Residentail refrigerators in motorhomes

Running the gen to me is not a big issue,I would guess your one of those people who dont open the awning & never use the oven,to each his own.

ClassAGeek wrote:
I am always fascinated by these threads...

"We ONLY need to run the generator 4 hours a day since adding a residential fridge".

Isn't this a major disadvantage?

Full Disclosure: After 5 years of camping we finally past 10 hours on the generator this summer. That's 10 hours lifetime.

Having to run a generator daily would be enough for me to quit camping altogether. Am I the only one?

Yes. ;)

Oh and one more comment on generators, if you are boondocking all night and jst start the engine to the coach, you are bulk charging your batteries with the alternator. It is not designed for that and it will shorten its life. So, I turn on the generator make coffee and get on the road with the battery charger bulk charging. Not the alternator. My alternator is over 800 bucks to replace so I want to treat it well.

I use my generator to power my AC on the road to be comfy boondocking too. I have 3800 hours on it. Tey were made to run not sit. I do nt need it to power the fridge rather the microwave and coffee pot and hair dryer and yes the washing machine too.

I added the Samsung RF197 and did a few extra things. I added a second inverter (Magnum 600 msw) that only powers the refer. I also added two more batteries, bringing my total to six house batteries. Even with the extra inverter and batteries, my total install cost (doing it myself) came to $2000.00. This is still more than a $1000.00 less than a new Norcold and probably the best upgrade I've done to my coach.

We had ice cream this weekend that was so hard, I had to soften it in the microwave. The only issue we have had is that now that we have 18 cubic feet of space, everyone wants to store the food they can't fit in ours.

Warranty?

ClassAGeek wrote:
I am always fascinated by these threads...

"We ONLY need to run the generator 4 hours a day since adding a residential fridge".

Isn't this a major disadvantage?

Full Disclosure: After 5 years of camping we finally past 10 hours on the generator this summer. That's 10 hours lifetime.

Having to run a generator daily would be enough for me to quit camping altogether. Am I the only one?

That may be the case for some. Those of us who have made the conversion using a proper power budget approach DO NOT in any way shape or form need to run our generator four hours a day. Before we installed our residential fridge we would run our generator during food prep times for microwave, toaster or coffee maker use. The inverters that power these high current items pull lots of power from the battery bank. Since the install of our residential fridge we run our generator about the same. If we don't use those high current items we can dry camp indefinitely using solar and battery power. A single 160 watt solar panel provides enough power to power a residential fridge. Unlike the other appliances a fridge is not a high current item.

To each his own.

ClassAGeek wrote:
I am always fascinated by these threads...

"We ONLY need to run the generator 4 hours a day since adding a residential fridge".

Isn't this a major disadvantage?

Full Disclosure: After 5 years of camping we finally past 10 hours on the generator this summer. That's 10 hours lifetime.

Having to run a generator daily would be enough for me to quit camping altogether. Am I the only one?

i've just finished the samsung flip and thinking i may be able to keep up without adding to generator usage.

with 680 watts of solar and 6 t105's.

we'll see.

don

ps: you should exercise your generator more often.

I am always fascinated by these threads...

"We ONLY need to run the generator 4 hours a day since adding a residential fridge".

Isn't this a major disadvantage?

Full Disclosure: After 5 years of camping we finally past 10 hours on the generator this summer. That's 10 hours lifetime.

Having to run a generator daily would be enough for me to quit camping altogether. Am I the only one?

How about warranty on the Whirlpool once you tell them it is going on a motor home. Does it void? I know some will not warranty if the refrigerator is going to be installed on a coach.