supercub
Modesto CA
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Joined: 04/24/2005
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Reading all these posts, I'm curious what's involved in installing a residentil refer? Doo thy fit thru the door, or thru a window. I have a 2000 watt invertor with 4 batteries, is this enough or ?? What about the cost? Thanks
Brian
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docj
Fulltime--Home is where we park it
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Joined: 07/13/2010
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Starting with the easiest part of your question, we have a Samsung RF197 and run it off of a 2500 watt inverter, 4 batteries and a small solar panel while we travel. We don't boondock, but there would be no problem running the fridge on batteries overnight and recharging it with the generator.
As for getting it inside, we removed a windshield primarily because the Norcold couldn't go out through the door. Our Samsung is counter depth so it could have gone through a door with its door removed.
Sandie & Joel
2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12
2009 Chevy Malibu LTZ with ReadyBrute tow bar/braking system
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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Have you read these?...
household refer and inverter2009
Household refer Class A 2009
residential fridge- boondocking 09
Residential refer Class A 2010
docj's install;
Samsung install sept 2011
Residential/boondocking 2012
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Oasisbob
Portland Oregon 97266
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I have done the residential fridge thing and it was a bad idea for the following reasons.
1. Fridge did not run when traveling.
2. Not a good fit in original fridge location. warm/cold air came in around.
3. greatly reduced resale value.
4. Had to bungee door closed.
Forget running fridge on anything but shore power or generator. It will not work on batteries for long if at all. I know RV fridges are super spendy but that is your best option. Been there. Done that.
Oasis Bob
Wonderful wife & 4 Really Fun kids
2008 KIA Sedona 3.8L 24 valve V-6
2001 Bantam Trail Lite B-19
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Oasisbob
Portland Oregon 97266
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I have done the residential fridge thing and it was a bad idea for the following reasons.
1. Fridge did not run when traveling.
2. Not a good fit in original fridge location. warm/cold air came in around.
3. greatly reduced resale value.
4. Had to bungee door closed.
Forget running fridge on anything but shore power or generator. It will not work on batteries for long if at all. I know RV fridges are super spendy but that is your best option. Been there. Done that.
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The Texan
Meridian, Idaho
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Joined: 01/16/2004
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We have done it and I will counter every point Oasisbob made. I just wish we had installed out Samsung rf197 years ago. More and more RVs, both motorhomes and towables are being built with a residential fridge, so they must do the job.
1. Fridge did not run when traveling.
A properly installed, residential fridge will run all day long while traveling. Ours operates off the 2.5kw inverter and 4 GC-2 batteries. Can go 3+ days before I need to start the generator to fully charge the battery bank.
2. Not a good fit in original fridge location. warm/cold air came in around.
A proper replacement will fit with the same space as the original, or a little carpentry work will make it fit like a glove. Again, do the job correctly and there will be NO cold/hot air intrusion.
3. greatly reduced resale value.
If it hurts resale value so bad, why are more and more manufacturers using them as original equipment? The truth is, it will actually enhance resale value.
4. Had to bungee door closed.
That is the cheap easy way to do the job. There are many ways including special latches from the many coach manufacturers that look professional and do the job. There are NO bungee cords on my doors.
Bob & Betsy(FishNFanatic) - USN Aviation Ret'd '78 & LEO Ret'd '03 & "Oath Keeper Forever"
'05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins-Pulling our '11 Silverado LT, Ex Cab 6.2L NHT 4x4, w/2010 Rzr or 01 V Star in back.
Where the wheels are stopped today
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Rich D.
New England
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Joined: 03/10/2003
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Oasisbob wrote:I have done the residential fridge thing and it was a bad idea for the following reasons.
1. Fridge did not run when traveling.
2. Not a good fit in original fridge location. warm/cold air came in around.
3. greatly reduced resale value.
4. Had to bungee door closed.
Forget running fridge on anything but shore power or generator. It will not work on batteries for long if at all. I know RV fridges are super spendy but that is your best option. Been there. Done that.
All of the above were caused by improper installation and setup.
#1. Of course it runs while traveling, that is what the inverter is for.
#2. So trim it to fit or choose a model that fits properly.
#3. Resale value is increased not reduced with a proper residential refrigerator, the right inverter and enough batteries. Don't tell me that my coach would be worth more with a Norcold than with the 22 cu ft KitchenAid running on a designated pure sine wave inverter and a bank of 10 Group 4D AGM's.
#4. Using a bungee cord to hold the door closed is ridiculous. A $10.00 Southco holding latch attached to the underside of each of the doors works automatically all of the time whether traveling or parked. You don't have to think about it or remember to latch.
#5. The freezer and refrigerator maintain a constantly cooler temperature than the absorption refrigerators. Foods last longer, the drinks are colder and the ice plentiful.
Rich D. Wanderlodge M450 LXi
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harold1946
Surprise Arizona
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I have to agree with The Texan. Sounds like Oasisbob forgot too do his research and installation properly. We are on our second rv with a residential and wouldn't go back to an absorbtion unit.
Harold and Linda
2009 CT Coachworks siena 35V
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SpinRite
Research Triangle, NC
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Rich D. wrote:... A $10.00 Southco holding latch attached to the underside of each of the doors works automatically all of the time whether traveling or parked. You don't have to think about it or remember to latch....
Hi, Rich,
Please post a picture or part number for the latch you used.
'94 Holiday Rambler Navigator
38', Cummins 8.3 300hp, Allison 3060
pushed by a 2005 Honda Element
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HeresLucy
Central Illinois
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Joined: 03/11/2004
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We had our Norcold replaced with a Whirlpool a few years ago. See some pics and read about the installation in the following link. Includes, the model, our cost, how they got it in the MH, how it is attached to the cabinet, etc.
Our Residential Fridge
Re: the latches.. they are not shown or mentioned in the link, but the installer added two latches on each door to hold it the shut when on the road.
We do not boondock so we did not add more batteries. Heck -- rarely do we even use the inverter. The generator is usually on when on the road to run the A/C.
Lucy
2006 Allegro Bus 40' DP
2005 Grand Cherokee
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