Residential Refrigerator
I'm looking at 5er that has a residential refrigerator with two batteries and 1000 watt inverter. I have a couple questions that were answered by the dealer but now I looking for closer to real world...
Forum Discussion
Veebyes wrote:
I have had one Dometic side by side door fail. Have a 4 door now. A residential such as the Samsung is under consideration for if/when the current Dometic fails.
It comes down to available battery bank amperage & the ability to replace that amperage. Having a high output alternator in the truck helps but that can be quickly lost through VD (voltage drop) due to the long run from alternator to trailer battery bank & thin charge wire to the trailer. Think single lane country road vs multi lane.
The truck may be able to maintain battery voltage with the inverter on & fridge running but any charging is likely to be slow. No big deal if you are running from one CG with power to another.
The serious consideration comes in if you are people who like to do multi day dry camping spells such as various festivals where it is dry camping. solar would help but will be slow. Useless if in the trees.
A genny & high output inverter/charger connected to a large battery bank will be the solution. 2 group 24 12V batterys or 2 6V GC won't get very far what with all of the other 12V loads drawing on them besides the fridge.
Nobody likes to listen to a genny run for hours but what is taken out of a battery bank must be put back in.
My biggest concern about a residential fridge, being an extensive traveler, is all of the bouncing around it will get in the RV. Houses don't move.
To keep the fridge running whole the compressor is running will take about 15 amps DC at 13 volts or so. But it only runs about a third of the time. But you are right. Make sure you have the maximum gauge possible for the charge line from the truck to the fifth.
Happy trails
