| Author | Message | ||
| Mel La Plante (Mel_4104)
Registered Member Username: Mel_4104 Post Number: 167 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.183.67.135 Rating: N/A |
i am looking at putting in a new fridge in the bus and not sure which i should go for the rv type or the home style.the one i have now is a dometic 3 way and it has not been used hardly on either the 12 volt or ac so were can i get a straight propane fridge ? what do you people use and how do you like your choice? thanks for any help. if you like just post a phone # that i can call as i am better on the phone than this key board. | ||
| john degemis (Degemis)
Registered Member Username: Degemis Post Number: 115 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 68.118.42.248  Rating: N/A |
Depends on how you use your coach. If you like to dry-dock than gas/12 volt is a good choice. I have an electric household type. I like to stay were I have hook-ups. Thou staying in the forest were there are no people or hook-ups are pretty sweet. I have a generator and large inverter so I can go a week or more without being plugged in. The RV gas fridge needs to be vented to the outside. Were the household electric does not. That gives you more freedom in were you put it. You can get a bigger unit for less money and the electric has less problems and a longer life. Gas units do not cool well when it is 100 degrees outside. I have not seen a gas unit in a high end bus. As with most of the choices you get to make, how you plan to use your coach and your budget are key factors. | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 553 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 75.91.206.5  Rating: N/A |
Even with the propane fridge, won't you need 12V to operate the thermostat? I dunno... I use a 25 yr old house fridge, wrapped with sheets of 3/4" insulation and running on an MSW inverter. Even though our vaunted experts say it will kill the fridge, it's been working almost non-stop for 7 years. It draws 3.9a @ 120V, or about 45a @ 12V (with inverter losses counted in), for around 20 minutes 4 - 6 times a day when the temps are in the 80-90° range. Not bad for a 12 cubic foot Kelvinator that cost me $75. | ||
| Cable (Fe2_o3)
Registered Member Username: Fe2_o3 Post Number: 68 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 50.46.185.136  Rating: N/A |
We have a 3 way. 12 volt on the road, 120 volt at campgrounds and propane when dry camping...Cable | ||
| Dave Walker (Chrome_dome)
Registered Member Username: Chrome_dome Post Number: 306 Registered: 3-2010 Posted From: 75.208.42.84  Rating: N/A |
We have a 3 way Norcold and has been plugged in for 2 years with time on the road with 12VDC and haven't even used the LP but it has it. Ours works great. Dave | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 719 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 72.211.128.245  Rating: N/A |
Mine is a 3-way... shore power house battery power thru the inverter Generator power... (snicker) What I want is a refer that runs on BS & hot air.... | ||
| Mike Everard (Meverard)
Registered Member Username: Meverard Post Number: 16 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 75.210.172.59  Rating: N/A |
Jack, When you find that fridge let us know. There is enough BS and hot air around here that we could probably sell back power to the utillity companies. Mike | ||
| Larry & Lynne Dixon (Larry_d)
Registered Member Username: Larry_d Post Number: 311 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 50.39.221.113  Rating: N/A |
When we got our coach it had a house fridg very large and thirteen years old replaced with small house fridg from Lows. batteries will last with everything at least sixteen to eighteen hours and four to six hours genny. Worked good on the last winter five month trip. Larry | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 1125 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.60.241 Rating: N/A |
The Amish make excellent propane fridges that will use only a gal of propane in a week,the newer rv type fridges are getting better. FWIW I have saw some Miller propane fridges in the higher end Prevost 6 hrs of generator time to charge batteries amounts to 12+ dollars with today's fuel prices | ||
| John & Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 525 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 96.42.5.35  Rating: N/A |
I have had Dometric 2 and 3 way fridges in our class A and C S&S and have a two way (propane and 110) in our bus and have had very little trouble except I had to replace the circuit board in one (about $100 I think). We dry camp quite a bit and wouldn't be able to run without the propane. John | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 721 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 72.211.128.245 Rating: N/A |
MILLER? A Refridge ! Do it have a port where Fooey could plug in his TIG Welder? Imagine... a wire feed welder/freezer, sure beats running to the house for a cold adult refresher ! Hey DAL....are you payin attention here?  | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1526 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.192.5.37  Rating: N/A |
Lifestyle is the key. A cheapo house unit that costs $200 is just fine if your lifestyle is mostly plugged in at a campsite. Underway a $175 1500W cheap inverter will have no problem. BUT ,,,if you want to go camping , away from the power hose the propane is by far the easiest to live with. Servelle is the Dometic brand built units for the Amish. No electric , no boards to burn out , and thicker insulation that lowers the fuel use (and slightly reduces the interior volume. ANY fridge usually can be helped out on its fuel use , gas or electric, with extra 2 inches of insulation glued on. FF | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 635 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 63.162.202.200  Rating: N/A |
My biggest problem with propane fridges is what John D said. They don't get cold enough when it is 90-100 degrees. Seems like they can only lower the inside temp about 40 degrees below ambient. That might be fine in Amish country but it does not work well in the south. Have had 4 propane units and lost food in all in summer. When the last one failed two days before a trip i found an apartment size non defrosting AC fridge that works great and fit in the opening. (Actually 2" shorter.) It was my plan to replace it with the Norcold when we got back but we like it. Only drawback is that when in a 30 amp campsite I have to put it on a separate cord plugged into the 20 amp outlet because it's added load will make the 30 amp trip, | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 1126 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.60.241 Rating: N/A |
I have a Norcold and live in sunny AZ never a problem for us we keep the fridge set on 34 degrees the key is sealing the front and the right venting | ||
| Dave Walker (Chrome_dome)
Registered Member Username: Chrome_dome Post Number: 309 Registered: 3-2010 Posted From: 69.99.188.70 Rating: N/A |
If you seal the front Luvrbus how do you get the beer out. [:>) Chromie | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1374 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.69.252 Rating: N/A |
We had a lot of trouble with our Dometic, but life got a lot better with the Norcold. Ours works just fine at 100 F, and it doesn't even have a fan. For what it's worth. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| Dan Clishe (Cody)
Registered Member Username: Cody Post Number: 78 Registered: 1-2008 Posted From: 206.51.120.170 Rating: N/A |
Jamie was driving down a road when she saw a fridge sitting out at the end of a driveway with a sign that said "free,, works", she tipped it into the back of her subaru wagon and drove to my place where she proudly showed me what she had found for the bus, we pulled it out and set it upright and plugged it in, it hummed to life and started cooling down, that was in 2000 and it still works great, its a household size, I think 14 or 16 cubic foot and perfect for our use. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1527 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.192.5.37 Rating: N/A |
"They don't get cold enough when it is 90-100 degrees." Even propane units require an annual service , so any lack of maint can cause under cooling. Not having a T with a drop nipple before the unit can allow dirt or excess oil to foul the fridge. Our Dometic propane unit is at least 50 years old , mounted Outside on our lobster boat , so in FL it is in the sunshine , all day. 18 days on a tank , and Ice cream is as it should be. Da Book for fridge service is FREE on line. FF | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1502 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 97.212.76.174  Rating: N/A |
 RCB | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 504 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
Mel I have an old Norcold in my collection that was made during the seventies, that uses a conventional compressor running only on 12 volts,I had it running a few years ago seemed to run well and cool exept it needs a new door seal. I donot know wether they are still being made and at what cost. Joe. | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 505 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
Mel To add to the above, when I was playing with it, I had and amp meter in series with the battery. Cant remember exactly the current draw, but seems in the 6 to 7 amp range. greymatter upstairs solidifying!!!! | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 506 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
Mel Curiosity got the better part of me, and I went to the shed and checked out the Norcold. Regular full RV size 2 door. It uses a 23v AC swing motor rated at 60 watts made by sawafuji electric which is fed from an onboard inverter which is rated at 6Amp 12V making the power consumption a total of 72 watts. It compares very favourably with most anything fed from 12V. By way of comparison, I checked our travel van with a 2.9 cuft 3way, it draws 10 amps or 120 watts for about 1/3 the size. My greymatter may not be solidifying as badly as I was afraid of seeing the correct amp draw was stuck in the back of my head. Now if some one reading this post could tell me where I might find a lower door seal for a Model DE728 this fridge might get put back into service into my next project. Seal size is 22 1/4 by 29 inches. Joe. | ||
| Mel La Plante (Mel_4104)
Registered Member Username: Mel_4104 Post Number: 168 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.183.67.135 Rating: N/A |
well i went looking at fridges, about 10 different stores and if you listen to the sales people they will poo hoo the other guys brand and by listening to each you get to figure out which might be the best, then i phoned a repair shop an they said they have no fridges newer than 6 years as all the new ones are not worth fixing and i said which brands would they be and they said all of them. then i phoned 3 repair shops across the US and they said the same thing. so now the ???? is weather to get a new one or one 6 years old. being over the 76 mark i am looking at the older model as it might out last me and is 1/2 the price with 3 year war. what say you to that???? | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1503 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 70.219.82.221 Rating: N/A |
Mel I would have to echo many of the remarks by Joe and FF, pretty much; however,I gave up on an RV fridge quite a number of years ago after many frustrations with three ways. We went to an apartment size 120, 11 cu. ft., 2 compartments; runs off an inverter, of course, but has never run the batteries down as I recall. Even in the heat of the third world summers(NM). BTW, I did install a fan next to the compressor...runs about an 1 amp, maybe a little sess, runs only when the compressor is working. Once I got the electronics (battery chargers-combiners-monitors etc.) squared away all seems to be good. I can replace the entire unit(Magic Chef) three times, maybe more, for the cost of a new RV type. 99.5% of our usage is dry camping....run the gen set an hour in the am (breakfast time)and usually that much in the evening. Got away from propane except for stove/oven...intentionally. FWIW RCB | ||
| Larry & Lynne Dixon (Larry_d)
Registered Member Username: Larry_d Post Number: 312 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 50.39.221.113 Rating: N/A |
Twere me I would by the used with the war. you can always get a new one. The first one we had was self defrost and it used a lot of juice. the Magic Chef we have is not auto defrost and works good. Larry good luck Mel | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 1129 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.60.241 Rating: N/A |
SunFrost is the best on the market for RV use 12/24/110 volts but the price is a killer good luck | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 355 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 64.40.60.30 Rating: N/A |
Hey Joe, reliableparts.com in Tukwila will have your gasket. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1504 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 70.219.82.221 Rating: N/A |
Agree, Luvr!...and thanx Larry! RCB | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 289 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
I have a Norcold 6.3 ac/dc compressor type. It's been running in my bus since 1994 and have done NOTHING to it. It helps that it uses the old fashioned R12 freon. Now I've bought the NovaKool 9.1 ac/dc using a Danfoss compressor. I like its' design since it has the compressor and condenser in the front bottom and doesn't require rear ventilation like the Norcold does. Stick with a compressor type refrigerator if you want reliability. Both the Norcold and NovaKool pull about 5 amps at 12vdc when running. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1529 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 75.58.180.30 Rating: N/A |
"Both the Norcold and NovaKool pull about 5 amps at 12vdc when running. " The question then is what percentage of the time is it operating. Unfortuniaty house fridges have lousy insulation that is so poor the insulation must be heated to remove moisture so it can function. The marine and RV stuff is better , but as someone suggested the Sun Frost is the top of the line. Best there is for electric fridges , but not bargain priced , UNLESS you consider the total cost of ownership. The fuel and noisemaker life to keep a lesser unit up and operating. Most RV fridges will require about 80- 100AH 12v over 24 hours . Not easy to produce and stuff efficiently into the house bank. FF | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 290 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
When figuring my electrical draw-the refrigerator runs about 50% of the time on a hot day. So with both my refrigerator and my chest freezer running I round up to pulling a total of 6amp/hrs. That's 144amp/hours per day just for the refrigerator. But with all the other electrical draws and the inverter, when dry camping, I run the generator in the morning to run the water heaters, toaster and coffee maker, then again for about 2 hours at night to top off the batteries. That's maybe as much as 2 gallons of Diesel a day. Good Luck, TomC |