| Author | Message | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A |
OK, while strolling the aisles of my local home despot, there is a RV-size "Magic-Chef" 'fridge for three bills. It takes, get this, 130w to operate. OK guys tell me why I shouldn't get one of these unstead of paying a grand or more for an RV fridge. Gary | ||
| Dug (66.82.9.20) Rating: N/A |
That's exactly what we use. I purchased a GE fridge a couple of years ago. Works great. It's around 10 cu. ft. The only downside is no 12v or lp, but we have a genset or inverter to run off of. Dug | ||
| Craig Smith (Craigs) (65.202.123.254)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Gary, That's the same one I have. Bought it last June. It worked great during our vacation. Craig S. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A |
Yeah, seems too good to be true. I also have a cheapo magic chef range on my boat. four burners, overn big enough for a Turkey, cost about 20% (Or less) what a force 10 range would cost. If it rusts out (Hasn't yet) I'll throw it away and get another one. I didn't realize they could make an actual refer that only consumed 130w. I could run it on my inverter for chrissakes. Gary | ||
| John Rigby (65.112.227.94)
Rating: N/A |
We have one in our delapidated old 4104. Works great. Just remember not to leave stuff in if the bus is not plugged in. John | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.144.174) Rating: N/A |
yeah...& leave the door open if not plugged in...that is what I'm useing...I have two 'screw on' milk jugs in the freezer (full of water)...when I unplug...am still good for a day or so...then ...either rent a lot& plug in...or...been wondering about dry ice they sell at wal-mart...how much should I buy & will it hurt the freezer compartment of my 300 fridge | ||
| madbrit (67.136.119.249) Rating: N/A |
Does someone have the actual model number for this fridge, so I can check my local HD has it in stock before I drive 30 miles each way. Thanks. Peter. | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.144.174) Rating: N/A |
I bouught mine at sears..it 'just' fits under my package trays...just like it was made for it.. | ||
| Lee Bradley (140.178.68.172)
Rating: N/A |
Two Dogs, About 25 pounds will last 3 or 4 days depending on load. Insulation, amount of food, door openings, temperature, etc.. Get a single block or stack smaller blocks, dry ice sublimates from the surface. | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.144.174) Rating: N/A |
damn...it's a dollar a pound...I know if you get too much It blows -up stuff... | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.250.2.76)
Rating: N/A |
"Does someone have the actual model number for this fridge..." I'd look it up on the HD Webpage, if it weren't the most useless page in the world. I search for Magic chef and get an article about deep frying turkeys. I looked around and can't find it--I looked around a year ago at a Sanyo that looked like this one only a bit larger, can't remember the power usage tho-- If I get back there soon, I'll get the M/N. I have three home depots within three miles of me, I'd give you one if I could. Gary | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.155.2.212)
Rating: N/A |
Here's a cool thing to do with dry ice pellets or similar chunk off a block. Put it in an empty 2 liter plastic soda bottle and put the cap back on tight. Wait a few minutes and the thing will blow itself to smithereens. Can't even find the cap. One hell of a bang.  Do we ever grow up? Jim | ||
| TWO DOGS (65.177.144.174) Rating: N/A |
no...don't guess we do...I've done that...years ago....know a fellow that was doing it at work a few months back...got tackeled,arrested,seems 9/11 kinda spooked people | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
...and CO2 in soda bottles has been also considered a bomb by the FBI when put in a mailbox! These days it may seem funny but "the man" takes anything that goes boom pretty seriously. Don't want to go there.... | ||
| TWO DOGS (63.185.64.194) Rating: N/A |
yeah...people are so narrow minded...even a Texas Telegram is considered a 'no to do'.... (a rattlesnake in a mailbox) | ||
| Lin (66.245.218.101) Rating: N/A |
We just replaced our old 120volt fridge with another from Sears. There are a lot of them around. They are either from Asia or Europe and not made here. I think the one we got from Sears is made by Sanyo. The one we threw away was Czech. We bought that one used and it still laster a bunch of years. The Sears delivery people removed the old one from the bus and put the new one in its place. I did, of course have it unbolted and the runway clear. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.250.2.76)
Rating: N/A |
So no reason why this is a no-no? Now that multi-kilowat inverters are so common, what's the reasoning to go with the amonia-based RV fridges? there's another question--Is there any reason why the modified sine-wave inverters would cause problems? Gary | ||
| jimmci9 (209.240.205.68) Rating: N/A |
i bought a "ewave" brand from home depot last yr... 12 cu ft... $313 out the door....i was told that this is their "house brand"... if it had been 1/2" wider it would'nt have fit thru the door on my HR motorhome... i'm very happy with it... the only thing i don't like is how shallow and un-adjustable the shelves are... other models ive seen have really adjustable shelves... for the $$$, i like it better than the alternatives... | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.211.4)
Rating: N/A |
Hello Gary. I'm temporarily using an ancient bar fridge off my inverter, powered temporarily by 4 8D start batteries. Two bus rallies in August, from Friday arriving, to Sunday morning leaving, 12.5v showing on digital voltmeter before leaving. I was a bachelor for both weekends, so very limited opening, a diminishing 24 cans of beer inside and some milk. Windows open on the coach, lots of air circulation around the coils on the back and a pleasant 70's sort of temperature outside, so not too much stress on it's antiquated insulation or duty cycle. I'll be moving our current household fridge into the coach and buying a new fridge for the house (scoring big points with HER. Take this idea and use it boys, we need to stick together! House fridge sees way more duty than the bus one, buy new for the house, use old one in the bus, she gets something new, you get the left overs, you get the drift...?) My style of camping (still working, can't stay still too long) will support a periodic battery recharge over the road, or using the yet to be acquired "quietest generator install known to mankind". And SHE doesn't want any gas, so that option was over before it needed to be thought about. Remember boys, if SHE isn't happy, no one will be.... happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Michael Lewis (67.160.12.18)
Rating: N/A |
Glad to hear that others have found this HD bargain. We looked at them for several weeks before finding a "floor model" with a small dent where it will never be seen. $150 out the door and the wife loves it. I think they all like new appliances that have never had other peoples stuff in them. When she's happy.... Michael | ||
| CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.64) Rating: N/A |
DOGS I used to travel with Dry Ice in the Ice chest. They would fill it about 1/4 with the dry ice but they told me to wrap it up in saran wrap, it makes it last longer. The Ice chest is not that great for insulation but if I recall, the dry ice would last about 2 days. Best part about Dry ice was when it melted away, no water to worry about. Did tend to really freeze things up though if it got too close. "Thinking the ice chest idea was ok, for a beginning and Dry ice was a good choice too" cd | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.155.113.136)
Rating: N/A |
Lowe's carries a Roper/Whirlpool 14 cu.ft. fridge that I have. Even has an icemaker. Love it compared to the Norcolds I had in the past. The only disadvantage of a house fridge is the heat it adds to the interior. Not a big deal, but noticible when I walk by it. Jim | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A |
So-- would you reccommend a small fan\vent to fridge enclosure? Would probably help the fridge to it's job too. Gary | ||
| Marc Bourget (209.142.38.81) Rating: N/A |
Jim, As a lead-in to my point, house units will vent equipment/exhaust heat to the living area where the house HVAC is expected take care of it. The RV units are usually described as having a rear venting system. Why not investigate fabricating a baffle/system that would direct the heat into the bays or overboard? Yesterday, while stripping the MCI-9 I noticed that I had 3- 4' to 5" wasp nests in the fresh air intake, pretty much blocked airflow through the intake. The drilled field in the outer skin would seem to make a nice Fridge exhaust were it in the right position! Onward and Upward Marc Bourget | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.141.110.36)
Rating: N/A |
Like I said, its no big deal. Just noticible. Certainly not worth doing anything about. Everyone; just put the fridge in and don't worry about this. Jim | ||
| mel4104 (216.148.246.70) Rating: N/A |
ok one more time does any one have a # for these fridges with 135 wat requirementand what is the make and # of those that you people like. and as to co2to a outing just take a co2 fire ex. and lift the lid of your cooler and give it a short blast and close the lid , works great to keep the beer cool. | ||
| TIM HOSKINSON (216.96.110.130)
Rating: N/A |
We use a 120 volt ref. in our 4104 I installed a 8d battery that runs a small mod. sine wave inverter just for the ref. I connected the thermostat leads of the ref. to power switch of the inverter so the inverter would not run the fan or be in stand by while ref. was not in need of power. This increases bat. life we get depending on ambient temp. approx. 3 days befor we need to run the gen. to charge up the bat. | ||
| John that newguy (199.232.244.103) Rating: N/A |
Tim... Can you give some detailed particulars? What's the power consumption of the fridge; The power capacity of the inverter, and especially, some detail instruction regarding the thermostat wiring? Sounds good, Tim! | ||
| TIM HOSKINSON (216.96.110.112)
Rating: N/A |
Hi John the ref. I used was a small one that only required 95 watts. The inverter was a 800watt coleman. I got the inverter for $72 on e bay so I went with 800watt for plenty of inrush cushion. The small refrigerators of 150 watt or less have a thermostat that is directly in series with the compressor. These thermostat wires can easily be identified by tracing the two wires that go into the back of the ref. box its self. These wires are disconnected and the wire from the plug is connected directly to the compressor. the two thermostat wires are then run to the inverter power switch. when the thermostat is turned up from off to the number set you desire the inverter comes on and powers up the ref. When the ref. reaches the temp. you set it for the inverter is shut off and thus the ref. This system can also be modified with some simple relays to automatically convert the ref. back to normal set up when pluged into a shore lead. For ref. with thermal spit phase start circuts ( those with out start capacitors) a start capacitor must be added.If you would like any further info. please feel free to give a call thanks. Tim 740-404-0853 | ||
| John that newguy (199.232.244.9) Rating: N/A |
Thanks Tim! I'll hang on to your number for future reference. | ||
| Michael Lewis (67.160.12.18)
Rating: N/A |
For those who asked for the model numbers on the Magic Chef refrigerator available at HD, they are as follows: Model MCBR 1000W (I guess the "W" is for white. HD said they were not stocked in other colors, although I seem to remember a stainless/black front model for considerably more money. Specs: 110V, 60 cycle, 130W, 1.3A, and uses 134a Freon. The unit is 24" wide X 26" deep and stands 60" high. Magic Chef was even kind enough to put a wiring diagram on the side. It weighs 141 Lbs and fits straight thru the front door on our MC9. Made in China. We have had ours running in the bus for a month or so and it seems to work well. We particularly like that the door has a nice rack for soft (or hard) drink cans. Seems we always were met by a loose can of soda when opening the door on previous rigs. The door will also hold a standard 1/2 gallon container of milk, something that also fell out of the door on a previous rig, saturating the carpet. Momma's happy! Michael | ||
| TIM HOSKINSON (216.96.110.135)
Rating: N/A |
One added note of caution when using electric refrigerators in rvs. The compressors in these units are mounted on rubber feet in an effort to reduce compressor noise. In vehicles with air ride it usally is not to big of consern but as I am into buses from the antique end of things the spring ride people may consider stiffening the rubber mounts as harsh vibration will cause the freon lines to crack where they inter the compressor. This failure doesn't take long to present it's self and is disappionting when you loose a relatively new refrigerator. | ||
| Bob Compton (Allboyzoo) (198.81.26.45)
Rating: N/A |
Just checked our local HD and they do have a stainless looking model for $299.00. The white one was $279.oo | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.132.217.247)
Rating: N/A |
For Michael and others: use a "cafe" curtain rod to retain stuff in the fridge and cabinets. This is the one that is two parts with a spring and rubber pads on the ends. Adjust to a snug spring fit and never worry about opening a door... unless you see the rod on the kitchen counter... Jim |