rv fridge

machunt wrote:
If one was to replace the fridge in there current rv with a residential fridge, what would have to be done to be able to cool it down before leaving on a trip? Generator, inverter?

yes. or plug the RV into electric.

machunt wrote:
i agree ,,,maybe i wasnt clear. plugging in at home is not a option. never mind why. I know i could buy a genny and plug it in at the storage lot. but my concern is while traveling what can i do to keep fridge cold?

First off, we don't know what kind of RV you have so it is difficult to make suggestions that are appropriate, however, in most cases, the easiest way is to use an inverter. Your alternator will keep your batteries charged, and the batteries can connect to the inverter which can power your residential fridge.

There may be circumstances where you don't need to power the fridge during travel, depending on where you are going and how long it will take you. The residential fridge doesn't warm up instantly, and in some cases, you can unplug at home, and plug in at the destination and everything will be ok.

At this point, it difficult to make any specific recommendations without knowing more about your rig. The above description is about as simple as it can be made to get.

i agree ,,,maybe i wasnt clear. plugging in at home is not a option. never mind why. I know i could buy a genny and plug it in at the storage lot. but my concern is while traveling what can i do to keep fridge cold?

dedmiston wrote:
A fridge needs a power source. An RV fridge can run on electric or LP. The residential fridge only runs on electricity.

Unless you have a really long extension cord, you need a power source on the road and when you’re camped. Even if you have hookups at night, you still need power in the road:

- Lots of DC power in your batteries
- An inverter to run the fridge on AC
- Solar panels to recharge the batteries while you drive

It’s all possible, but not cheap.

We have 700w of solar, a nice big inverter, and four 6v batteries. This works well for us when we boondock, but I wouldn’t want to run a residential fridge all day when we need the juice at night.

We’ve been dry camping most of this week and I’ve only run the generator about 45 minutes so far to power my wife’s tea kettle, her hair dryer, and my coffee pot sometimes. This would be totally different if we were powering a fridge too.

To the OP, this post is full of errors and misleading advice. If I were you, I would ignore it and continue on your quest for correct technical information.

A fridge needs a power source. An RV fridge can run on electric or LP. The residential fridge only runs on electricity.

Unless you have a really long extension cord, you need a power source on the road and when you’re camped. Even if you have hookups at night, you still need power in the road:

- Lots of DC power in your batteries
- An inverter to run the fridge on AC
- Solar panels to recharge the batteries while you drive

It’s all possible, but not cheap.

We have 700w of solar, a nice big inverter, and four 6v batteries. This works well for us when we boondock, but I wouldn’t want to run a residential fridge all day when we need the juice at night.

We’ve been dry camping most of this week and I’ve only run the generator about 45 minutes so far to power my wife’s tea kettle, her hair dryer, and my coffee pot sometimes. This would be totally different if we were powering a fridge too.

I would add one thing to what the Fisherman said. Check the plugs by your current fridge to see if there is an inverted socket. Should be one but not all RV are created equal. An RR actually cools down just like the house fridge, as that is what it is. Much, much faster and constant than a standard RV fridge.

Plug the trailer in at home, plug the fridge in at the back where the other came out. Now if you're boondocking then you will either have to run the genny or inverter with a couple good sized batteries.