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Old 11-20-2013, 06:22 PM   #21
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More info please....

Regarding residential fridges. How do they work if you dry-camp a lot? We like to go off the grid and I love the propane fridge for that. I am not sure that my batteries would support a residential type fridge for 4-5 days at a time...

Thanks in advance for any info....

Faith
You would need a good, robust battery bank and either solar panels or auto gen start, or both.
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Old 11-20-2013, 08:53 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by fansill View Post
More info please....

Regarding residential fridges. How do they work if you dry-camp a lot? We like to go off the grid and I love the propane fridge for that. I am not sure that my batteries would support a residential type fridge for 4-5 days at a time...

Thanks in advance for any info....

Faith
Do a search for threads on residential fridges, etc.

Here's one that I found for you to read.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f54/resid...ns-167464.html

There are many more with LOTS of information.

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Old 12-10-2013, 04:12 PM   #23
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Does this look like they have fixed the problem?

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Old 11-13-2014, 12:27 PM   #24
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There are other options, common to boating and Semi truck installations that do use a 12v compressor and refrigerant system just like home residential units. To each his own, but they do offer 12vdc/120vac dual operation for some flexibility without the need for propane.
Bought a Norcold 12 VDC compressor reefer ($1500) a couple of years ago. When I installed it, it worked great, kept ice cream rock hard and did not use a lot of current. After about a year of full-time use, it died. the compressor ran but it did not get cold. I called the local RV dealer that sold it to me and he told me the unit was disposable. the unit can not be repaired. I wish he had told me that before i bought it. The only repairs or parts available is the control card and ventilator fan. I did not believe him so after a great deal of difficulty I finally reached a regional Norcold customer support representative. He told me that the Norcold electric frigeraters are "not repairable" and suggested I buy another or a 1200 gas unit. Needless to say, you can imagine where i told him to stick another Norcold.
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Old 11-13-2014, 12:52 PM   #25
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When it's time for me to upgrade I'll find a used Nocold and put in in my RV, light the RV on fire and collect the insurance. The Nocold is like a 5 gallon gas can.
I hate to rain on the parade, but ours ran like a champ for years and worked perfectly the day we traded it in.

But, I'd heard so many Norror stories that I never left the dogs alone in the rig, without it being slaved to electric.
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Old 11-13-2014, 03:59 PM   #26
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If you don't trust your absorption fridge, I'd install one of these that will monitor the temps and shut it down before it can cause damage.
ARPrv | RV Refrigerator | RV Fridge Control | Install by Cooling Unit | RV Fire
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Old 11-25-2014, 10:04 PM   #27
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I hate to rain on the parade, but ours ran like a champ for years and worked perfectly the day we traded it in.



But, I'd heard so many Norror stories that I never left the dogs alone in the rig, without it being slaved to electric.

And you think that it won't catch on fire being plugged in? Better check around..
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Old 11-26-2014, 04:18 AM   #28
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They have indeed solved the problem... Both NORCOLD and DOMETIC make a high effiency COMPRESSOR driven fridge, not an absorption cooling unit, uses a motor driven compresssor just like a residential unit only where residential units suck power nearly as much as an Absorption unit on electric (350-400 watts) (And in some cases more), these power sippers draw closer to 35-50 watts with the door closed.

I like a fridge where opening the door (Thus turning on the light) nearly doubles the power consumption .

The problem is RV companies are not installing them.

I have an Engel chest freezer at my elbow as I type (I set my coffee on top of it) and it uses the same technology, 36 watts running, no light.
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Old 11-26-2014, 08:18 AM   #29
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They have indeed solved the problem... Both NORCOLD and DOMETIC make a high effiency COMPRESSOR driven fridge.

I don't think the major RV reefer companies have "solved the problem" that I referred to in my post above. The Norcold 12VDC reefers and probabley the Dometics as well are great performers, but they have been plauged with compressor problems right from the start. To my best knowledge that is still the situation. And what makes it worse is the fact that these compressor reefers are non-repairable. They are disposable units. The compressor and all related plumbing is available for repair projects, but the cost of the part almost equals that of a new unit, and that does not include labor. There are several marine units offered by other venders that are much more reliable, but they are not configured for RV's and most have separate compressor.

There is little doubt that Norcold and Dometic can do better, it is just that they have no financial incentive to do so. The recent move by major class A motor homes to residential units is a step in the right direction. Maybe Norcold and Dometic will get the message, or a new supplier will step up with a better product. This has recently started happening in the roof air line. Can't wait!
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Old 11-26-2014, 06:00 PM   #30
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We don't full time and probably never will but we live in the southwest and our Norcold just does not work reliably in weather over 90 degrees F. We always carry two or three empty coolers now so when it stops working we don't lose all our food. I've been following all the Norcold replacement threads and when I can afford to replace it I will. I'm tired of being told at the dealer "we could not find anything wrong". I wrote to Winnebago and asked them to stop using this poorly designed product in a otherwise great RV and got a nice but neutral thank you. Sad to see American manufacturing has come to this lowpoint. I hope everyone keeps posting about this problem maybe Winnie will wake up and help us dissatisfied owners.

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Old 11-26-2014, 06:23 PM   #31
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We don't full time and probably never will but we live in the southwest and our Norcold just does not work reliably in weather over 90 degrees F. We always carry two or three empty coolers now so when it stops working we don't lose all our food. I've been following all the Norcold replacement threads and when I can afford to replace it I will. I'm tired of being told at the dealer "we could not find anything wrong". I wrote to Winnebago and asked them to stop using this poorly designed product in a otherwise great RV and got a nice but neutral thank you. Sad to see American manufacturing has come to this lowpoint. I hope everyone keeps posting about this problem maybe Winnie will wake up and help us dissatisfied owners.

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Intersting that you mentioned "American" manufacturing, the most reliable 12VDC marine compressor refrigeration units are manufactured in Europe and have be used in marine applications for decades. Just as the Amish have made a better absorption refrigerator coil, why doesn't some inventive manufacturer design a replacement compressor and coil for Norcold/Dometic absorbsion units that would replace the OEM hazardous sytem with a quite compressor that draws less residential units and uses LED internal lighting. Frost free would be nice also if it could be turned on and off.
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Old 11-28-2014, 11:30 AM   #32
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Do you have a fan in your fridge? Mine runs so cold i rarely take it above 4
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Old 11-28-2014, 12:01 PM   #33
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Do you have a fan in your fridge? Mine runs so cold i rarely take it above 4
I have a fan on my Norcold that is controlled by the control card in the fridge. It only comes on when the ambient temperature is above 85 degrees. I also have a aftermarket fan inside the fridge that runs all the time. I seldom need to go over a five setting, makes quick ice.

I have a Norcold 840 and it works great. FOR NOW, it is 12 years old!
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