Community Forums

emeraldlake · 09-29-2013, 08:51 PM

So DH and I are looking to buy our 1st MH. We have a rough idea about the benefits of a residential fridge, such as bigger size and better insulation in hot climate. But a sales person told us that since a residential fridge doesn't run on propane, when the MH is on the road, we should try not to open the fridge, because the fridge is shut off. But if the rig has an inverter, wouldn't that solve the problem so that we can use the residential fridge as we would at home? Any pointers? Thx!

docj · 09-29-2013, 09:05 PM

My first reaction is that the salesperson is truly ignorant of how RVs are used. However, it's also possible that this particular MH doesn't have an inverter wired to power the refrigerator. Some MH's have only small inverters sized just to power the entertainment system. Ours happens to have a 2.8kW inverter that powers pretty much the entire coach (not including the A/C's) and it easily runs our residential fridge as we travel.

kalynzoo · 09-29-2013, 09:12 PM

You must realize that many RV salespeople have never camped, ridden, or otherwise experienced an RV. They previously sold: cars, furniture, funeral plots. That said: Norcold propane/electric refrigerators have been going through several years of recalls because of the fear/possibility of fires. Dometic, the other RV refrigerator company has also had recalls, but I have not followed them. I have a Norcold. To solve this, many manufactures have moved to residential refrigerators. A well balanced RV will have a large inverter that can handle the frig, or even a separate inverter for the frig. Some have added batteries to sustain the all electric load. Some have power sensors that will turn on the generator if the battery load becomes too great. While driving down the road, in a well balanced MH the engine should be able to support the inverter and charge the frig. When you stop, you draw from the batteries. When you plug in you pull from shore power. Only when you "dry camp", camp without hookups, will you need enough battery power to keep everything running. Again, you can turn on your generator...unless your in a campground that does not allow generators after quiet hours.
In short, when your salesperson give you such an uninformed answer, it is time to ask for another salesperson.

vsheetz · 09-29-2013, 09:12 PM

Welcome!!!

Be very wary of what a salesman tells you. You have done the right thing to come to forums such as this for good information. A wealth of experience and knowledge here.

Given the appropriate capacity inverter and battery bank, you can support the electrical needs of a residential refrigerator.

emeraldlake · 09-29-2013, 10:50 PM

thank you all for your replies! I'll now read more closely into the specs and make sure to check inverter capacity!

I'm also wondering if there is some book I can read up on this type of basics on how a motorhome works, etc?

GA Navigator · 09-29-2013, 11:12 PM

The book's title is irv2.com/forums.

becks · 09-30-2013, 05:10 AM

Just one more salesman giving bad info, happens all the time. Just installed a res fridge in our coach, wish I had done it sooner.

Triker56 · 09-30-2013, 06:11 AM

If the MH doesn't have a Inverter. Then the salesman was giving you good info.
If it didn't have a Inverter and he wanted a sale. He would have said no problem on a days drive.

I put a residential refrig in a MH without a Inverter.
When traveling I put a couple of those Blue Ice things in the refrig section.

michelb · 09-30-2013, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalynzoo

...Norcold propane/electric refrigerators have been going through several years of recalls because of the fear/possibility of fires. Dometic, the other RV refrigerator company has also had recalls, but I have not followed them. I have a Norcold. To solve this, many manufactures have moved to residential refrigerators. ...

I agree with everything you said but just so it's clear, mitigating the risk of fire is not the only benefit having a residential fridge.

For someone who only camps with hookups (I suspect this is the vast majority of class A owners - particularly in the higher end market), there are a lot of advantages of using a residential fridge: in general they are significantly cheaper, more energy efficient and better insulated and they work better, they are more durable (although that's debatable in a moving vehicle), for a given amount of space, they are much larger (a 20 cf residential fridge will fit in about the same space as a 12 cf LPG/elec fridge) and they often have more features.

As mentioned, in a 'proper' installation, they will run properly indefinately will driving and for several hours without hookups (particularly at night when it's cooler and they aren't being used).

TXiceman · 09-30-2013, 06:29 AM

You can tell when an RV (truck) sales person is lying. His lips move.

If the RV has an inverter, the frig shuld runn off the batteries and inverter.

Ken

Gary RVRoamer · 09-30-2013, 06:40 AM

Just because the RV has an inverter doesn't mean the fridge is plugged into an inverter-supplied outlet. In fact, it is common practice to place both inverter and non-inverter outlets in the fridge compartment. With propane fridges, the ice maker is plugged to the inverter and the rest of the fridge is often plugged to the non-inverter outlet.

In short, don't assume - check it out. And don't rely on the salesman, who may know even less than you do.

dezolen · 09-30-2013, 07:49 AM

Refer misconceptions? Not only sales people cloud information but so do so many rv owners. I have yet to see a refer catch fire in 8 years of camping. There were a few recalls some 5 years ago as there was a problem. Residential refers have just recently become popular so time will tell whether or not they work as well with rv use. I personnaly have not had any problems and like the 2 way functionality of the rv refer.

HD4Mark · 09-30-2013, 08:12 AM

If you are looking at a new RV and the residential fridge is an option then you can bet there is an upgrade to make sure the fridge will work correctly. Most will have a inverter that will work with it and may even have more batteries. If it is a used RV and the fridge was replaced with a residential then I would make sure it works somehow when not plugged in.

We replaced our Norcold with a residential but the inverter is big enough to run it. It won't go very long on the batteries but when the engine is running the alternator will charge them and we always have the generator. If we park overnight and are not plugged in we simply get out what we need, put it in a cooler and leave it shut.

Post what RV you are looking at and someone here may already own one and knows way more about it than the salesman.

anotherone · 09-30-2013, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezolen

Refer misconceptions? Not only sales people cloud information but so do so many rv owners. I have yet to see a refer catch fire in 8 years of camping. There were a few recalls some 5 years ago as there was a problem. Residential refers have just recently become popular so time will tell whether or not they work as well with rv use. I personnaly have not had any problems and like the 2 way functionality of the rv refer.

Wish you were next to us in ky 10 days ago. You would have a whole new outlook. And yes I have pics. Personally never had a problem since 1972 ; always the first time.