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02-03-2017, 07:34 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 743
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Residential Refrigerator - how long on battery power without recharging?
Hello all. I am new to this site and doing research to decide which refrigerator I should get when my wife and I purchase a Class A motorhome. I like the residential refrigerator, but need information on how long they will normally run on battery power before recharging the batteries is necessary. My wife and I will be "Newbies" when we purchase a motorhome, although we full-timed for several years in the late 70s to mid 80s in a 32' Holiday Rambler TT. Ready to enjoy the retired life now, and we plan to mix it up with stays in state and national parks, regular RV parks, and sometimes a few nights "boondocking" with no hookups. I would also like to know if the residential refrigerators do fine when driving and the batteries are being charged by the alternator, or is it necessary to run the generator when driving? We're looking at Class A motorhomes in the 30 - 34 foot range. Any info will be appreciated.
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02-03-2017, 07:50 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Foxberry Farm Knoxville, Tn
Posts: 160
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We have and had 2008 Allegro Bus, 2013 Entegra Anthem and a 2017 Anthem. All had residential frigs and we have never had a problem. On the road or hooked up even to 30 amp power never had an issue. While boondocking and not particularly careful with power usage we get 10 to 12 hours before the auto gen kicks in. Wife wouldn't have a coach without the residential frig.
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02-03-2017, 08:00 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Amory, Ms
Posts: 1,112
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We have a Tiffin gasser with only 4 coach batteries and we can go 8-10 hours without the generator running with only the residential fridge running. Add the furnace to that during cold weather and it cuts into that depending on the usage. That being said, I would not have another RV without a residential refridgerator. We do a fair amount of dry camping and I will carry my Honda 2000 generator and use it on nights that the AC isn't required.
__________________
Roger And Kim Goodwin
bout them DAWGS!!
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02-03-2017, 08:17 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,328
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My experience: I have 6 house batters in an all electric coach. When boondocking I typically run the generator about one hour+ in the morning and at least two hours at night. If I run the generator mid day for lunch I still run the two hours before bed. My batteries never get below 12.0. I have my AGS set to 12.0 and have only had it autostart once.
Even though it is not necessar I turn my fridge off when going to bed. It saves a little battery and the fridge only gains about 3 degrees.
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Paul, Kathy, and Tux the Mini Schnauzer
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 42 LH, 2013 Honda CRV
"When the time comes to look back, make sure you'll like what you see"
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02-03-2017, 08:19 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Several threads here regarding RR and dry camping. We have RR and dry camp often. The RR option often includes additional batteries - we have six 6v instead if four. We don't find the RR a limitation. The size, performance, and usability are excellent.
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Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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02-03-2017, 08:28 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 565
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Four six volt batteries and Residential Refrigerator. Experience is about the same eight to ten hours before needing charging.
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Dan
2014 Berkshire 390RB
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02-03-2017, 08:44 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
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Note the battery usage. If you are considering a DP you will have a larger battery compartment with space for 4 or more decent sized house batteries. If you are looking at any gasser on a Ford chassis you will get space for two group 27 or 29 batteries. If you want to use the off at bedtime and coast option you will be OK. If you plan on running through the night with much else on you will run your batteries down. Not all places are happy with 3 AM autostarts on the generator that is assuming you have an autostart setup.
You will probably see comments about no problem or advice on how to make it happen. Consider the suggestions and what you want to do to make it feasible. Look at the recommended battery sizes and what you would do to get them into a unit you like.
I live happily running on propane, she likes the smaller fridge. We won't buy a unit with a residential because we don't want a DP. OTOH I don't drink a sixpack a year so no problem. ;-)
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02-04-2017, 07:11 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: FT on the Road
Posts: 3,895
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If you are familiar with amp hours and batteries you can calculate it out.
My Samsung RF18 uses about 120 AH per 24 hours.
The stock battery bank was 4x 6v batteries with only ~200 AH of usable capacity (50% DoD).
With all the other things using the battery bank I also needed a charge after 8-12 hours. This is why I upgraded to lithium and solar.
I plan extensive boondocking.
__________________
I don't subscribe to threads I reply to so will not see your reply to my comment. Drop me a direct message if you want a reply from me.
Cheers!
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02-04-2017, 07:46 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Appalachian Campers Mid Atlantic Campers Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,622
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First, we would never have another coach without a residential frig, period.
The RR is on a circuit that is also powered by the inverter, so while driving the house batteries are being charged by the engine alternator, and hence no need to run generator for the refrig. The convection mwave, coffee pot, and all of the entertainment are also run off the inverter. (On very hot days, you may be running the generator for the A/C's though).
We have 6 house batteries in our house battery bank. If we are travelling and stop somewhere for the evening, then get up and drive again the next day, we would never need to use the generator.
If we have stopped to boondock somewhere for a number of days, then I set up the generator to autostart and run an hour in the morning, and also an hour in the evening.
It depends upon temperatures and I've not measured it recently, but I'm pretty sure I can go over 24+ hours on a house bank charge before the gen would kick in and want to charge it back up (I have the genset autostart trigger set at 60% state of charge).
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DaveB, Raleigh, NC
2015 Tiffin RED 33AA, w/Honda CRV
VMSpc, Magnum BMK/ARC50
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02-04-2017, 05:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 743
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Thanks for the info
Thanks to everyone for your info and input. Several different salesmen have told me "48 hours" without recharging. As a retired electrician, I knew they were telling me a fairy tale. However, with your input I am more comfortable with the idea of the residential refrigerator option. I'm definitely leaning more toward the residential refrigerator, with plans to add more batteries for extra capacity and hope to also add solar as I get more into it. The coaches I am looking at are pre-wired for solar.
Ken
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02-04-2017, 06:21 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Spicewood Texas (West of Austin)
Posts: 4,574
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It's kind of like, how many miles can I drive and how big is my fuel tank. More batteries equals a larger fuel tank.
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Scotty and Kristen, Airedales Wyatt and Belle Starr
2007 Newmar Mountain Aire 4528, 450 HP ISM, Allison
2024 Brinkley G4000
2022 F350 DRW King Ranch 4 x 4
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02-05-2017, 10:01 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,897
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The new residential refers use very little power and are well insulated so they don't run that long or that often. My Whirlpool uses around 3 amps when running.
__________________
2014 American Eagle 45T
DD 13, 500 HP
Pulling a Honda CRV
For Sale
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02-05-2017, 10:13 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Appalachian Campers Mid Atlantic Campers Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,622
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Quote:
As a retired electrician, I knew they were telling me a fairy tale. However, with your input I am more comfortable with the idea of the residential refrigerator option. I'm definitely leaning more toward the residential refrigerator, with plans to add more batteries for extra capacity and hope to also add solar as I get more into it.
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Since you have an electrical background, I'll offer some additional info:
- It is obvious all refrig model/make and outside temp/use dependant are different, but I measured the 120v current draw of my refrig, and it draws 1 amp when the compressor is running. However it draws 8 amps when the defroster heating coil is defrosting. Older frigs have a defrost timer which runs the defrost coil for about 15 or 20 mins, every 12 or 8 hours. I have heard and don't know for my model (and haven't bothered to measure) whether I have this type of older timer, or the newer ones which vary defrosting based on actual 'need' controlled by some control board brains. I suspect it's the later since these are all energy efficient. But none the less, 1 amp compressor draw is pretty amazing.
- Pay attention to the battery racks on the coaches you are looking at. My coach for instance had 4 house batteries. While at the plant though, I noticed that some higher end coaches had 6 batteries installed, and they used the exact same rack. The difference, the batteries were rotated 90 degrees and 6 batteries fit. Guess what,cheap upgrade.....2 batteries, and 3 short battery cables and I've upgraded my house battery storage.
- If the coach you look at has a Magnum controller (RC-50) for the inverter/converter, then consider upgrading it to a ARC-50 with a BMK shunt on the battery. This allows you to manage battery capacity based on SOC (State of Charge). Rather than caring about battery voltage, you care about SOC which acts more like a fuel gauge. How much % capacity do you have left. I can set my AGS to start the generator when SOC get down to 60% and turn off when it gets the battery bank back up to 85%. This is a protection that keeps my batteries from ever being discharged too low. If you add solar later, it all integrates.
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DaveB, Raleigh, NC
2015 Tiffin RED 33AA, w/Honda CRV
VMSpc, Magnum BMK/ARC50
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02-05-2017, 10:14 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: FT on the Road
Posts: 3,895
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat320
The new residential refers use very little power and are well insulated so they don't run that long or that often. My Whirlpool uses around 3 amps when running.
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IMO 3 amps is a lot. 
My Samsung only uses 1.1 amps.
__________________
I don't subscribe to threads I reply to so will not see your reply to my comment. Drop me a direct message if you want a reply from me.
Cheers!
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