Community Forums

Papa_Jim · 03-19-2013, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacktextor

We just purchased a Thor 45 LT that has a residential fridge and four house batteries. We do a lot of dry camping and considering installing an RV fridge. Is there any chance the residential fridge could run through the night without the generator?
Thanks!
Jack

Absolutely! The only time it might not would be if you filled the fridge with warm food just before bedtime, and forgot to close the fridge door! We must remember that if the fridge is full of cold food, and the door is closed, it will probably run very, very little through the night.

I converted from an absorption fridge to a residential fridge. Consumption does vary between fridge models. I used a Kill-A-Watt meter to find out what my fridge is doing. At 120 Volt, on start up the current draw was 1.7 Amps for only a few seconds. During cooling, the current draw was .7 Amps. The total current draw for the initial 8 hour period was less than 2 Amps. To determine the actual current draw at 12 Volt from the batteries through the inverter, I multiplied these figures by 12.

I determined that the current draw from my new fridge was insignificant and would have little to no impact on the ability of the batteries to provide power through the night.

TheArnolds · 03-19-2013, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacktextor

We just purchased a Thor 45 LT that has a residential fridge and four house batteries. We do a lot of dry camping and considering installing an RV fridge. Is there any chance the residential fridge could run through the night without the generator?
Thanks!
Jack

I have a Thor Palazzo equipped with a 18 cf. Whirlpool residential refrigerator, inverter, 4 house batteries which appears to be similar setup as you therefore I feel somewhat qualified to respond without all the conditional operating conditions mentioned by the other responders. The short answer is yes, mine will last overnight and beyond even in the middle of the summer at 90 degrees outside air temps. I have the auto-start generator function on my coach that will start the generator if the battery levels get too low so I am not worried that I will return to my rig to find dead batteries. Hope this helps?

chboone · 03-19-2013, 10:02 PM

As mentioned already, you may want to invest in a couple high wattage solar panels to supplement the generator running for several hours to recharge the batteries.

jacktextor · 03-20-2013, 04:45 AM

Jim and Jack your posts have been helpful and lend some hope to my situation. The dealer is looking to see if we have room for more batteries and will add a solar panel. I think it's worth trying to have the extra reliability and size of a residential unit. Thanks again!
Jack

TheArnolds · 03-20-2013, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacktextor

Jim and Jack your posts have been helpful and lend some hope to my situation. The dealer is looking to see if we have room for more batteries and will add a solar panel. I think it's worth trying to have the extra reliability and size of a residential unit. Thanks again!
Jack

Happy to be of service...enjoy your new rig and happy RVing!

TQ60 · 03-20-2013, 09:15 AM

Wait on the solar panel...

Do your own investigation as the panels get better by the month.

Identify a high quality and high output panel SYSTEM.

The dealer may just use what they have, and just add almost enough.

But bigger is better, it will recharge sooner, and does not need as much sun if it is oversized, besides you can grow into it.

Have your dealer advise how they will be mounted, then google "high output 12 volt solar" then seek the best ones.

Ask for a "turnkey package design quote" that includes panels, controller and conductor sizes to insure the system works as designed.

Confirm they will work with your dealer.

Go back to the dealer and ask them to work with the vendor and to add it into the deal.

Confirm they will install per the design, it is safe to assume the solar providor knows more than the RV dealer.

If like our 1989 CC, there are wires preinstalled for solar, but they are way too small to do it correctly.

Larger wires/conductors have less resistance, and this is critical to getting the most from your system.

Yes plan on spending more, but now is the time to get it done correct and not need to upgrade later.