Using a residential fridge anybody?

luvrbus · June 23, 2013, 06:13:14 AM

I have parked next to Sonnie there was a reason he ran his generator and he always made a habit out of parking away from others when all possible

Mex-Busnut · June 23, 2013, 06:30:10 AM

I wonder how many of you dear friends running gas fridges turn them OFF (as the law requires) every time you enter a diesel fuel station? Just curious.

We had a large Dometic in our 32-foot fifth wheel, and it gave a lot of problems on the gas side. Always worked fine on AC, though.

jjrbus · June 23, 2013, 06:38:55 AM

I used an apartment sized fridge and was very happy with it. On the install I carefully adhered to dimensions recommended.

Several years go buy and the fridge needs service, so at a couple hundred dollars for a new one, I decide to replace it instead. I uninstall it and put it to the curb where it is picked up by scrappers. I go buy a new one about the same size, well I tried and tried to buy a new one the same size, no such animal, whats the term unobtainium?

I suggest being very generous with space around the fridge, maybe build for the next size up. My problem was height, and the curvature of the ceiling, put the new fridge out a couple more inches than I liked. Every new one was taller than the one I purchased!

HTH JIm

luvrbus · June 23, 2013, 06:42:53 AM

No one turns one off for diesel fueling Propane filling I turn it off I never heard of a law like that safety precautions post on the pump I do see

Lin · June 23, 2013, 08:43:14 AM

I have had both types of frig. I like the cost and low maintenance of the compressor type and the flexibility offered by the absorption. Things always involve compromises. Ultimately, for the camping we do, absorption is better.

sledhead · June 23, 2013, 11:04:38 AM

We have a norcold 3 way .The propane works better then the a/c but we use both not so much d/c . When I installed it I put a extra access vent same as org. up top on the side of the coach for extra cooling and to make it easy to clean out the chimney works great 7 years later and yes hardly ever use the gene . dave

thomasinnv · June 23, 2013, 05:38:11 PM

Quote from: Seayfam on June 22, 2013, 07:25:51 PM
How big is your battery bank now that you have upgraded it? I'm a boondocker myself and I really love LP for that reason, but I'm now having some problems with my Dometic. It's working good on the freezer side but not the refrigerator side when on LP, but it works great when on electric. I've thought about switching also, but just not sure if it will work for boondocking.

My bank is 750 amp hours. I was having to run the Genny every other day to recharge the batteries so I added 2 more batteries for more storage capacity, and another 290 watts of solar for more charging capability. Now I don't run the Genny at all unless there is a few days of no sunshine, (doesn't happen very often in Arizona) or if there's a lot of TV watching. (Which also doesn't happen very often in my home)

Sent from my PantechP9070 using Tapatalk 2

TomC · June 23, 2013, 09:02:41 PM

I had a Norcold 6.3 A/C-D/C compressor type marine refrigerator in the bus that lasted 18 years (the compressor froze up-was not feasible to repair-parts not made). Replaced it with a 9cu/ft Novakool A/C-D/C using a Danfoss compressor. Way better-it cools very quickly, is quiet and only needs venting in the front-can have zero clearance on all sides and back. But is expensive (about $1,500). Takes only 5amps 12vdc to run. Good Luck, TomC

Miss Scarlett · June 24, 2013, 08:52:12 PM

Add me to the residential list. Just bought and installed a 10.3 cu ft yesterday. Ran it today for just a little while and it got nice and cold...quick. My bus is all electric so the apartment fridge makes sense for us.

luvrbus · June 25, 2013, 06:04:45 AM

All depends on how one uses their bus that is why we have options I have friends that have the SunFrost you get the best there 12/24/110 v but it comes with a nice price tag it's so heavily insulated it won't run 5 minutes a day it seems

bansil · June 25, 2013, 01:49:49 PM

We have had an apartment size in the bus for 6 months and 3 trips so far, on the road I run it off a 500 watt invertor! and get to camp site and just unplug it, and plug back into wall

We started with a larger (taller) fridge and ran into an issue!!!

We didn't measure diagonally and we couldn't stand it up in the bus

so the guys pulled it back out and back into the store to trade our "new" fridge in for a smaller unit, this fits better with slope of roof

muldoonman · June 25, 2013, 06:09:34 PM

Have a huge double door installed in our coach a couple years back, The boys at Texas Custom Coach (Pipe Creek Tx.) put that puppy in. Little sawing and wood work. Matched it perfect. Said they had to take the passenger window out and slide it though there. Man , if I would have known that , I might have went with a smaller one.

Singing Land Cruiser · June 26, 2013, 10:10:20 AM

YES,
http://singinglandcruiser.blogspot.com/search/label/refrigerator
Also StormCloud, BOTN and I spliced a toggle switch to the auto-defroster so it wouldn't drain the batts when on the inverter. When on shore power we had it on. M&C

Van · June 26, 2013, 05:23:06 PM

Steve, we installed a Danby 10 cuber, very light weight and works like a charm. It has ample room inside for our needs. I am going to install a second unit right next to it, with the doors swinging from the center out just like a regular double door fridge.
Ours is built in, mounted 4 inch's off the floor with a grill to let cool in and now has a similar vent right above to let the heat out. Uses very little power, and cheap enough to replace if 1 goes down and readily available.
Hiya Michael!!

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