Hi Forums,I installed a GoPower IC 3000 which is an inverter, charger and transfer switch combo unit.In testing, I first ran the TV which pulled ~1.5 A. Then I ran the Norcold 2118 refrigerator and according to the GoPower monitor, the Amp draw went from 1.5A to 48A! I let it run for about 5 minutes and it was defiantly killing the battery bank. The fuse panel is on the same circuit as the fire place but the fireplace was off.Any idea what would eat that many Amps? Larry

Shorted heating element. Try getting the refer cold then switch over to check it.

Its a new unit, the dealer said they tested it during thier PDI so I didn't turn the fridge on electric during our walk through. Unfortunately, they are 1200 miles away. (good deal, worth the drive)Thanks for the advice, I will run it on propane until cold and then switch over to electric. If it draws 40+ Amps again, then its the heating element.Thank you!

I would start looking at the 120 volt element now. My first guess is the wire(s) are going to ground where they enter the stack. It maybe possible to repair by sliding shrink tubing over them separately.Yes, try to get it repaired under warranty, but repair as a temporaru measure. Let the dealer know!Call the refer manufacturer. They may have someone local to do repair.

The fridge is under warranty, its a new unit. The difficult thing is to get a local Canadian dealer to look at it because the dealer I bought it from is in Nebraska. Camping season is just starting, the dealers service bays around here are at capacity.Sigh.... the joys of owning a new trailer...

Head Scratcher - 40A+ draw from the fridge? | Good Sam Community

30 Replies

dougrainer
Nomad
May 14, 2018
Lets make it REAL simple. The 5 amp fuse on the Norcold board for the 120 element would BLOW if you had a AC amp draw that high. Your high amp draw is DC amps. You are confused about which is which. Doug
Bobbo
Explorer II
May 14, 2018
Leeski Clan wrote:
Oh, so it is normal to draw that much? The Norcold site says 6Amps.
Norcold 2118

Let's do a little math. Norcold says the fridge pulls 6 amps. That is 120v AC. Six amps 120v AC is 720 watts. Now, you are pulling those watts from your battery bank to feed the inverter. To get 720 watts from the 12v battery takes 60 amps of 12v power. Considering the inverter is probably only about 80% efficient, that 60 amps actually becomes about 75 amps.

So, if you are measuring the 12v draw from the batteries and only reading 48 amps being pulled, you are actually doing very good.

The whole point of this is, don't run the fridge on the inverter. If you don't have 120v power to plug in to, run the fridge on gas.
time2roll
Nomad
May 14, 2018
I ran mine twice on electric (about 6 hours) when the propane did not fire when we were ready to hit the road. Fixed the propane at the destination.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 14, 2018
It should defiantly draw at least 30a.
mchero
Explorer
May 14, 2018
I never run our norcold off the inverter!
too much draw on those house batteries!
garyemunson
Explorer II
May 14, 2018
The 6 amps is the 120 volt AC value. Your inverter needs A LOT more amps than that at 12 volts DC to provide the 120 volts/6 amps A/C. Just like Leeski posted! Use the inverter to power the fridge when you are driving (engine will keep batteries charged) but as soon as you park, if you are not going to plug into shore power, switch to propane and save your batteries.
Harvard
Explorer
May 14, 2018
Leeski Clan wrote:
turbojimmy wrote:
Harvard wrote:
40 Amps at 12 VDC = 480 watts OR 4 Amps at 120VAC = 480 watts....could be true...

Yeah that's about right for a 120V heating element. Mine says it's 300 watts but I never checked the actual draw on it.

Oh, so it is normal to draw that much? The Norcold site says 6Amps.
Norcold 2118

Let it be known, electrical has been my Achilles heal ever since I blew up my lamp in Grade 7 shop class. I don't understand it well. Amps vs Watts vs Volts sounds like Charlie Browns teacher to me. :)

Yes, the Norcold spec is 6.61A at 120VAC which is 790 watts. That load at 12 VDC would be 790W / 12V = 66 DC Amps
time2roll
Nomad
May 13, 2018
I have a label at my inverter remote to switch fridge to propane only.
Truth is I about always run my fridge on propane anyway.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 13, 2018
That shounds about right for a RV fridge on electric,, That's why they don't put the `12 volt option on 'em any more

Fridge draws about 350-450 watts depending on model on AC.
MrWizard
Moderator
May 13, 2018
absorption fridge, run on heat, either a LP 'flame' or electrical 'heating element'

that web page says either 5amps at 120v aka 600watts, or 6.61amps at 120v aka 793watts, for the (2) versions of the 2118 fridge

as you found out, it takes a large 45+ amp draw (at 12v) to power the inverter for 600w to operate the fridge

it appears there is nothing wrong with your fridge, that is normal power for that fridge

i suggest you put it on LP and leave it there