My new DC (only) Refrigerator
Well I've posted here before telling you about how my 3 way refrigerator finally gave up the ghost in my Outfitter Apex 8. I pulled the trigger on a DC only (Danfoss compressor) IsoTherm Cruise 130 refrigerator made by Indel Webasto Marine in Italy. I opted to add the $116 Power Saver Module that reports to afford 30%-50% savings in power over the 5 amp draw of the normal electronics. It attempts to do this by using more sophisticated algorithms for cooling colder while plugged into a power source and storing the cold for when you're on battery only. We'll see how that works - jury's still out.
My old Norcold N300 3-way gave me a whopping 2.7 cu. ft. of refrigerator/freezer in the small space allotted in the Apex 8 due to the pop-up/down top of the camper. The IsoTherm Cruise 130 fits in the same space (I needed 3/16" wider cutout) as the Norcold but gave me 4.6 cu. ft. of refrigerator/freezer in the same space. 60% more space in the same size overall footprint due to losing all of the propane absorption garbage behind and inside the refrigerator.
Many criticized the IsoTherm as having a much smaller freezer than the Norcold as a no-go for them. In fact, the Norcold freezer is 13-3/4" wide and 7" deep and the IsoTherm looks much smaller because it is only 8" wide but 14" deep. While the IsoTherm freezer looks smaller from the front of the refrigerator opening, it is actually slightly larger than the Norcold. Go-figure?
The old Norcold here;
And the new IsoTherm here;
Here's the opening with the Norcold removed;
I had to deal with the grey water tank vent at the upper rear of the opening as it was going to interfere with the IsoTherm compressor. Plus I had to cut the propane line out as it was no longer needed and in the way.
With that all dealt with, it was time to cut the opening 3/16" wider (to the rear of the camper) to fit the IsoTherm.
Now installing the new IsoTherm into it's wider opening and putting the trim in place.
Hook up two wires - positive and negative DC and we're off and running. One hour til the freezer was frozen solid and so quiet I cannot here the compressor running.
I'm going to run some meaningful power survey runs on the camper pad before going out but my preliminary runs show very little power usage over several hours of running. The DW loves the added space in the refer and I'm sure will overfill it just as much as she did the old refer - even with the 60% added space.
My old Norcold N300 3-way gave me a whopping 2.7 cu. ft. of refrigerator/freezer in the small space allotted in the Apex 8 due to the pop-up/down top of the camper. The IsoTherm Cruise 130 fits in the same space (I needed 3/16" wider cutout) as the Norcold but gave me 4.6 cu. ft. of refrigerator/freezer in the same space. 60% more space in the same size overall footprint due to losing all of the propane absorption garbage behind and inside the refrigerator.
Many criticized the IsoTherm as having a much smaller freezer than the Norcold as a no-go for them. In fact, the Norcold freezer is 13-3/4" wide and 7" deep and the IsoTherm looks much smaller because it is only 8" wide but 14" deep. While the IsoTherm freezer looks smaller from the front of the refrigerator opening, it is actually slightly larger than the Norcold. Go-figure?
The old Norcold here;
And the new IsoTherm here;
Here's the opening with the Norcold removed;
I had to deal with the grey water tank vent at the upper rear of the opening as it was going to interfere with the IsoTherm compressor. Plus I had to cut the propane line out as it was no longer needed and in the way.
With that all dealt with, it was time to cut the opening 3/16" wider (to the rear of the camper) to fit the IsoTherm.
Now installing the new IsoTherm into it's wider opening and putting the trim in place.
Hook up two wires - positive and negative DC and we're off and running. One hour til the freezer was frozen solid and so quiet I cannot here the compressor running.
I'm going to run some meaningful power survey runs on the camper pad before going out but my preliminary runs show very little power usage over several hours of running. The DW loves the added space in the refer and I'm sure will overfill it just as much as she did the old refer - even with the 60% added space.
