Residential Refrigerator
The fifth wheel we like comes with a residential refrigerator that uses electricity only. We dry camp and would need to have it switched to a 2 way one. Has anyone had this done?
Forum Discussion
8 Replies
- Camping off-grid here and having only a 120v fridge is a nail- biter for if there is enough solar to keep it all going.
Not a hope on the Wet Coast from October to April. Dubious from April to October too (BTDT). OTOH we don't need air conditioning at all. So inverter is fine if you also have a generator when there isn't enough solar.
All so different if you camp off-grid in Death Valley. Scenario is everything! - Residential fridge doesn't continuously draw power.
- Residential Fridges draw 100-200 watts now days if you turn off the enviormental switch (heater) and ice maker. The Defrost cycle (A heater) may draw more (do not know you'd have to ask)
10 hours that's 200 amp hours so 2 pair of GC-2 is minimum needed along with a generator running the other 14 hours a day.
3 or 4 pair might be better
NOTE this is if you plan to use the Residential unit
Me.. I burn propane. Lucyc858 wrote:
The fifth wheel we like comes with a residential refrigerator that uses electricity only. We dry camp and would need to have it switched to a 2 way one. Has anyone had this done?
Hmmm .... can it be ordered with a 2-way propane refrigerator instead ... even if you're willing to spend more for the option?
(We love our 2-way Norcold refrigerator so as to not have to go the battery/inverter/solar route in order to insure that no food ever spoils when drycamping and to insure that we get no extra leaks from a whole bunch of extra screw holes in our RV roof.)- Thank you for the responses. I think we will pass on a new fifth wheel for now.
- to switch means running a new propane line from somewhere else in the system
to that location, you need thru the roof or wall venting for heat from the fridge
and an access hatch thru the exterior wall, both for venting fresh air in and access for cleaning etc..
i would stay with the residential fridge - Have you considered an inverter? Cheaper than changing a fridge. With the right number of batteries and an adequate solar system there won’t be an issue...backup generator too.
