Nova Kool fridge report

[viento1]

I just wanted to say that I installed a novakool 7501 that I picked up for cheap and I am very pleased. the current draw is about 2.6 amps on 24 volts and it runs less than 50% of the day. My solar panel puts out 4.5 amps so the fridge is pretty much sorted out.

I like the fact that I did not have to cut holes all over my bus for venting and the best part is that I do not have the leveling ritual. I just park on any old hill and all is good.

[TomC]

I have a Norcold AC/DC compressor type refer also and love it.  But-on my truck I'm using a Summit refer since it has nearly 14 cu/ft of space.  It is 75" tall x 28" wide x 26" deep.  I'll have to use it on the inverter, but have the inverter anyway.  Check out the Summit refers at Summitappliances.com.  Glad you were able to score such a nice refer for cheap. Good Luck, TomC

[Ericbsc]

I have the summit 75,28.23. Pulls 2 amps with ice maker!!!

[viento1]

I found the summit website but could not find any 24 volt units - is it 110volt?

[TomC]

Summit only makes 120vac refers.  The one I'm going to use is the FFBF280W that is a energy wise refer with bottom freezer with three drawers and pulls about 1.6 amps when running (or about 18amps at 12vdc).  With 1500amp hours of batteries, that should last (averaging 9amps per hour and 750 amp hours of actual usable battery) over 80 hours of just refer running time.  Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

A 24 volt DC fridge would be ideal if one could afford it and they made one big enough.  I have a 110 volt 10CF fridge now and would like to go to 14CF instead.

Why Summit over other manufacturers for a 14CF fridge?  Do they use less energy?  Frigidiare, Whirlpool, and GE all make Energy Star 14CF fridges.  The Fridgidiare can be bought for around $500 while the GE is over $600 and the Whirlpool is almost impossible to find.

[TomC]

Summit makes energy efficient designs.  The main draw to Summit-one it is US made in NY city.  They specialize in apartment sized refrigerators-hence they are not as deep.  The FFBF280W is 75"h x 26"d (including handles) x 28"w and weighs about 180lbs-the bigges refer in the smallest floor print.  Most other refers will be around 68"h x 32"d x 32"w weighing around 200lbs.  I just don't want it protruding much past the 24" mark of the kitchen countertop. Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

Each to his own way but buying a 3000.00 dollar inverter and a large battery bank to run a fridge that I don't understand but if works for you go for it.
I built mine total electric worse mistake I made spend your money and buy a Sun Frost it will out preform any house type on the market in a RV and a lot quieter and with only one power source


good luck

[belfert]

A Sun Frost fridge costs as much or more than a really good inverter.  I've got about $2300 into my battery bank, Prosine inverter, and fridge.  Thus even includes replacing the original golf cart batteries.  The Prosine isn't the best inverter and if I bought a new one I would probably upgrade to a better one costing closer to $2,000.  (I would like to be able to pass both sides of my 50 amp service through the inverter.)

A Sun Frost fridge might be good for someone fulltiming away from a power pole, but for a lot of situations it is overkill.

Would I like a 24V DC fridge, sure, but is it practical for me?  Not really when I got out for a week at a time a few times a year.

[TomC]

I'm going to have the Magnum 2800 watt pure sine wave inverter anyway to power my stereo, internet antenna, computer, LCD TV, microwave, one of the water heaters, piano, so adding a few more batteries to power the refer is not going to make much difference in the pricing. 

If I had a mountain cabin with solar power only, I'd consider the Sun Frost.  It is very expensive and takes alot of extra floor space.  Good Luck, TomC