How do you turn off the residential fridge?

[rsaylor3]

My in-laws just purchased a new 2019 Montana today. They have the residential fridge, which neither of us had before. During the walk through with the tech, they were told there was no way to turn off the fridge. Is that right? They keep it plugged into 50amp service when stored. Is there not a breaker or switch to keep it off and not running when stored?

I'm not in the same state or I would go take a look.

Thanks for your responses in advance!

[2oldman]

I don't know where these RV mfrs find refrigerators that can't be turned off.

[steved28]

I know in a resident (at least in MA) a fridge HAS to be on a dedicated circuit. If the RV industry follows the same code, there must be a dedicated breaker. I don't have a residential fridge in my RV, but it still has a dedicated circuit and breaker for the AC portion of it.

[dapperdan]

To turn ours off I simply unplug it...... easy and fast. :B

Dan

[MNGeeks61]

Our residential refrigerator has 6 buttons - pressing and holding the two central ones says "cooling off" which results in the lights staying on, but the fridge no longer runs. Then I just go back to the breaker and flip it.

Been doing that for 3 years to winterize.

[larry_cad]

rsaylor3 wrote:
You bring up another question. if the new inverters are passed through does that mean once he gets to a campsite and hooks up 50 amp service that there's no need to turn off the inverter? I really wish I could have been there for the pre-purchase inspection walkthrough but work kept me away.

Yes, that is correct!

[rk911]

Retired JSO wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
my residential in the last RV, turned off by simply turning the cooling number dial all the way off

its a household electric appliance, it follows NEC, it has to have an off position, its basically 'LAW' to have an off/on switch

Antique: ours is digital with no off button/dial...

so is our Whirlpool. i just raise the temp setting till it shows 'off'.

[Retired_JSO]

MrWizard wrote:
my residential in the last RV, turned off by simply turning the cooling number dial all the way off

its a household electric appliance, it follows NEC, it has to have an off position, its basically 'LAW' to have an off/on switch

Antique: ours is digital with no off button/dial. I turn off the breaker and go to the inverter and turn it off. No power, no run...

[MrWizard]

my residential in the last RV, turned off by simply turning the cooling number dial all the way off

its a household electric appliance, it follows NEC, it has to have an off position, its basically 'LAW' to have an off/on switch

[rsaylor3]

You bring up another question. if the new inverters are passed through does that mean once he gets to a campsite and hooks up 50 amp service that there's no need to turn off the inverter? I really wish I could have been there for the pre-purchase inspection walkthrough but work kept me away.

[Mmwtdh]

Google demo or display mode for your refrigerator model number. Mine is hold the power freeze and freezer buttons down at the same time. After a few seconds it will beep. Now the lights will come on when you open the doors but the compressor will not come on. That is so appliance stores can show them without the compressor running.

For long term storage when I want to prop the doors open, I flip the breaker and make sure the invertor is off. I don't do this when I'm using my trailer regularly because it kills some of the outlets also...

[rk911]

azdryheat wrote:
A residential fridge is not meant to be turned off...

and why is that?

[azdryheat]

A residential fridge is not meant to be turned off. Either unplug it, flip the breaker, or turn off shore power.

[houstonstroker]

There is no removable outside panel on a residential fridge. If there isn't an on/off button then you can turn the unit off with the breaker. If I remove the small panel under the fridge I can get to the electric plug on my rig. I haven't had a need to turn off my fridge yet. Turning off the inverter won't do it if your are plugged in because most inverters are pass through.

[rsaylor3]

Thanks guys! I will reach out and let him know! Figured there had to be a circuit breaker for it.

[rk911]

one of two ways.

1- simply flip the circuit breaker
2- on ours we can just raise the temp setting to OFF (I've seen others where you LOWER the temp setting until OFF appears).