Fridge on when parked at home

[Kay_and_Gene]

My DW wants to used the fridge in our camper as a 2nd fridge when we are not camping. We keep hooked to shore power and park the camper in our drive. Does anyone use their camper fridge like this?

[CavemanCharlie]

I agree that having a surge protector for the TT is a good idea. I even have one for my 22 year old unit. A power surge would blow out so much stuff that it would cost more to fix everything then what the TT is worth. Plus, my Emerson RV AC is no longer being made.

We never have power surges around here and everyone laughs at me for having a surge protector on my TT. But, it only takes one time to do a lot of damage and I believe it's cheap insurance.

[westend]

Well you've got a good point there about the power protection, SG. For what the replacement cost is for a burner or control board, protection is a good investment.
Presently, I hook up without it but that has always been a temporary condition. I plan to get a transformer and some surge protection. Since I camp nearly 95% outside of a campground, it's slipped down the priority list.

Yeah, duty cycle plays a role in figuring out the power use but offhand, these absorption fridges seem to use four times the power of a compressor model. For some it's not an option or convenience limits the choice but I'd think some folks would be better off with a compressor unit in the garage. Having said that, I was in Home Depot, yesterday and took a quick trip down the fridge aisle, noting prices. The Polish Princess has been mentioning fridge replacement for the Castle. It hasn't become a Royal Edict yet but replacement is coming. They don't give those stainless steel boxes away was observed.

[SoundGuy]

westend wrote:
Just one thing I can't get around--these absorption fridges use a lot of power (I've seen 325W mentioned a few times). Maybe I have my understanding wrong but a draw like that means a guy could buy a new residential fridge for the garage and probably come out $$$$ ahead, instead of using the inefficient RV fridge.

That would be a typical draw for a 6 cu ft gas absorption fridge running in the 120 vac mode but the question is whether that electric element is powered continuously or has a cycle rate which would obviously reduce total consumption over any 24 hr period. Nonetheless, unless we're heading back out within a few days I'll turn our fridge off completely, empty it, and air it out as I'd rather expend a little effort doing that than needlessly waste the energy to keep it running weeks at a time when there's no reason otherwise for me to do so. I do note that on Page 8 of my Dometic DM2652 owner's manual that it says - "This refrigerator is intended for continuous use" - so I'd have no concerns about doing so if we had the need for it BUT I'd only do so if the trailer's electrical system, including the fridge, was protected from incoming source power vagaries. The two surge protectors I've owned - a TRC 34370 and my current Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C have disconnected faulty campground power 3 times this past season and twice here at the house, in each case preventing any potential damage to the trailer's electrical system. One of those house events destroyed the power supply in our home television set which was simply plugged into a wall receptacle and blew out the plug-in surge protector feeding my iMac. The computer itself survived and I managed to buy a replacement power supply circuit board for the television to get it up & running again but it too is now plugged into it's own surge protector. Even though I also for years would simply plug our trailer into a 120 vac source supply without protection I now know better and there's no way I'd ever do that now, particularly if the purpose was simply so I could run the fridge when the trailer is parked here at the house ... IMO it's just not worth the risk.

[Atlee]

I leave mine on from the time I wake her up in early spring until I put her to bed in late fall.

Basically mine has been on since April of this year, except when I had to take the TT in for it's annual inspection.

After this weekend, I will end up shutting off the fridge, along with winterizing it. Should need the TT again until next April.

[westend]

Just one thing I can't get around--these absorption fridges use a lot of power (I've seen 325W mentioned a few times). Maybe I have my understanding wrong but a draw like that means a guy could buy a new residential fridge for the garage and probably come out $$$$ ahead, instead of using the inefficient RV fridge.

[wrvond]

I leave my campers plugged in 24/7 with the fridge on and filled with stuff. I also have a space heater in the campers. I would be afraid of everything in the fridge freezing if the ambient temperature should drop too low.
I also have a voltage regulator on my power source.

[firestorm79]

We leave ours on during camping season.

[justafordguy]

Anmacc2 wrote:
We live in south Florida. Refrig an AC are on 24/7/365

I'm in Florida also, A/C and both (residential type) refrigerators on all the time. 😉

[Majja13]

This is what I do so that I do not have to tote condiments back and forth every time we go out. It is cold enough here in SLC that i can get away with putting things on my deep freeze in the winter in my garage.

[SoundGuy]

Kay and Gene wrote:
Thanks to everyone for the come backs and extra info. Guess the DW wins this round will turn the fridge on this am and she can put her Cranberry conserve in there as the first items, right after some beer.

Good luck then! One untimely power surge or excessive voltage drop and you'll think perhaps your DW wasn't so "right" after all. :E Believe it, source power anomalies are much more common than you would think ... MUCH more. :M

[Kay_and_Gene]

Thanks to everyone for the come backs and extra info. Guess the DW wins this round will turn the fridge on this am and she can put her Cranberry conserve in there as the first items, right after some beer.

[the_happiestcam]

I will this coming week - to defrost turkey

[2112]

My DW agrees with your DW. Ours is on 24/7. I often cook out there as well.

However, I do disconnect the battery at the disconnect switch during the weekdays to not constantly charge the battery. Old habit.

[midnightsadie]

don,t you hate it when she,s right?