Community Forums

Tuffy Cat · 02-16-2020, 09:22 PM

On our 2002 Newmar Kountry Star, we can’t find the inverter or a switch to activate it. Having just bought it, we’re having heck of a time learning to run everything. It has a residential fridge which makes sense it would need an inverter.

Solo_RV_Guy · 02-16-2020, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuffy Cat

On our 2002 Newmar Kountry Star, we can’t find the inverter or a switch to activate it. Having just bought it, we’re having heck of a time learning to run everything. It has a residential fridge which makes sense it would need an inverter.

A quick look at the 2002 Kountry Star brochure indicates they were not built with inverters installed.

https://library.rvusa.com/brochure/2...dpbrochure.pdf

That said, the inverter would be near the coach house batteries (maybe adjacent basement compartment), and you would have 2 breaker boxes (or a kludge of wiring), one from shore power/generator transfer switch and one powered by the inverter.

RetiredBob · 02-17-2020, 05:40 AM

If the previous owner only traveled short distances and always camped with shore power, it's possible there isn't an inverter.

cavie · 02-17-2020, 05:51 AM

If it has a resi fridge then it has an inverter. Should be near the battery. Under the bed? Near the 120 volt power panel? Follow the largest wires leaving the battery. On the ceiling of a storage area?

could also be a converter/inverter combination unit.

Dutchstar411 · 02-17-2020, 09:27 AM

On my previous 2002 Dutch Star the inverter was located on the passenger side cargo bay, just behind the rear axle and just before the battery door. They didn't come with a residential fridge. I replaced my old Dometic with a 10 cubic foot residential after it went bad.

Also the switch to activate it would be in the control panel where your other control switches would be, inside and next to the overhead TV.

Lastly, we always ran the generator when traveling for the ac units as well as the residential fridge. Once parked we used shore power for them. We never boondocked or actually needed our inverter.

twinboat · 02-17-2020, 09:30 AM

Look for a Magnum or Xantrex labeled control panel. That's the inverter/charger control.

That does not mean the fridge is wired to run from it. Don't think it came with a residental fridge.

randyxa · 02-17-2020, 09:38 AM

You may also want to look under the bottom drawer in your kitchen, thats where I found mine in my 2000 Fleetwood

fagnaml · 02-17-2020, 10:23 AM

Tuffy --

First, welcome to the Forum! There are many good folks here willing to provide help anytime.

With regards to your question, after looking at the sales brochure for your coach that Solo Guy provided, the only "original construction" refrigerator options for your coach was an "standard" 8 cubic foot Dometic frig and an "optional" 10 cubic foot Dometic frig which are both "ammonia absorption" type refrigerator that run on 120 volt power or propane to vaporize the aqueous ammonia (and 12 volt for frig controls). The 120 volt "mode" only operates while connected to shore power. The frig needs to operate in "propane" mode when not connected to shore power.

As such, your coach did not come equipped with an inverter and would only have a converter (convert 120 volts to 12 volts) to charger your batteries. My previous coach, a 2007 Damon Astoria 3774 diesel pusher, had the same Dometic ammonia absorption refrigerator and no inverter.

Have you confirmed your refrigerator is a 'residential', 120 volt only, type refrigerator? If yes, what brand name and size is it? If it is a residential type refrigerator, I would guess the previous owner did not install an inverter for the frig's 120 volt outlet.

Share pictures of your frig to give the forum more info.

edgray · 02-17-2020, 04:06 PM

It is possible the PO added a residential frig and chose to power it off the Genset while driving rather than adding batteries and an inverter. That is what I would have done if seldom parking without shore power.

Tuffy Cat · 02-17-2020, 06:00 PM

Thanks everyone for all the comments. We agree that evidently the PO didn’t do any boondocking which we plan to do a lot of in Alaska. Having watched a couple of good YouTube videos for installing an inverter, my husband is going to tackle the job. The Go Power brand looks pretty good. If anyone has any suggestions, we’re ready for them.

edgray · 02-17-2020, 07:27 PM

IF your KS is a gasser, you may be near its weight carrying capacity and adding a bank of batteries to support the inverter may be problematic. My 2003 KSCA was on a workhorse W-22 Chassis with 22,000 pounds GVWR and I can tell you Newmar built a quality coach, but it is heavy. Just suggesting you carefully consider your options. Good luck.

RetiredBob · 02-18-2020, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavie

If it has a resi fridge then it has an inverter.

I'm curious why you would say this.

GaryKD · 02-18-2020, 06:09 AM

To those who feel the type of refrigerator has to do something with the OP's coach having an inverter. There are other reasons to have and inverter. My coach has an inverter to run different outlets when not on shore power. My coach does NOT have a residential refrigerator.

Add to this the possibility that this vintage coach could have a residential refrigerator, installed by a PO, and not have an inverter. One could depend on the generator or shore power to run the refrigerator. One could also let the refrigerator remain without power during travel.

Not knowing the experience and technical ability of the OP, it might be wise to not be so definitive to describe a residential refrigerator is a requirement to have an inverter.

The only requirement to have an inverter is the need for 120 volt power when not connected to shore power and not having or wanting to use the generator.