Residential Fridge & Residential AC ??
We are planning to full time in a 5th wheel. In researching 5th wheels suitable for full time living, I notice some give the option of a residential fridge. If given the choice I think I would lean t...
Forum Discussion
We have a 120v- only small fridge (3.2 cu ft) in the truck camper and run it from inverter/battery bank (500AH bank). That is big in a TC! It draws about 5 amps when on and is "on" 2/3 to 3/4 the time in 24 hrs. So scale up for your size fridge in the big 5er.
The 230w solar we have for the TC is enough to replace the fridge AH while the batts run down with the other 12v stuff, so we can go a week off-grid before the batts get to 50% and need a recharge (at home by then) We could do the same thing with no 120v fridge and no solar to put that in perspective)
It is a big nail-biter for whether the sun will come out enough to replace those fridge AH every day. Any cloudy day and you get behind and can't catch up. Need generator (and a big amp fast charger) on stand-by, or no hope!
So imagine full-timing with no generator and a residential fridge! The sun does not shine every day all year. You can fill the roof with solar and you can get by better, but you absolutely must have a generator if you have a 120v-only "res" fridge!!!!! Just ask Mr Wiz here :)
The 230w solar we have for the TC is enough to replace the fridge AH while the batts run down with the other 12v stuff, so we can go a week off-grid before the batts get to 50% and need a recharge (at home by then) We could do the same thing with no 120v fridge and no solar to put that in perspective)
It is a big nail-biter for whether the sun will come out enough to replace those fridge AH every day. Any cloudy day and you get behind and can't catch up. Need generator (and a big amp fast charger) on stand-by, or no hope!
So imagine full-timing with no generator and a residential fridge! The sun does not shine every day all year. You can fill the roof with solar and you can get by better, but you absolutely must have a generator if you have a 120v-only "res" fridge!!!!! Just ask Mr Wiz here :)
