Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-14-2013, 09:54 AM   #1
Winnebago Owner
 
ChiefJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Anywhere, USA
Posts: 200
Refrigerator Replacement

First, wife is very happy with the new residential Whirlpool refrigerator!!

Removed the Norcold 12 cu ft and installed a Shop Whirlpool Gold 24.6 cu ft Side-by-Side Counter-Depth Refrigerator (Stainless Steel) ENERGY STAR at Lowes.com.

Almost a seamless exchange with the exception of removing approximately 2 in of space in an overhead cabinet to make room for the wider Whirlpool refrigerator. Work was performed by http://www.cherokeefarmsrvcenter.com, Summerdale, AL, 251.989.2598, Bobby Tarver (Owner and Master RV Technician!) Bobby provides outstanding service and is extremely meticulous in all his work!

Pictures of the install https://picasaweb.google.com/1028152...eat=directlink
__________________
John & Marilyn Yoder, Sophie & Misha (Bichons)
2008 Vectra 40TD, WIT-151980 FMCA F265880
ChiefJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2013, 01:51 PM   #2
Winnie-Wise
 
garykk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 327
I'm envious
__________________
2014 Phaeton 40 QBH
2015 GMC Sierra SLT 4x4
garykk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2013, 06:06 PM   #3
Winnebago Master
 
smlranger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 2,169
Very nice. We have certainly not regretted replacing our Norcold with a residential.
__________________
'07 Country Coach Allure 470 Siskiyou Summit #31578, Cummins ISL 425; 2014 Ford F150 toad; Air Force One Toad Brake.
Glen Allen, VA; Smith Mountain Lake, VA.
smlranger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2013, 07:05 PM   #4
Winnie-Wise
 
Bug512's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Warren County, NJ
Posts: 300
Very nice, what did you have to do on the electrical side? Batteries? Inverter?
__________________
Gene & Ginger 04 Winnebago Adventurer 33V, Workhorse, 11 Subaru Forester (Toad), Blue Ox Avail, BrakeBuddy, ScanGaugeII, BatteryMINDer, KONI FSD's
Gene's Pictures Ginger's Pictures Gene's Videos
Bug512 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2013, 07:07 PM   #5
Winnebago Camper
 
rdkng88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Pike County , Ga
Posts: 5
Very Nice !!
rdkng88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 04:48 AM   #6
Winnebago Owner
 
ChiefJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Anywhere, USA
Posts: 200
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bug512 View Post
Very nice, what did you have to do on the electrical side? Batteries? Inverter?
Coach had a 2000W MSW Inverter - replaced factory batteries with 3 Group 31 Trojan AGM batteries.

Spent more on the refrigerator than we planned, but the increased capacity was worth the extra expense -- especially compared to a replacement RV type refrigerator!
__________________
John & Marilyn Yoder, Sophie & Misha (Bichons)
2008 Vectra 40TD, WIT-151980 FMCA F265880
ChiefJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 05:32 AM   #7
Winnie-Wise
 
Bug512's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Warren County, NJ
Posts: 300
Thanks for the reply. The install looks very nice. We personally would love the increased space since we cook a lot when vacationing.

Is there a way to disable the defrost mode when running off the inverter / batteries?
__________________
Gene & Ginger 04 Winnebago Adventurer 33V, Workhorse, 11 Subaru Forester (Toad), Blue Ox Avail, BrakeBuddy, ScanGaugeII, BatteryMINDer, KONI FSD's
Gene's Pictures Ginger's Pictures Gene's Videos
Bug512 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 05:40 AM   #8
Winnebago Owner
 
ChiefJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Anywhere, USA
Posts: 200
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bug512 View Post
Thanks for the reply. The install looks very nice. We personally would love the increased space since we cook a lot when vacationing.

Is there a way to disable the defrost mode when running off the inverter / batteries?
Not that I'm aware of -- ?
__________________
John & Marilyn Yoder, Sophie & Misha (Bichons)
2008 Vectra 40TD, WIT-151980 FMCA F265880
ChiefJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 07:14 AM   #9
Winnebago Master
 
smlranger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 2,169
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bug512 View Post
Thanks for the reply. The install looks very nice. We personally would love the increased space since we cook a lot when vacationing.
If you decide to go residential, there are residential units that will go thru your coach door (with the fridge doors removed), eliminating the need for removal of coach windows. We got a 18.2 cu ft Frigidaire for our coach and it fit nicely in the old Norcold 1200LRIM space with few modifications.
__________________
'07 Country Coach Allure 470 Siskiyou Summit #31578, Cummins ISL 425; 2014 Ford F150 toad; Air Force One Toad Brake.
Glen Allen, VA; Smith Mountain Lake, VA.
smlranger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 08:47 AM   #10
Winnebago Owner
 
dsbike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Bolivia, NC
Posts: 183
Very nice. Our new Journey came with a residential refrigerator. What a difference it has made from the old rv 2 door in our Coachman.
__________________
Dan Sees,
2013 Winnebago Journey 42e, 2014 Featherlite Car Hauler 3110 17.5', 2008 Mazda MX5,
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
dsbike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 08:50 AM   #11
Winnie-Wise
 
Bug512's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Warren County, NJ
Posts: 300
They all look really good...

From a little research it looks like setting your refrigerator on "vacation mode" will turn off the defrost cycle. This might be a good option when running on batteries.

Here is one statement I found.

Activate Holiday or Vacation mode if you do not open your refrigerator for days or weeks at a time. Many modern refrigerators have automatic defrosters on a timer. Defrosting improves energy efficiency by using a heater to melt away built-up ice and frost, allowing for the free flow of cold air throughout the compartment. If you are not frequently opening and closing the door, there is no need for defrost mode, which conserves energy.

I know my refrigerator at home has this feature.
__________________
Gene & Ginger 04 Winnebago Adventurer 33V, Workhorse, 11 Subaru Forester (Toad), Blue Ox Avail, BrakeBuddy, ScanGaugeII, BatteryMINDer, KONI FSD's
Gene's Pictures Ginger's Pictures Gene's Videos
Bug512 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 09:22 AM   #12
Winnebago Owner
 
ChiefJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Anywhere, USA
Posts: 200
Quote:
Originally Posted by smlranger View Post
If you decide to go residential, there are residential units that will go thru your coach door (with the fridge doors removed), eliminating the need for removal of coach windows. We got a 18.2 cu ft Frigidaire for our coach and it fit nicely in the old Norcold 1200LRIM space with few modifications.
Your install looks very clean and appears to have come from the factory with the residential unit. Agree, we looked at several that would have fit some entry doors with the fridge doors removed -- however, we wanted the maximum # cu ft that we could possibly get in a counter-depth refrigerator with ice/water in the door. IMO, the main factor to take into consideration is the depth if the refrigerator will be mounted in a slide-out. The cabinet modifications were relatively easy -- my wife regretted having to give up her drawer beneath the old refrigerator. The lost of the storage space was more than compensated by the benefits gained from the residential unit.
__________________
John & Marilyn Yoder, Sophie & Misha (Bichons)
2008 Vectra 40TD, WIT-151980 FMCA F265880
ChiefJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2013, 06:27 PM   #13
Winnie-Wise
 
Jerry J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: N Id
Posts: 284
Very nice! Pictures like that help us that are thinking of doing the change but haven't yet. Thanks for posting the pictures.
__________________
Jerry J.
2008 Winnebago Vectra 40TD
2017 Lincoln MKX
Jerry J is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2013, 10:10 AM   #14
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 10
I have heard that modified sine wave (MSW) inverters are not recommended for residential fridges and the way to go is with pure sine wave inverters, seems the refrigerant compressors like that better and run cooler. Have you noticed any changes like different compressor sounds or cooling in the fridge?
Ham_Hog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2013, 10:22 AM   #15
Winnebago Owner
 
ChiefJohn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Anywhere, USA
Posts: 200
I have seen the same comments on the internet forums and various web sites. There are also the same number of folks stating that its not a problem.
__________________
John & Marilyn Yoder, Sophie & Misha (Bichons)
2008 Vectra 40TD, WIT-151980 FMCA F265880
ChiefJohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2013, 12:09 PM   #16
Winnebago Master
 
smlranger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 2,169
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ham_Hog View Post
I have heard that modified sine wave (MSW) inverters are not recommended for residential fridges and the way to go is with pure sine wave inverters, seems the refrigerant compressors like that better and run cooler. Have you noticed any changes like different compressor sounds or cooling in the fridge?
Best to check with the manufacturer of the fridge you want. Many folks have replaced the Norcold 4 door with a Samsung RF197 which, according to Samsung, will run fine on modified sine wave.

I called Frigidaire (Electrolux) on mine and they recommended pure sine wave. I did run mine on my old msw inverter for a couple of days before installing the PSW inverter. I will say the fridge sounded different after switching to PSW....it seemed to run more quietly.
__________________
'07 Country Coach Allure 470 Siskiyou Summit #31578, Cummins ISL 425; 2014 Ford F150 toad; Air Force One Toad Brake.
Glen Allen, VA; Smith Mountain Lake, VA.
smlranger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2013, 02:46 PM   #17
Winnebago Owner
 
tigersharkjd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 113
I had the Samsung installed to replace the Norcold 1200 in my 2008 Winnebago Vectra with a MSW and it worked just great. The Samsung had about 30% more space and weighed 3lb more than the Norcold. My first wife was colder than the Norcold, but just as big a hazard.
__________________
JB and PS
2013 Winnebago Tour
tigersharkjd is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
refrigerator, replacement


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Refrigerator replacement and Exterior Access Panel Old Grape Heating, Cooling and Appliances 6 10-25-2016 06:14 PM
Refrigerator Replacement Wetsnail Heating, Cooling and Appliances 8 12-13-2014 05:20 AM
Refrigerator Door Alarm wlf00 General Maintenance and Repair 11 01-05-2009 05:13 AM
Inverter and Refrigerator BigTrace Heating, Cooling and Appliances 12 07-19-2006 07:38 AM
Norcold refrigerator bobpie Heating, Cooling and Appliances 12 04-27-2006 01:03 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.