First TT owner... have a few questions!
Well, I first thinking to start a few thread to ask a few question in specific section of this forum, then I decided to combine all my small questions/concern into a single thread since it's my first ...
Forum Discussion
Francesca Knowles wrote:
My Totally Non-Techie Advice is to leave the original wiring alone. Don't want to mess anything up, such as the existing 12v feed to the fridge that powers the thermostat when on propane.
Just feed from the inverter to your 120v system. The fridge will operate off the 120v outlet it's already plugged into.
Well I understand your point, but I'm not more comfortable messing with the electrical panel of the RV to find a way to connect the inverter to the 120V input of the panel. Moreover I don't want to use a 4000W inverter that can feed the entire panel (30 amps @ 120 volts). I just want to feed the fridge and that's it! I don't want to feed the microwave and the air conditioning...
If the Norcold N302 is similar to my previous Dometic RM2193 fridge in my pop-ups, the circuits for 12V, 120V and gas are completely separated and disconnecting the 120V is easy as disconnecting your toaster out of your wall socket in your house. Since the Dometic fridge use a household 120V plug to connect the the 120V RV circuit. But maybe the Norcold is different, I didn't check yet... if it's similar to the Dometic, I'm gonna simply disconnect the 120V plug from the RV circuit and plug it into the 12V inverter output for now and eventually I'm gonna install a rotary AC switch (A+B) between the fridge plug and the RV 120V circuit to switch from RV circuit to the 12V inverter circuit. IMO it's not an actual modification of the RV wiring, it's just an additional connection between the fridge's plug and the RV circuit.
I'm working as IT manager for 15 years ago, messing with network, phone and alarm wiring, I am pretty much comfortable with RV wiring too since I'm installing aftermarket sound system, alarm and remote start into cars as side job. :W
My only concern is about the actual power drain of the fridge through the inverter onto the marine battery and/or the towing vehicle battery when hooked up together. I'm not comfortable with those calculation yet. I'm not sure how long will last the battery when dry camping or when towing vehicle is stop somewhere and I don't know how to estime this time since I don't know how to measure it. Only thing I know is the Norcold fridge drain 1.5 amps @ 120V based on Norcold website description. That's all.
