110v Residential fridge install

Almot wrote:
Gdetrailer, the only "bad" thing about residential fridge is - too big :)...
Doesn't fit in most trailers (unless you go for really small unit like 4.5 cf), and tempts you to load more food, thus increasing energy draw.

My LP fridge "costs" me 12 AH per 24 hrs. Plus propane, but this is a different story. 12 AH is nothing, my solar will harvest that much in low overcast and rain.

Residential fridges only "begin" from 40-something AH - compact dorm models, and 10cf baby will draw upwards of 70 AH a day, including AC-DC conversion loss. I agree that inverter idling can be "kind off" ignored as it is a wash with 12-15 AH of LP fridge. You can't really ignore it, because you do have it. Yes, this is only 70 AH more than 12 AH of LP fridge. But you do have this 12+70=82 AH or 85 AH draw. Plus, other loads - at least 20 AH, for a minimalist. Total 100-105 AH a day. This is - for a minimalist, otherwise it will be 140 AH or more. If you are OK with almost-daily generator run, this doesn't matter. I would not intentionally replace my LP fridge with 120V if this would mean daily generator. To me this would defeat the very purpose of escaping big city with all the noise and fumes. This is the difference that 70 AH makes - generator or no generator.

Weekend warrior with 300+ battery bank could still make it, before heading home, but most of them don't carry that much battery.

Now, to get 100 AH or more from solar, any time of year, AND to get all those AH in slow and stubborn batteries, you need to camp in some place other than PNW, and to have at least 450-500W flat solar. Don't know how many people here have 500W solar. Mr. Wizard in SoCal has ~400W and res fridge, if memory serves me well. SMK has 700W and LP fridge. Westend has 235W and a small res fridge, he is - I think - in some sunny latitudes, and still, this 235W (and batteries) I'm sure are working hard, to feed the dorm fridge. I have 500W solar, and a likely scenario for when my (not old yet) LP fridge kicks the bucket, will be getting another 250W, and a compressor fridge. To have total 750W - and this is for places a bit sunnier than PNW.

Most users that are getting residential fridges, don't have any solar, and wouldn't know where to start. So they run generators more than before.

For an on-grid user - yes, 120V fridge, no doubt.

There are a number of smaller residential fridges that are very close in dimensions to RV fridges. Magic Chef/Visanni, Danby and Summit offer models that may fit with little or no cabinet mods.

As far as off grid use goes, I will likely be running my genny for two hours a day until I add solar. I am looking at adding 500-600 watts when budget allows.

I don't generally go camping in the rain. East of the Cascades is plenty sunny and this time of year I start looking South. We are shooting for Mazatlan this year. I think we will get by ok without grid power when we need to.