Outside kitchen mini fridge

Thanks Kevden & BurbMan for the info. If it ever gets warm I will give this mod try. Always wondered why the fridge with outside kitchens wasn't setup to use 12 volt and 110.

Did the same inverter mod as kevden, write up and pics are here. I used a 150W inverter for TV and movies, no outside fridge. Still using a good ol cooler outside.

I think this would be a great application for a small "ice box". A small refrigerator that you could put a block of ice in it for cooling. No electricity needed and no maintenance required so it would last forever.

A block of ice can cool for many days in an efficient designed ice box

I used a xantrex pro watt sw 15amp auto transfer switch.http://www.bestconverter.com/Xantrex-Prowatt-SW-Inline-15-Amp-Transfer-Switch_p_457.html#.Ut6vtEYo7e4
I mounted the inverter near the TT electrical panel and used a short heavy gauge appliance extension cord between the inverter and the auto transfer switch. Fed the transfer switch supply and load wires into TT electric panel. I found the circuit in the TT electric panel that the fridge outlet was on and disconnected it from the electric panel breaker and neutral buss. Connected those conductors to the transfer switch load conductors. Connected transfer switch supply conductors to breaker and neutral buss in panel. Now every outlet on that circuit can have 15a power off inverter or shore power. I got a 1750w (2500w surge) inverter so the wife could use her kuerig, but I have read that an 800w inverter will work great for a small fridge. A pure sine wave inverter is best, but ours runs fine so far off of the MSW. Also, use very heavy gauge and very short length cable for battery to inverter connections. Some inverters come with a remote switch if it needs to be mounted in an inconvenient location.

911golf wrote:
Last question for you seasoned campers. I do not have an outside kitchen but instead of a cooler, I was thinking about buying a mini fridge or a mini mini fridge (half the size) just for beverages and keeping it plugged into the outside outlet. Would that work, would it draw too much amps? Any issues with that?

Thanks

I had a small dorm fridge that I kept in our last 5er. Fit real nice just under the door side slide to keep it out of the elements. I think I paid $25 for it on Craigslist and sold it for the same amount not too long ago.

Too bad they don't make a modern version of the Icy-Ball. Would work great for my weekend camping trips to places without electricity just to keep the beer cold.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icy_Ball

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoX4ik95SGnMACqqJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIybHJvcXRqBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZANlZWYxNGQwN2I2MDkxYjYwMzE2YTljMzUzY2YzMmE4MARncG9zAzQEaXQDYmluZw--?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dicy%2Bball%2Brefrigerator%26fr%3Db2ie7%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D4&w=400&h=300&imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_BOYkIysicME%2FRsXA4T_g3OI%2FAAAAAAAAADs%2FC-Sv_dbwTxs%2Fs400%2F100_0679.JPG&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fthirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fthis-is-great-example-of-gas-absorption.html&size=41.4KB&name=an+gas-absorption+cycle+%3Cb%3Erefrigerator+%3C%2Fb%3Ethe+Crosley+%3Cb%3EIcy+Ball+Refrigerator+%3C%2Fb%3E...&p=icy+ball+refrigerator&oid=eef14d07b6091b60316a9c353cf32a80&fr2=&fr=b2ie7&tt=an+gas-absorption+cycle+%3Cb%3Erefrigerator+%3C%2Fb%3Ethe+Crosley+%3Cb%3EIcy+Ball+Refrigerator+%3C%2Fb%3E...&b=0∋=96&no=4&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=12rbof1kg&sigb=13fjutgbo&sigi=12k5le36n&.crumb=UN0sDjMit1H&fr=b2ie7

kevden wrote:
ours is ac (Hamilton beach). I installed a dc to ac inverter and an auto transfer switch on the circuit the fridge is plugged in to. That way the fridge is working off battery while travelling or boondocking, and the truck keeps the tt batteries charged while driving. Works great.

Great idea, would love to do this with my outside kitchen. Could you tell me how to do this mod?

Ditto...cheapie retail 120 volt model. The one that came with my new Minnie is one of the few things that I'm not too crazy about on our Winnebago. The on/off/temp setting is one control knob that is located at the rear of the refrigerator. The design of the outdoor kitchen trailer means I have to access the power control and cord via a panel on the floor of the wardrobe of the closet...a royal pain. I'll be routing an extension cord into the outdoor kitchen so I can control power from there. Eventually, I'll probably put in a better unit with on/off & temp control located inside fridge where it is easy to access!

I have a small dorm fridge that just fits under the trailer and out of the elements. I run an extension cord to it from the 15 amp side of the pedestal. the less running through the trailer the better!

ours is ac (Hamilton beach). I installed a dc to ac inverter and an auto transfer switch on the circuit the fridge is plugged in to. That way the fridge is working off battery while travelling or boondocking, and the truck keeps the tt batteries charged while driving. Works great.