Refrigerator door latch for house fridge

[Darryl]

Some of the members here have converted their RV fridge to a home style. I was wondering which one (if any) you used and if you like it or not. Any information is appreciated.

[SarahW]

I'm a little confused. Your title is about a door latch for a fridge? Are you looking for info about latches or possible brands of residential refrigerators? I know several members have replaced their refrigerators with residential models, so hopefully they will chime in.

[Darryl]

I'm looking for a door latch to keep a house fridge closed while driving. Sorry for the confusion.

[DennisZ]

Here's the latch I used, it is the same latch that Monaco uses on their new refers.

Sliding Door Latches | HC-85 LATCH FOR SLIDING DOOR

Dennis

[SarahW]

Originally Posted by Darryl

I'm looking for a door latch to keep a house fridge closed while driving. Sorry for the confusion.

No problem! I am easily confused.

[Darryl]

Originally Posted by DennisZ

Here's the latch I used, it is the same latch that Monaco uses on their new refers.

Sliding Door Latches | HC-85 LATCH FOR SLIDING DOOR

Dennis

Ahh, very nice latch. I haven't seen this one before. Is there any chance you could post a picture or two to show how it's installed on the fridge doors? I would happily drive out to a dealer and look at one, but there is not a Monaco dealer in the whole state of Georgia now, at least according to their website.

[bruceisla]

Originally Posted by Darryl

Some of the members here have converted their RV fridge to a home style. I was wondering which one (if any) you used and if you like it or not. Any information is appreciated.

Have you actually done the reefer swap yet? If so, which residential reefer? If not, which ones are you considering?

[paz]

I was very hesitant to drill holes anywhere around the perimeter of the door of our residential fridge because most refrigerators have what are called Yoder loops around the face of the door openings. The Yoder loops carry refrigerant from the warm side of the coils to keep condensation away from the doors. Drilling into one of the loops will render your refrigerator inoperative.

We have a Samsung RF197 French door fridge. I used Velcro looped around the handles of the upper refrigerator doors and child-proof latches on both sides of the lower freezer drawer. The latches will also work on the edge of the doors of a 2-door fridge. The latches fasten with double-faced adhesive, so there are no holes to drill. We got our latches at Walmart, but they are also available on Amazon.

Part of the latch fastens to the freezer drawer (or door of a 2-door fridge). It can be locked in the open position by pushing on the red button when you're stationary so you don't have to remember to unlatch it every time you open the freezer.


The other part of the latch fastens to the side of the fridge box.

[Solask]

I dont understand the desire to use a 110volt residential refer. Understand ALL about the fire hazard of absorption fridges.

How do you you keep your food between power posts?

[paz]

Originally Posted by Rkh

I dont understand the desire to use a 110volt residential refer. Understand ALL about the fire hazard of absorption fridges.

How do you you keep your food between power posts?

Our RR is powered off an inverter. The MH alternator keeps the house batteries charged while on the road. We got tired of food spoiling prematurely and soupy ice cream. With a residential refer, food last as long as it would at home, ice cream is rock-hard, and we have all the ice we can use.

Some folks have even installed small residential refers in travel trailers with no inverter. They find the fridge stays plenty cold enough for several hours while on the road if you keep the door closed. Obviously not a good solution for a 12-hour drive, but OK for weekend getaways several hours from home.

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by Darryl

Some of the members here have converted their RV fridge to a home style. I was wondering which one (if any) you used and if you like it or not. Any information is appreciated.

It really depends on what type and model of fridge that you choose. My Samsung RF197 has French Doors so I use a small 14 inch Velcro strap to keep the French doors secured and for the freezer drawer I use a small L bracket and pin.

Photos attached.

Originally Posted by Rkh

How do you you keep your food between power posts?

We keep our food inside the fridge all of the time unless we decide to use some.

Well kidding aside, when not using those "power posts", our engine is providing plenty of power or the generator is programmed to kick in when our house battery bank is 50% SOC.

The fridge is always plugged into an Inverter driven 120 VAC duplex so when shore power has been severed, the Inverter takes over immediately. It is seamless with no loss of power.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[pagosajoe]

A strip of Velcro works great, when wrapped around the handles. Available at most hardware stores.

[Darryl]

Originally Posted by bruceisla

Have you actually done the reefer swap yet? If so, which residential reefer? If not, which ones are you considering?

Bruce, I already have the fridge. It is a 10 cf Whirlpool, bought from Lowes. I suspect you're particularily interested in this swap, as you have a Holiday Rambler about the same year as mine was. I just wanted to tell you that I don't have the HR anymore, so I don't know if the fridge would fit well in a HR or not, although I suspect it will. You would definitely need to check the width though.

[Darryl]

Originally Posted by Rkh

I dont understand the desire to use a 110volt residential refer. Understand ALL about the fire hazard of absorption fridges.

How do you you keep your food between power posts?

My story is pretty much the same as PAZ replied above. The fridge runs off the inverter going down the road or whenever you're not plugged in. My battery bank will carry it overnight if needed. The door on my fridge is not opened/closed a lot, so it doesn't have to run all that much. If you had kids, it would probably run a lot more.