Community Forums

seabee13 · 05-12-2010, 09:45 PM

Comments please from folks who have residential refrigeratos pros and cons over gas/electric Refrigerators. Would you go back to gas/electric refrigerators! why or why not. Thanks

Twomed · 05-12-2010, 09:55 PM

No way...safer (no flames), it defrosts, more space, real repairmen can fix them. DW says "NO"!! She's happy...I'm happy. Slight downside on gen use because I don't have any solar, that will be corrected this summer.

Ernie Ekberg · 05-13-2010, 06:40 AM

My gas refer gave up the ghost with lots of ammonia smell. I went to Lowes, bought an apartment refer and after 5 years, not one problem, at all.

Elkhartjim · 05-13-2010, 07:00 AM

I don't have any direct experience. I know Tiffin is using residential refers now and I believe they need eight batteries. Con (?) maybe.

I think the pro's are too numerous to mention.

paz · 05-13-2010, 07:48 AM

Residential refrigerators are heavier and they use more power than an RV fridge, but they hold way more food. They also keep things nice and cold, just like at home - no more mushy ice cream.

Tiffin gives you 2 extra batteries and a bigger inverter when you get the residential fridge. However, if you never boondock, it's possible to just not have power to the fridge when driving down the road. It will stay cold enough until you reach your destination, especially if you keep the door closed.

Unless something really unforeseen happens, our next RV WILL have a residential fridge.

Bob (WA0MQE) · 05-13-2010, 08:24 AM

I'd have no problem with a residential fridge, even while boondocking. I have an large 3000 watt inverter and while traveling I always run our RV fridge on AC. The solar panels as well as the engine alternator are more than enough to offset the power usage. Boondocking might require a couple extra batteries and solar panels but it would still be worth it too me.

I'm not sure I agree with 'paz' on the residential using more power though. Maybe I'll test both our stick house and the RV to be sure. RV refers use a very inefficient ROD heating element which is electrically excited to make heat. Look's like a small dryer element. These are direct short's to the electrical flow of current and get very hot. These devices waste a lot of electricity to provide heat. Where as a residential refer has a pump motor that runs a compressor. Which does use quite a bit of current, but I'm not convinced it's more then a rod element. Probably the main reason though is the residential refer won't run as often because of their efficiency so over a period of time the AC current usage might be less.