Three way fridge

[Johnny_Hurryup]

I've seen some of the newer RVs have "Three way refrigerators" 120V...12V and gas. I've had the typical 2 way (120V and Gas) wht's up with the third?

[dougrainer]

PNW_Steve wrote:

bikendan wrote:

Johnny Hurryup wrote:
I've seen some of the newer RVs have "Three way refrigerators" 120V...12V and gas. I've had the typical 2 way (120V and Gas) wht's up with the third?

3-way fridges have been around for decades, mainly in folding trailers and truck campers. Most are dorm fridge sized, because the tow vehicle charging wire can't keep up the battery's charge, if the fridge was bigger.

Mine were all the same size as similar 2 way absorption refrigerators.

I have moved away from absorption refrigerators and have been replacing them with 10.8cu.ft. home refrigerators. The unit that I have in my 5er fit in the existing opening with minor modifications.

With appropriate solar and batteries to support the refrigerator when off grid it works very well and gives us 50% more space.

I am starting to get a little envious of you folks that charge your trailer battery from the tow vehicle.... 🙂 🙂 I am on my third trailer and NONE of them were wired to charge while underway. I looked at adding it and it turned into more of a project than I want to take on.

If you have had 3 trailers and NONE wired for charging, then either You were doing the hitch work(you did not know what you were doing) or the Dealer did not know what they were doing. Brake Control and Charge wiring are standard practice when a Dealership connects a new tow vehicle system. Doug

[Old-Biscuit]

wa8yxm wrote:

Johnny Hurryup wrote:
I've seen some of the newer RVs have "Three way refrigerators" 120V...12V and gas. I've had the typical 2 way (120V and Gas) wht's up with the third?

The way I heard it is they moved away from the 12 volt option.

HERE is why
The 12 volt options have a 25 amp fuse on the 12 volt side. Draw about 20 amps on DC Now that's 260 watts (roughly) which is a bit shy of the 350 or so the 120 volt element draws. So they do not work as well on 12 volts.

Plus you have this 12 volt storage box. a pair of GC-2s hold around 220 amp hours. and you can safely use half. that's 5 1/2 hours of cooling.

A group 24 holds about 70-75 and since you can only use 20-25 percent that is less than 1 hour.

Heard wrong

Dometic Series 8 ---3 way
Norcold Polar 8LX---3 way

Other models available in 3-way

DC Mode was NEVER intended to COOL fridge.
It is a means to MAINTAIN a cold fridge while in transit ....vehicle alternator recharging/maintaining battery charge
Alternative option to propane.

Simple.........

[pianotuna]

PNW Steve,

Then think about a 24 or even better a 48 volt bank. That allows 8 GC-2 in series.

[wa8yxm]

Johnny Hurryup wrote:
I've seen some of the newer RVs have "Three way refrigerators" 120V...12V and gas. I've had the typical 2 way (120V and Gas) wht's up with the third?

The way I heard it is they moved away from the 12 volt option.

HERE is why
The 12 volt options have a 25 amp fuse on the 12 volt side. Draw about 20 amps on DC Now that's 260 watts (roughly) which is a bit shy of the 350 or so the 120 volt element draws. So they do not work as well on 12 volts.

Plus you have this 12 volt storage box. a pair of GC-2s hold around 220 amp hours. and you can safely use half. that's 5 1/2 hours of cooling.

A group 24 holds about 70-75 and since you can only use 20-25 percent that is less than 1 hour.

[PNW_Steve]

pianotuna wrote:
PNW Steve,

If there is room, just expand the solar harvest by adding another panel.

If you really "must" have charging from a tow vehicle, add an inverter and run a 120 volt cord to the RV.

I had planned on two 300 watt panels on my 5er but the roof is crowded with roof vents, plumbing vents, roof air and TV antenna. I only managed to fit one.

My new to me rig is getting 1800 watts of panels and either four L-16's or eight GC-2's. I lean strongly towards the L-16's until I look at the price. The GC-2's are 40% cheaper and will give me about 10% more capacity. I just hate parallel strings.

I like the inverter in the tow vehicle idea. If I planned on keeping my current 5er I would do that. The 5er and the Chevy 2500 that I bought to tow it with are for sale as a package.

I am going to a class A of sorts. I have a 40' Bluebird that is getting 1800 watts on the roof.

[pianotuna]

PNW Steve,

If there is room, just expand the solar harvest by adding another panel.

If you really "must" have charging from a tow vehicle, add an inverter and run a 120 volt cord to the RV.

[PNW_Steve]

bikendan wrote:

Johnny Hurryup wrote:
I've seen some of the newer RVs have "Three way refrigerators" 120V...12V and gas. I've had the typical 2 way (120V and Gas) wht's up with the third?

3-way fridges have been around for decades, mainly in folding trailers and truck campers. Most are dorm fridge sized, because the tow vehicle charging wire can't keep up the battery's charge, if the fridge was bigger.

Mine were all the same size as similar 2 way absorption refrigerators.

I have moved away from absorption refrigerators and have been replacing them with 10.8cu.ft. home refrigerators. The unit that I have in my 5er fit in the existing opening with minor modifications.

With appropriate solar and batteries to support the refrigerator when off grid it works very well and gives us 50% more space.

I am starting to get a little envious of you folks that charge your trailer battery from the tow vehicle.... 🙂 🙂 I am on my third trailer and NONE of them were wired to charge while underway. I looked at adding it and it turned into more of a project than I want to take on.

[bikendan]

Johnny Hurryup wrote:
I've seen some of the newer RVs have "Three way refrigerators" 120V...12V and gas. I've had the typical 2 way (120V and Gas) wht's up with the third?

3-way fridges have been around for decades, mainly in folding trailers and truck campers. Most are dorm fridge sized, because the tow vehicle charging wire can't keep up the battery's charge, if the fridge was bigger.
Our 1970 Starcraft popup had a 3-way fridge. That's 50 years ago.

[MDKMDK]

Johnny Hurryup wrote:
I've seen some of the newer RVs have "Three way refrigerators" 120V...12V and gas. I've had the typical 2 way (120V and Gas) wht's up with the third?

You're new to RVing, right? :W

[PNW_Steve]

I have owned a couple of 3way refrigerators and trying to get them to cool adequately on 12v was nearly impossible.

They do make 12v compressor refrigerators that work very well on 12v or 120v but no propane. They are more often seen in boats or off grid homes. I have lusted over them but my pockets are not deep enough 🙂

[Old-Biscuit]

3 way fridge
120V AC electric element---can be used as main heat source
LP gas --------------------can be used as main heat source
12V DC eletric element.....used to maintain a cold fridge while in transit Not to be used as main heat source due to smaller element size and drawn on battery/DC System

[Lwiddis]

My first three way was in a 1978 Beaver truck camper.

[dougrainer]

There have always been 3 way models available. Due to the limitations on straight 12 volt cooling, you do not see them used that often. The 12 volt only selection is only for use while in transit. Doug