Residential refrigerator inverter

[creeper]

Has anyone added a smaller inverter to their class A to run their residential refrigerator while boon docking?

I know we an set our generator to come on when the batteries get low, but would prefer to use a smaller inverter while we're out exploring.

Pointing to me a page or photos would be a great help. Thanks.

[creeper]

smkettner wrote:
I would spend the money on solar over adding smaller (1000w) inverter.
100w will help and I think you should be more in the 400 to 600 watt solar zone.

I don't want to add too much, we're only going to keep this Coach 5 years and then get the DP we want. Then I'll add lots of solar.

[time2roll]

I would spend the money on solar over adding smaller (1000w) inverter.
100w will help and I think you should be more in the 400 to 600 watt solar zone.

[John___Angela]

creeper wrote:
Thanks for the input we currently have a 2000w pro sine inverter and 100 watt solar panel i'll add another panel and just set the generator to come on at lower voltage. We're often gone out of the coach 10-12 hours.

That'l work. Make it a 160 or 200 and for the most part that will offset any energy needs the fridge has....as long as its sunny. 🙂 Otherwise the genny will cover it.

[creeper]

Thanks for the input we currently have a 2000w pro sine inverter and 100 watt solar panel i'll add another panel and just set the generator to come on at lower voltage. We're often gone out of the coach 10-12 hours.

[Ivylog]

I put in a 1000W PSW inverter on a new 500 AH battery bank with a separate 100A charger and a separate transfer switch. Like Don I have three choices of power to the refer. I also added cable with a 200 amp switch from my house batteries to the new battery bank so the alternator will charge the refers batteries (8 amps) while on the road.

I went a little larger on the inverter than necessary because I added a outlet to power the Sat dish and DVR so it will record the shows I like and not take 10 minutes to power up after shutting the main 2000W inverter off when I leave the coach. My DIY refer install is here.

[Kayteg1]

You have 2 factors that can affect power consumption.
1- fans used for inverter cooling
2. inverter efficiency.
2000w inverter is going to have much bigger cooling fan than 400W inverter, but bigger factor will be efficiency.
Per my experience manufacturers usually shy on disclosing such technical data so that might be not easy choice.
For my laptop that I use in the car, I have 90W inverter with no fan and I love it not only for low power consumption, but also for no noise.

[tropical36]

RLHAMILTON wrote:
Just received a quote from Lazydays to install residential refrigerator and larger inverter (recommended by Forest River). They are going to start Monday. Forest River recommended 2000 watt oure sine wave 100 Amp chagrer, part #40E14212A for our Berkshire. Good luck

How many batteries come with your install and assuming 6v deep cycle?
The 2KW is obviously for running other things, besides the fridge and a waste, without having at least four 6v batteries. I run a 1000w unit that will at least make a pot of coffee and with two batteries, but still have the OEM RV fridge, so do use the gas a lot, except intermittently and for going down the road.
I mean a 400w inverter is more than enough for running any fridge.

[DSDP_Don]

On my previous coach, Monaco Diplomat with a Magnum 2000 watt MSW inverter, I added a second 600 watt Magnum inverter to power just the residential refrigerator.

I knew I wasn't going to save power, but I wanted to isolate the refer to it's own inverter so that all the items that came on with my main inverter wouldn't, unless I wanted them to. Things like the microwave, entertainment center equipment, chargers and so on.

I picked the Magnum because it had automatic power pass thru, meaning when the coach got plugged into shore power, it would automatically switch to power cord power. It came with a small remote for turning it on and off and lights showing that it was on. I mounted the small panel on the side of the refer paneling that houses the refer. It was visible from the driver's seat.

The only issue with the small Magnum is that it's an MSW inverter. On my installation, I was pairing it to a Samsung RF197 refer that was MSW friendly. I mounted the smaller Magnum above my larger Magnum inverter and ran the new wiring alongside the other wiring.

This also gave me a backup if my main inverter went out. When I installed my new Samsung, I left the outlet for the 110 volts, the main inverter (which was powering the ice maker in the Norcold) and added the new outlet for the smaller inverter, giving me three choices for power.

[zman-az]

tropical36 wrote:

Adding more batteries and/or solar cells is the answer and not a smaller inverter, unless it's so huge that the unit itself draws a lot of battery current at idle and without a load, but I find that extremely doubtful. However, even if your fridge should quit, it's going to be quite a while before the temp goes down to a dangerous level and as long as no one is opening the door.

Totally Agree

[tropical36]

creeper wrote:
Has anyone added a smaller inverter to their class A to run their residential refrigerator while boon docking?

I know we an set our generator to come on when the batteries get low, but would prefer to use a smaller inverter while we're out exploring.

Pointing to me a page or photos would be a great help. Thanks.

Adding more batteries and/or solar cells is the answer and not a smaller inverter, unless it's so huge that the unit itself draws a lot of battery current at idle and without a load, but I find that extremely doubtful. However, even if your fridge should quit, it's going to be quite a while before the temp goes down to a dangerous level and as long as no one is opening the door.

[JR45]

Going on 3 years, we had a Samsung 197 RR frig installed. My coach came with a 2000 MSW Xantrex inverters but we had a Magnum 2812 PSW inverter installed with a new controller at the same time and the frig has been on the inverter 100% of the time plus I don't have to reset the microwave. The only thing I do is turn off the ice maker going down the road. We can go about 10hrs boon docking before my batteries drop down to 12.2v then I start the gen set for about 2hrs, morning and night.
JR

[bluwtr49]

I can not see any advantage in adding an additional inverter just for the fridge. The one you have should be just fine.

[Matt_Colie]

Creeper,

The only thing you will gain is a very small amount of the quiescent load the current inverter presents.

It is my personal opinion that the gain will be no advantage. You will save nothing when the reefer is running as inverters only pass what is needed and the internal power loss of virtually all inverters is about the same for a given load.

Matt

[RLHAMILTON]

Just received a quote from Lazydays to install residential refrigerator and larger inverter (recommended by Forest River). They are going to start Monday. Forest River recommended 2000 watt oure sine wave 100 Amp chagrer, part #40E14212A for our Berkshire. Good luck