dry camping with residential refrigerators

Horizon170 wrote:

BFL13 wrote:
http://truckcamperadventure.com/2016/02/the-danfoss-compessor-refrigerator-pros-cons-and-a-few-tips/

How did you do that?
Marvin

Use the edit thingy with the globe and binoculars, and right click your paste.

BFL13 wrote:
http://truckcamperadventure.com/2016/02/the-danfoss-compessor-refrigerator-pros-cons-and-a-few-tips/

How did you do that?
Marvin

And back to insulation that IS relevant to ANY fridge. I pulled the 1200 out several years ago and lined the entire cabinet with thick foil faced auto fire wall insulation. I chose this over foam core or foil foam board because its essentially fire proof. When the OEM cooling unit was in there that was a big deal.

BFL13 wrote:
Ha! mchero, you spoke too soon. It has only remained polite because we peons who do not have zillion dollar MHs know our places. :)

Poor Roy, with his miserable pop-up is an "Untouchable" while the MH "Brahmins" are the only ones who have a clue.

I only have a 5er and a TC, so I must be of a lower caste, but at least I am higher up than Roy :)

In my next life, I hope to have one of those Prevost conversions and be counted in as a real person.

I did indeed spoke too soon BFL

i want to apologize toQtla9111, the off topic remark was uncalled for. That should be left to the fine admins. here.

Good points on both sides.

normally one doesn't see dry camping and residential refrig used in the same sentence.

energy density of propane is so much greater than lead acid batteries, that propane fridge has big advantages.

yes you can overcome issues with residential fridge, but it isn't easy or inexpensive.

But then I do run a small dorm fridge in my smaller trailer with a pair of GC. but unlike the big trailer where solar is more than enough for the trailer and it's use, the dorm fridge in the small trailer is enough that it needs the generator every few days even with a couple of portable solar panels that give the big trailer all the power we need

Ha! mchero, you spoke too soon. It has only remained polite because we peons who do not have zillion dollar MHs know our places. :)

Poor Roy, with his miserable pop-up is an "Untouchable" while the MH "Brahmins" are the only ones who have a clue.

I only have a 5er and a TC, so I must be of a lower caste, but at least I am higher up than Roy :)

In my next life, I hope to have one of those Prevost conversions and be counted in as a real person.

mchero wrote:
Topic is residential vs propane.

excusez moi

I have to read Mexicowander's posts about 6 times to understand what he is saying!LOL

Yes, those fridges are nice and VERY efficient but to replace my Norcold I would be looking at 3,200.00 for the DC model.

Also,LiPo batteries are nice but I dont have four to six thousand to drop.

Topic is residential vs propane.

Mexicowanderer mentioned insulation. If you look at true solar refrigerators, you'll see that they have 4" to 5" of insulation. That is key. The fridge is running to keep things cool because they get warm. Insulation, just like in a house, is key.

Sun Frost solar refrigerators are not cheap but the cost can be offset by less batteries and less solar.

WOW

Im VERY impressed that 4 pages of posts and it did not turn into battleground! This has always been a VERY hot topic. Nice to see that it has calmed down.

I'm going to post MY experience.

Deb and I had a 93 Pace Arrow Diesel for 12 years. No slides, Dometic propane fridge. No issues in 12 years. After the kids left we decided to fulltime so sold everything and upgraded the MoHo. Plenty of posts on the subject.

Purchased a used 07 Fleetwood Discovery 39V with full wall slide. Had a Norcold 4 door with, you guessed it, cooked cooling unit.

We wanted to boondock, NO RV PARKS

Purchased an Amish cooling unit for 1200 and installed ourselves on a Sunday afternoon.

With the full wall slide we have AMPLE room for solar.

I have zero shade on flat panels from 7am to 5pm if nose pointed north or south. (picture available upon request)

Purchased 4 high voltage panels for about 1K after CA tax
$600 for a Midnight solar classic charge controller
Laid panels FLAT on roof, no tilting for us thanks.

4 Interstate 6v deep cycle batteries
Xantrex Freedom inverter/converter
Onan 7500 QUIET Diesel

We are out here in Quartsite AZ offgrid for a month straight.

We ONLY run generator each evening for 2 hours, long enough to get batteries into float (charged)

During generator run we might do one, some or all of the following;

Make 60 gallon water bladder run 5 minute fill, 20 minute pump into rig with 120v pump to pass thru whole house filter.

Run one or two loads of clothes, NO DRY in splendide, Hang to dry.

Convection Microwave bake

Vacuum rig

In the AM, we wait till about 9:00AM so that we can run coffee pot w/o genset. We can run both roof fans, a box fan and TV (Dish STB) all day

Again ONLY run QUIET Diesel 2hrs/night.

All the comforts of home, Yes, solid Ice Cream if put on floor of freezer.

After a month of above

50.00 in Diesel at 2.30/gallon
53.00 in Propane at 2.20/gallon

Note, Before using the Splendide for clothes we would run to Laundromat once/week at about 20.00/visit

We paid $170.00 for a Long Term Visitor Area permit that gives us access to trash/water/dump station.

Onan Quiet Diesel is VERY efficient with Diesel because its variable RPM.

As long at the Norcold has both condenser fans running on the backside it keeps it's temp even at 100 deg. although close when temps are at 100+

2 years with Norcold and only issue is replacement of two condenser fans under warranty from rvcoolingunits.com


Thanks