I'm new to the world of having a residential refrigerator in my RV. Does anyone have any tips on how to get the most out of a residential unit when mostly boondocking?Thanks.

Good battery bank and a generator. I can't imagine more than 24 hours without 120v to the fridge. I'm guessing you have 5-6 k genset onboard, right. So it runs 2-3 hours in the am and 2-3 hours in the pm and you should be good. It's all depending on the restrictions of running the genset where you are and how much fuel your using for the genset.

The possibility of going boondocking would be WHY RVs typically come with absorption (ie, gas) refrigerators, not residential ones.A residential fridge is going to draw a lot of power, particularly when the compressor starts. This will require a rather largish inverter, which will suck down batteries pretty fast. No doubt you've discovered that already.The number one suggestion I'd have is to avoid opening the fridge up for any reason while boon docking. Open door time is the major warm-up factor in a fridge's day.

Boondocking and residential fridgeLARGE battery bank.......LARGE inverter......BIG Generator to either run fridge and/or charge battery bankFolks that change out an absorption fridge to a residential fridge typically go to CG's with FHUs.

I believe your coach is already set up with 4 X 6 volt batteries. More is better but 4 will do. Now add about 400 watts of solar and for the most part you are set. We still occasionally run the genny during hi current usage like microwave or toaster but for the most part the solar will more than run your fridge and a bunch of other things. If we do start the genny for the microwave or toaster or whatever we usually let it run for an hour. Good for the genny and rapid charges the battery bank. Your residential doesn't use that much power. We have a large battery bank and lots of solar but we dry camp a lot and the residential hasn't made much of a difference in how we camp unless we have LOTS of cloudy skys. Then we end up running the genny a couple hours a day. No big deal. Your resdiential will draw just over an amp or so, and only for about 20 minutes out of the hour.

Residential Refrigerators While Boondocking | Good Sam Community

westend
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
smkettner wrote:
+1 for batteries and solar :B
+2 :B
bmupton
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
bob_nestor wrote:
mlts22 wrote:
My dream:

Residential refrigerator + decent PSW inverter + decent battery bank + this.

Functionally identical to an absorption refrigerator except that the fuel cell keeps the house jars topped off, my beer gets cold fast, and I don't have to perfectly level my rig.

The specs say that fuel cell consumes 100 g/h which I assume is gallons per hour! I hope that's a misprint or your dream RV is a tanker truck.

I'm guessing g is 'grams' not 'gallons' since gasses of this nature are usually measured by weight, not volume.
bob_nestor
Explorer III
Aug 20, 2013
mlts22 wrote:
My dream:

Residential refrigerator + decent PSW inverter + decent battery bank + this.

Functionally identical to an absorption refrigerator except that the fuel cell keeps the house jars topped off, my beer gets cold fast, and I don't have to perfectly level my rig.

The specs say that fuel cell consumes 100 g/h which I assume is gallons per hour! I hope that's a misprint or your dream RV is a tanker truck.
malibuskier
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
Just be smart about which refrigerator you pick. I have a Samsung that only pulls 5 amps (26cf French door model). Compared to other brands that pull 10 - 12 amps. They add up quick....
mlts22
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
My dream:

Residential refrigerator + decent PSW inverter + decent battery bank + this.

Functionally identical to an absorption refrigerator except that the fuel cell keeps the house jars topped off, my beer gets cold fast, and I don't have to perfectly level my rig.
dkreuzen
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
I have a 2012 Monaco Knight 36PFT Diesel Pusher which should be identical to the OP's 2013. It has a 2800 watt Magnum inverter and 3 stage charger, 4 L16 6v batteries (about twice the size of a normal 6v), and generator auto-start.

The refrigerator will run off the batteries for about 24 hours depending on how hot it is and other loads. I have dry camped once for 4 days, and it was hot (100 degrees). With our normal running of the generator for an hour or so in the morning and evening to cook meals we had no issues keeping the batteries charged and the refrigerator running.
harold1946
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
If not allready equiped with one, I would add an AGS (automatic generator start).
John___Angela
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
MrWizard wrote:
2013 Monaco Knight 36PFT Diesel Pusher

you have plenty of generator about 7~10kw quiet diesel
i'll guess on the inverter setup and say (2) 2000w victron's in a paired setup

6 maybe 8 batteries

all you have to do is remember to run the generator during the appropriate hours so your batteries stay charged up

if you need A/C you need to run the generator

Hmmm, although all valid I think his unit is already equipted with the inverter needed to run the fridge which is I assume factory. I'm guessing that they are not using victrons and it is probably a Xantrex or magnum 2000. More than adequate for all coach needs. Victrons are nice products though.
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 16, 2013
2013 Monaco Knight 36PFT Diesel Pusher

you have plenty of generator about 7~10kw quiet diesel
i'll guess on the inverter setup and say (2) 2000w victron's in a paired setup

6 maybe 8 batteries

all you have to do is remember to run the generator during the appropriate hours so your batteries stay charged up

if you need A/C you need to run the generator
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 16, 2013
+1 for batteries and solar :B