that there are literally millions of absorption units in Rvs functioning just fine. Certainly I understand that if I used our rv full time an ac unit would probably be the best choice. But... for those of us who use the rig for travel and camping the two way absorption unit is the best option.

I agree. I have never understood the "NeverCold" comments and bashing either. Wouldn't trade it, ours is "AlwaysCold", works like a charm, four doors and plenty of room.

There are tens of thousands of these units out there working great, year after year.


Cheers!

[BeachDude]

Originally Posted by VestaDave

We must have a rare Norcold because ours works great! Ours also has the ability to increase or decrease coldness as desired using the digital readout. Sometimes I need to decrease the coolness because the ice cream is too hard. I just don't get the "nevercold" comment.
It seems that the subject of refrigerators brings out real passion from those who have "switched" to residential units. I think those folks need to keep in mind that there are literally millions of absorption units in Rvs functioning just fine. Certainly I understand that if I used our rv full time an ac unit would probably be the best choice. But... for those of us who use the rig for travel and camping the two way absorption unit is the best option.

+1, Also Agree!


Every Norcold absorption refrigerator, (and 2 Dometic units, including a 3-way model in a PopUp), that I have owned, (5 so far, 3 in motorhomes 2 on sailboats), have had no problem making the ice cream too hard!

[HHg]

There have been a time or two where I've missed my old Dometic propane or electric unit. But nothing beats the convenience of my large SS French door style residential reefer with ice maker......

Hhg

[CountryFit]

holy, this thread is growing fast the majority of users is happy about the resi refeer that really tells something. since i dont have one, no first hand experience, i'll just sit tight and read your comments... keep coming

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by CountryFit

holy, this thread is growing fast the majority of users is happy about the resi refeer that really tells something. since i dont have one, no first hand experience, i'll just sit tight and read your comments... keep coming

This conundrum boils down to usage and expectations. If you frequently dry camp/boondock and your trips are usually long weekends then you should stick with an absorption frig.

If you are a full timer and need larger capacity. If you seldom are without shore power. If your trips tend to be weeks or months long, then you will be well served by residential.

It's certainly not one size fits all.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[Davdeb1]

You mean there was actually someone who has a residential and hates it?