residential refrigerator with inverter?
I just bought a 2018 Salem 32BHI it's got a whirlpool residential refrigerator with an inverter. does anyone have a setup like this? how does it work?
Forum Discussion
- Always have an electric hookup or come up with some way to keep the batteries charged.
- Whenever you are not connected to shore power, the INVERTER is using your TT battery to power the fridge. If you are travelling a couple hours from home to a campground, its keeping your reefer cold while you travel, and when you plug in, the CONVERTER recharges the battery.
Doing this is cheaper for the manufacturer, gives you a bigger fridge interior in the same space. but limitsyou on how long you can go without an outside source for recharging your batteries.
You can add solar panels to recharge the batteries and evenyually make the rig self sufficient. - This a very popular configuration on many 5ers !
Hopefully Salem install a quality pure sine wave inverter and at least TWO 6V true deep discharge batteries. I also hope there is some kind of lock on the doors so they can not open when bouncing down the road.
I don't own a rig like that, but to preserve battery power, I would turn the refrigerator off while driving. If the door is not opened it will be fine for 12 hours or more. Power from the tow vehicle will keep the inverter running but will NOT recharge your batteries. kerrlakeRoo wrote:
Whenever you are not connected to shore power, the INVERTER is using your TT battery to power the fridge. If you are travelling a couple hours from home to a campground, its keeping your reefer cold while you travel, and when you plug in, the CONVERTER recharges the battery.
Doing this is cheaper for the manufacturer, gives you a bigger fridge interior in the same space. but limitsyou on how long you can go without an outside source for recharging your batteries.
You can add solar panels to recharge the batteries and evenyually make the rig self sufficient.
x2 on this
we bought a 2018 wildwood tt about a year ago. it came with an inverter and probably same fridge as yours.
we plug our 30amp cord into a 110 outlet adapter which is on a 20amp breaker at home.
the inverter charges the 2 12volt deep cycle batteries while plugged in.
we don't dry camp or boondock so 2 12volts deep cycle batteries works fine for us. if we did dry camp i would go with 2 6volt setup
its very nice to have the fridge running a day ahead of leaving home, load the fridge the night before, keeps things nice and cold the whole trip. on longer trips we will stop for lunch, wife will go in and make sandwiches etc.
last summer i tested how long the 2 batteries would run fridge in 95 degree temps.
went 2 days with no other loads on them except parasitic draws (co detector, etc.) and never got below 50 percent charge. best not to draw rechargeable batteries down below 50 percent.
our inverter charges batteries automatically when plugged into shore power regardless if it is turned on. one important note is to always remember to turn inverter on before leaving home or campground for fridge to run. propane fridges are great for boondocking but since we don't, i love the efficiency and size of the new rv residential fridges.- IF you intend to dry camp you should consider adding to battery capacity and figure out how to recharge those batteries. Solar and large battery bank is a route that some go.
ksg5000 wrote:
IF you intend to dry camp you should consider adding to battery capacity and figure out how to recharge those batteries. Solar and large battery bank is a route that some go.
Yes. the trailer also comes with a solar kit (charge controller, wiring, etc) just have to add the panel and batteries.sgfrye wrote:
kerrlakeRoo wrote:
Whenever you are not connected to shore power, the INVERTER is using your TT battery to power the fridge. If you are travelling a couple hours from home to a campground, its keeping your reefer cold while you travel, and when you plug in, the CONVERTER recharges the battery.
Doing this is cheaper for the manufacturer, gives you a bigger fridge interior in the same space. but limitsyou on how long you can go without an outside source for recharging your batteries.
You can add solar panels to recharge the batteries and evenyually make the rig self sufficient.
x2 on this
we bought a 2018 wildwood tt about a year ago. it came with an inverter and probably same fridge as yours.
we plug our 30amp cord into a 110 outlet adapter which is on a 20amp breaker at home.
the inverter charges the 2 12volt deep cycle batteries while plugged in.
we don't dry camp or boondock so 2 12volts deep cycle batteries works fine for us. if we did dry camp i would go with 2 6volt setup
its very nice to have the fridge running a day ahead of leaving home, load the fridge the night before, keeps things nice and cold the whole trip. on longer trips we will stop for lunch, wife will go in and make sandwiches etc.
last summer i tested how long the 2 batteries would run fridge in 95 degree temps.
went 2 days with no other loads on them except parasitic draws (co detector, etc.) and never got below 50 percent charge. best not to draw rechargeable batteries down below 50 percent.
our inverter charges batteries automatically when plugged into shore power regardless if it is turned on. one important note is to always remember to turn inverter on before leaving home or campground for fridge to run. propane fridges are great for boondocking but since we don't, i love the efficiency and size of the new rv residential fridges.
perfect!theoldwizard1 wrote:
This won't work where it is really hot.
I don't own a rig like that, but to preserve battery power, I would turn the refrigerator off while driving. If the door is not opened it will be fine for 12 hours or more.
AZ @ 115 will cook everything in the fridge pretty fast.Huntindog wrote:
theoldwizard1 wrote:
This won't work where it is really hot.
I don't own a rig like that, but to preserve battery power, I would turn the refrigerator off while driving. If the door is not opened it will be fine for 12 hours or more.
AZ @ 115 will cook everything in the fridge pretty fast.
And the truck will keep the trailer battery from draining while on the road!
