Community Forums

Gauke · 01-30-2014, 07:17 AM

While not in use our motor home will be kept in a warehouse for storage. When we get ready for a trip what do we do about keeping our food cold? We could bring the RV to our home and plug it in but we don't have a dedicated 50 amp circuit. We will of course have our food already cooled. Do we keep it in a cooler until the fridge is cooled or put the cooled food in the fridge? Just another newbie question.

Thanks for your input.

davismills · 01-30-2014, 07:25 AM

You could bring it home and use one of these.
Rodale 1 ft. RV 15 Amp Male to 50 Amp Female with Locking Ring-RV15M50FDT at The Home Depot

Gauke · 01-30-2014, 07:46 AM

Thanks so much. I looked it up on Home Depot and then in an RV catalog. Wow - the price in the catalog was over twice as much.

MSHappyCampers · 01-30-2014, 07:49 AM

Just remember that it will probably take several hours for the fridge to get to the desired temp. I would plug it in the day before you need to stock it.

Tom3205 · 01-30-2014, 07:52 AM

Freeze some water bottles. Put them in the frige along with the food. These will help keep food cold until frige gets up to speed. Then use the water for drinking/coffee, etc. Once water bottles are used up, use that space for more food.

Selah · 01-30-2014, 08:08 AM

For absorption units it takes about 24 hours to get the fridge and freezer down to temperature. Bring it home and plug it into a 15 amp circuit. That will be enough to keep the batteries charged while cooling the fridge and running lights while you pack everything up. Pre cool/freeze everything before stocking.

mel s · 01-30-2014, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gauke

While not in use our motor home will be kept in a warehouse for storage. When we get ready for a trip what do we do about keeping our food cold? We could bring the RV to our home and plug it in but we don't have a dedicated 50 amp circuit. We will of course have our food already cooled. Do we keep it in a cooler until the fridge is cooled or put the cooled food in the fridge?

Gauke
Bring the RV home and run the RV refrigerator on propane (LP) and the house batteries until it cools down and then put the already cooled food in.

If your refrigerator doesn't work on propane use the appropriate electrical adapter, (or adapters), and a 12ga extension cord to supply the RV with 120VAC from any house, (or garage), 15-20amp receptacle.

Any RV store will have the adapter(s) needed for your RV.

For my coach I need/use these adapters:
Pigtail Adapter, 50 Amp Locking To 30 Amp Locking | Marinco
and:
Road Power 09544-90-08 14/3-Gauge 30-15-Amp RV Power Adapter Cord, 18-Inches: Auto Electronics : Walmart.com

BTW, if your RV has an inverter/charger, (most do), 15-20amp 120V electric will keep your house batteries fully charged and allow you to use other "small draw" electric items in the RV, (interior lights, the LP furnace, etc.), while it is parked at your home.

Mel
'96 Safari

wa8yxm · 01-30-2014, 09:42 AM

Fridge draws about 3-4 amps tops. Converter, if bateries are dead, may draw as many as 10, so a common 20 amp circuit is more than enough.

But when you get home, if it is a long drive, the batteries will be near full, of you can simply leave it plugged in for a few hours before you fire up the fridge. So that the converter load goes down.

Then you can run it on a 15 amp outlet safely.. Just do not use microwave, water heater or A/C.

spritz · 01-30-2014, 10:20 AM

I would ask first if the warehouse is heated? If so then yes bring it home and plug it in or in my case the weather outside has been a high of 0 -6 and today we are having a heat wave of +22 plus snowing. If you are in a state with weather like ours just sitting overnight will bring it down (temp) for free.
js,tb