Home refrigerators for buses

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Brian,

Look for the specs. on the refrig's your inquireing about. Then compair the amp draw of each for yourself.

I don't think you will find a house type lower then 3+ amps.

Good Luck
Nick-

[belfert]

I already found out the hard way that amp draw is not a good predictor of energy usage.  One fridge can have lower amp draw, but run longer.

[JackConrad]

Even at 2 amps draw, that is 2 amps at 120 volt. That will be 20 amps at 12 volt (or 10 amps if your inverter is 24 volt) plus inverter inefficiency. I think most inverters are about 85-90% efficient.  Jack

[TomC]

You have to weigh which is more important-initial price or running efficiency for boondocking.  I have been seeing a trend in boats in the 40-60ft range to simply use two compressor type 12v/120vac or 24/120vac refrigerators.  Like two of the Nova Cool 7.5-mounted either side by side or stacked.  Or any of the other compressor type refrigerators.  I have a Norcold 6.3 augmented by the Norcold 2.1 chest freezer.  This gets me through at least a week if boon docking.  Each pulls about 5.5 amps at 12v.  So running at 50% of the time, 5.5 amp hours.  You'll not come close with a house hold type refer running through an inverter.  And with the cost of the Sunfrost previously mentioned, you could buy two of these refrigerators for the same price and have some left over.  With my 2 8D 255amp hour Lifeline batteries, based on 50% discharge, I could run the refrigerators for nearly two days.  Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

I'll probably go with the Energy Star fridge from Frigidaire.  I can get it for a bit over $500 with tax.  I had also been looking at the Whirlpool and GE models, but they are $600 to $800.