2013 Interstate Help

[David M]

I need a favor from early 2013 Interstate owners (non-wardrobe). Can you open the tilt out tray by the sink and see if your fridge and microwave is plugged in as pictures below? I unplugged my fridge (black chord) a few weeks back to avoid running it on 120v and only run on 12v. The white outlet that the fridge was plugged into operates whenever the inverter is turned on, and the black outlet (where the microwave is plugged into) only works when plugged in to shore power or on generator. I'm wondering is they should be swapped (meaning I'd like the fridge to run off of 120v only when plugged in or on generator). Thanks in advance.
David

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by David M

I need a favor from early 2013 Interstate owners (non-wardrobe). Can you open the tilt out tray by the sink and see if your fridge and microwave is plugged in as pictures below? I unplugged my fridge (black chord) a few weeks back to avoid running it on 120v and only run on 12v. The white outlet that the fridge was plugged into operates whenever the inverter is turned on, and the black outlet (where the microwave is plugged into) only works when plugged in to shore power or on generator. I'm wondering is they should be swapped (meaning I'd like the fridge to run off of 120v only when plugged in or on generator). Thanks in advance.
David


Attachment 194288

What you're asking about isn't only applicable to 2013s, or only to non-wardrobe models. However, on the wardrobe models, the outlets are a lot harder to see or reach, is all.

You can't really swap the fridge and microwave cords. For one thing, the microwave will NOT operate off the inverter! The fridge will, if you have it plugged in. For best efficiency, the way you've got it— fridge unplugged and microwave plugged into a shore-power/generato-only outlet— is optimum.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

What you're asking about isn't only applicable to 2013s, or only to non-wardrobe models. However, on the wardrobe models, the outlets are a lot harder to see or reach, is all.

You can't really swap the fridge and microwave cords. For one thing, the microwave will NOT operate off the inverter! The fridge will, if you have it plugged in. For best efficiency, the way you've got it— fridge unplugged and microwave plugged into a shore-power/generato-only outlet— is optimum.

Thanks Protagonist. I do realize that it applies to wardrobe models too, but I also knew from your past posts that it is not easy to see or reach the plug on those models. And non 2013 models such as your is apparently wired differently. I also realize that the microwave won't work off the inverter, but the clock will; which I understand is the way yours is wired (my clock goes blank when not on shore power or on generator). Over the past 4 months or so of reading this forum, I've come to the conclusion that AS makes constant changes to these Interstates -- be it intentional or not So I'm wondering if the factory intended for the clock in the microwave to operate on the inverter and the fridge to operate on 120v only when on shore power or generator. Like you said, it doesn't make sense for the inverter to convert 12v to 120v so the fridge can convert it back to 12v. Sorry for the long post, but I just woke up
David

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by David M

Thanks Protagonist. I do realize that it applies to wardrobe models too, but I also knew from your past posts that it is not easy to see or reach the plug on those models. And non 2013 models such as your is apparently wired differently. I also realize that the microwave won't work off the inverter, but the clock will; which I understand is the way yours is wired (my clock goes blank when not on shore power or on generator). Over the past 4 months or so of reading this forum, I've come to the conclusion that AS makes constant changes to these Interstates -- be it intentional or not So I'm wondering if the factory intended for the clock in the microwave to operate on the inverter and the fridge to operate on 120v only when on shore power or generator.

Actually, I think someone at Jackson Center plugged mine in backwards, fridge to the microwave outlet and vice versa, which is why my microwave's clock came on when the inverter provided power. That error has since been rectified.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Actually, I think someone at Jackson Center plugged mine in backwards, fridge to the microwave outlet and vice versa, which is why my microwave's clock came on when the inverter provided power. That error has since been rectified.

Lol, and here I'm thinking they plugged mine in backwards. But I thought it might be nice to have the clock constantly on. Anyone else with an easily accessible outlet want to chime in?

[73shark]

My refrigerator and microwave are connected the same as yours.

[David M]

Originally Posted by 73shark

My refrigerator and microwave are connected the same as yours.

Thanks Shark. I appreciate you checking.
David

[MILATV]

Late but here is pic from 2014.

[David M]

Originally Posted by MILATV

Late but here is pic from 2014.

Thank you for the pic MILATV. Since your fridge is plugged into the same outlet as mine, it looks like AS intended for it to run off of 120v whenever the inverter is turned on and not plugged in to shore power. Like Protagonist posted in other posts, seems inefficient to convert 12v to 120v and then back to 12v. I guess I'll keep my fridge unplugged.
David

[73shark]

Originally Posted by David M

Thank you for the pic MILATV. Since your fridge is plugged into the same outlet as mine, it looks like AS intended for it to run off of 120v whenever the inverter is turned on and not plugged in to shore power. Like Protagonist posted in other posts, seems inefficient to convert 12v to 120v and then back to 12v. I guess I'll keep my fridge unplugged.
David

It was my understanding that the refrigerator ran off the 12 volts when not plugged in to shore power or with the generator on.

[David M]

Originally Posted by 73shark

It was my understanding that the refrigerator ran off the 12 volts when not plugged in to shore power or with the generator on.

I read somewhere on this forum that the fridge runs on 120v as soon as you turn on the inverter (whether plugged into shore power or not); and it also runs on 120v as soon as you plug into shore power or when you start the generator. Someone please correct me if I'm misunderstanding this. Thanks
David

[73shark]

Originally Posted by David M

I read somewhere on this forum that the fridge runs on 120v as soon as you turn on the inverter (whether plugged into shore power or not); and it also runs on 120v as soon as you plug into shore power or when you start the generator. Someone please correct me if I'm misunderstanding this. Thanks
David

Now that you mention it I think you're right. I believe someone rewired theirs to run on 12 volts anytime the generator wasn't running or the RV wasn't on shore power.