picking a fridge

[Ericbsc]

I used a 120v by Summit. Thin, only 18" dp. and draws only 1.2 amps.

[TomC]

Eric-if you're running your 1.2amp @ 120vac refrigerator through an inverter, with about 90% efficiency, you'll be pulling almost 13.5 amps @ 12vdc. Still well over twice the draw of a dedicated 12vdc running refrigerator.  Good Luck, TomC

[bevans6]

The way I look at it, with power management you can easily use a house fridge.  1.2 amps at 120 volts is typical of an efficient apartment sized fridge if you disable auto defrost.  13.5 amps from your batteries when it's running, which is about a third of the time, average DC draw is about 6 ah at 12 volts nominal or 3 ah at 24 volts like my setup.  run for 12 hours, that's 72 ah @12 vdc or 36 @ 24 vdc.  If you have a battery bank of around 4 times that, or say 280 ah 12vdc, you will be able to run the fridge and typical other house uses like TV, your laptop, some lights overnight for sure.  You won't be running a stove, or a microwave for long periods, or you coffee maker hot plate, or your airconditioner, but you can sure run your fridge.

Brian

[Geoff]

1.2 amps is fine with me-- I am not very good at conserving batteries when boomdocking so I run my diesel generator once or twice a day anyway to charge up the batteries (four golf carts).  I am used to running the microwave, an electric coffee maker, watching Direct TV and all sorts of lights.  And my beer is always cold!

[belfert]

You need to look at total energy usage over 24 hours.  A fridge that draws 1.2 amps, but runs 30 minutes an hour, will use more energy than a fridge that draws 2.4 amps, but only runs 10 minutes an hour.

I went from a 10CF fridge to a 14.5CF Energy Star fridge.  I am using less energy with a larger fridge as the new one is more efficient

[luvrbus]

Bite the bullet and buy a SunFrost be done with it


good luck

[Seayfam]

Why doesn't anybody like propane?
It's obvious the jury is out and the majority is against propane. I myself like propane!! It is clean, reliable, doesn't stink, and fairly efficient. I use it in all my houses also.
I know that you should conserve on electric when boondocking and there are some electric refrigerators that are efficient. But what if you are boondocking and you don't start your big 12 to 20kw Diesel gen set at the campground after 7:00pm, Just because you don't want to offend the neighbors or stink them out. Then your kids open the refrigerator every few minutes out of boredom. Then someone forgets a window or a vent open, and it's a cold night out. You go to sleep and all is well, but your big forced air furnace runs longer than normal. About 4:00am your wife says she's cold, and you tell her... I can't start the generator until 7:00am. "This happened many times in the S&S"

Just wondering why most seem to be against propane? Is there something wrong with the propane refrigerators for the RVs that I am unaware of?
I have had S&S RVs for 20years and haven't had any problems with the propane units.
Any insight would be appreciated!

Gary

[JohnEd]

Gary,

I am with you on this Bro.  My fridge will run all summer on one fill of propane...maybe all year.  The furnace runs more than a month in 40 degree weather.  2 10 gal tanks.

If you step into the Marine environment you will find people with the "Missionary Zeal" that demonize propane.  It is a gas that sinks to the bilge and even the tinyest leak will accumulate enough gas to remove everything from the water line up.  I have Coast Guard friends that turn "white" if you say propane and boat in the same sentence.  They have to board a boat with a gas leak that is known and they sometimes find boats with asphyxiated passengers that are overcome by propane fumes.  That arena spawns horror stories that lose their nautical association.  Then there is the cost angle with propane costing a grand for starters and apartment going for less than half that.  We are a frugal bunch.

[luvrbus]

I like propane I went from a electric fridge to a propane never looked back cut my generator time in 1/2 I also went from diesel fired heat to propane boilers best thing I did.
1 draw back is people don't like vents on the side of their bus when I changed my electric fridge it was not on a outside wall all the guys here told me I had to mount it on a outside wall guess what it was mounted in the same place as my electric with no vent in the side of my bus I worked around that it preformed great for years and the propane fridges of today are pretty efficient now.
I never worried about being level with mine it was never a problem always was cold even in AZ fwiw mine was a Norcold


good luck

[bevans6]

I like propane too, particularly since I have it on board for furnace, hot water and the stove.  Reasons I don't like propane refers as much as I would prefer to have an electric one - maintenance.  I have spent hours maintaining my propane fridge in the past two years.  rust in the flame chimney, the flame sensor goes out, the electric ignition isn't 100%, it doesn't get as cold in very hot weather, stuff like that.  It's a good fridge, I just wish it was more reliable and I didn't have to pull it out to clean it every year.

Brian

[belfert]

Reasons I don't have a propane fridge:

1. No propane in my bus.
2. More expensive than a household fridge.  I was going to have batteries and inverter regardless.
3. Takes a long time to get cold.  Don't stay cold as well in hot weather.
4. Most RV fridges are small.
5. Tend to be more finicky and require more work to keep running.
6. Requires a roof vent.

I'm not going to tell anyone they shouldn't have a propane fridge.  The beauty of a bus is we can each do it our way.

[Seayfam]

The main reason for my last post is.. Just looking out for the gentleman that started this thread.
He said that he is just finishing up on his roof right now, and he does a lot of boondocking. If he decides he wants to go propane... Now would be the time!
I just think if we could get him some good pros and cons to both, then he could choose what would work best for his usages. He also stated that he doesn't want a small refrigerator. I do know that there are some large RV style refrigerators out there. Propably not as big as a residential style though.
I really don't mean to offend anyone that has their own preferences...Just trying to help

Gary

[JohnEd]

Gary,

Well, I for one, am in a serious snit over your post.....LOL   I value your participation and advice.  Truly, I do. That is not to guarantee that the Canadians won't be on you like a chicken on a June bug.  Can never be 100% sure.

Belfert,

I am not going to contradict your experience in any way.  BUT!  My gas refers have all dug deep for some serious cold immediately after being lit off.  And, as per Clifford's experience, they have all performed without a hitch in the heat of summer although I have never been in anything above 100 as my living room has an ignition key in it.  Anything above 100 or below 32 and my engine starts, as if automatically, and the wheel takes a southerly or northerly heading as what seems appropriate.

Brian,

My Dometic worked like a charm for 10 years with so much as a glance at it's innards.  I did get a lot of rust out the chimney when I removed the unit due to interior of the refer damage.  Some of these things need elect for a control board but some operate without any DC at all.

If your refer is not charged correctly at the time of mfr. then you can have a marginal performer.  A certified tech can eval performance.  There are also user guides that spell out min temp drop over a specified time for proper performance.

I know, I know..."We" are not amused...

John

[belfert]

I can assure you that RV fridges do not work particularly well at 115F.  I was at a yearly national rocket launch so I didn't have much choice about it if I wanted to launch rockets.  It was still hot in the RV even with teh A/C running full blast.

The next time I went to this same event five years later I had the bus with the household fridge.  It was only 101F that year, but the fridge worked just fine.  It was still warm inside with two A/C units running.

[robertglines1]

A suggestion to conserve batt bank.  We have a dorm size ref  with drinks in this keeps from opening up the larger box.