Refrigerator question for you class A campers

[steveandjil]

We have had a Winnebago View class C for about 5 years, and a 5er for the decade before. We think at times of a larger class A for part timing in retirement. Many have commercial refrigerators. How do you keep your food cold when camping in a no hookup CG such as a national park. Can’t run the generator 24/7.

Thanks,

Steve

[Bill_Satellite]

DutchmenSport wrote:
or else the refrigerator is plugged directly into a generator.

No, the coach is plugged into the generator (or the generator is built-in) and the generator provides power to the fridge and multiple other sources in the RV. Depending upon the size of the generator it can power everything in the coach including the A/C's.

[RLS7201]

Note all the thrashing about with extra batteries, inverters and solar to have a residential refrigerator. The old absorption refrigerators performed well when install properly. Read the manufacturer's installation manual, it's an eye opener. Norcold did the RV word an injustice with their lesser materials and poor welds, causing fires.
How much room do you need in an RV refrigerator? Seldom are you far from a store.

Richard

[Gonzo42]

OUr View is our first RV but we are toying with the idea of a smallish Class A. I am a bit concerned aout the handling and towing power. Our View has been upgraded to a 7 1/2 cuibic foot unit running auto with shore power and propane. It would be nice to have a 3-way reefer.

[DutchmenSport]

If you have an all electric residential refrigerator in your camper and don't have shore power, the only way to keep the refrigerator running is with an inverter and a battery bank, or else the refrigerator is plugged directly into a generator.

In our world as it exists today, you have two methods to keep your batteries charged; solar or generator.

If you don't run your generator to keep the batteries charged, solar is the only other method. Pick your method: generator or solar. There's really no other short-cut.

[wa8yxm]

I have a RV type "Absorption cooling unit" (Refrigerator) this uses HEAT to Cool believe it or not so it can run on electricity (About 325 watts in my case which is not at all efficient) or Propane.. ONly moving parts are the gas valve and fluids inside the cooling unit (Gas and liquid) Just put a new cooling unit on it after 14 years and change last Oct. (OUCH).

Now it does use 12 volts for control and ignition but it can run a long time on a full tank of propane and a full battery bank.

I also have a 2nd Freezer. this is one of the high efficiency Compressor units (Engel) Both Dometic and Norcold have offerings in this class. Mine is a chest freezer and draws a great whomping 36 watts (3 amps at 12 volts) when running. I have over 500 amp hours of battery so you get the "how long". Even a single pair of GC-2 (220 amps hours) around 3-4 days

At one time both D and N had full size RV refrigerators using this technology but I'm finding them harder to track down now.. 35-45 watts the compressor is what I call a Danfoss class (look it up) may be a Danfoss or a competitor's but that class.

However when on the move.. I burn propane.

[wildtoad]

You planning on being out in the Arizona sun in the summer and run fridge on batteries? You OK inside a MH with no AC?

[Bruce_Brown]

Today's modern refrigerators use so little electricity compared to the older ones it seems to not be an issue for most.

A few years ago I put a new cooling unit in our LP fridge. If I were doing it again I'd just put in an electric one.

We recently did that in my buddies off-the-grid hunting camp. The new electric with limited generator usage works much better than the propane one we took out.

[Dale_Traveling]

steveandjil wrote:
We have had a Winnebago View class C for about 5 years, and a 5er for the decade before. We think at times of a larger class A for part timing in retirement. Many have commercial refrigerators. How do you keep your food cold when camping in a no hookup CG such as a national park. Can’t run the generator 24/7.

Thanks,

Steve

A battery bank properly sized to support the house loads for 24-36 hours, energy conservation, a few 100 watts of roof solar helps reduce generator dependency, generator use to recharge the bank in the morning and evenings.

[Lwiddis]

Why think only about a generator? Solar recharging isn’t experimental or a toy. Most days you’ll be completely recharged with adequate system...batteries, controller, solar panels and properly sized wire. Start with an energy survey to determine your amp hour needs.

[ScottG]

Sure - with enough batteries 😉

[steveandjil]

Yup meant residential. So the batteries are just run through a big inverter I assume. Can you go a day between generator runs in hot weather?

[ScottG]

Lots of batteries and I think you mean residential, not "commercial".