Forum Discussion

phillyg's avatar
phillyg
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2015

Residential Fridge on 30A

Thinking of upgrading to a FW with a residential fridge, but most locations where we stay only have 30a service. We're used to only operating one AC at a time and the MW on 30a, but are concerned we'd have to be on 50a with the fridge. Anyone with real time experience running one AC and a residential fridge on 30a?
  • Veebyes wrote:
    My concern with a domestic fridge in a road vehicle is the beating it gets from travel. Houses don't shake.


    Residential fridges have been installed in 5th wheels for a number of years now. I haven't seen reported failures of residential fridges (in fact, I can't recall seeing any failure reports) anywhere approaching the failure rate of absorption-type RV fridges.

    Rusty
  • That domestic fridge is plugged into a 20amp outlet in the house & it uses alot less than that.

    My concern with a domestic fridge in a road vehicle is the beating it gets from travel. Houses don't shake.
  • The residential fridge will use about a quarter of the power of the propane fridge (when on electric) you had before so, yah, you'll have no problem with 30 amp with an air conditioner and a residential fridge. It is a common misconception that the residential fridges use more power than the absorption propane models when on electric when in fact just the opposite is true.

    Happy trails.
  • We have had a Samsung RF197 in our Everest for over 2years running on shore 30/50 power and or solar best mod we ever done.
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    GrumpyandGrandma wrote:
    The SAMSUNG that JAYCO uses only draws 3.9 amps so I think most of the new units would be in same range.

    The 3.9 amps is the starting amps, not the running amps. The starting amps are so brief even if you were at 29 amps, it would not trip a 30 amp breaker.
  • The SAMSUNG that JAYCO uses only draws 3.9 amps so I think most of the new units would be in same range.
  • We have a MH with a residential fridge and have had no issues running the fridge plus 1 a/c on 30a (at rallies and such).
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    My Energy Star Whirlpool 21 cu/ft uses 100 watts (less than one amp) when running and requires five times that to start... very briefly so not a problem.
    I would think a 50A option would be nice so you could run everything without worrying when you have 50A service.
  • not a problem mine runs even on the generator. may have to shut down ac for microwave use