NOVAKOOL RFU 6800 Amp Hours per Day

[Tadfar]

I did an experiment yesterday to see how many Amp Hours the NOVAKOOL RFU 6800 uses in a 24 hour period. This is the refrigerator that came in my 2022 Flying Cloud 23CB.
at 08:30 i turned on the Fridge while the Airstream was connected to shore power. Disconnected shore power at 09:00
11.6 AH Consumed 12:00 Noon
29.2 AH Consumed 5:00 pm
47.2 AH Consumed 10:00 pm
78.3 AH Consumed 09:00 pm


Ambient Temperature was 68 degrees at 9 am, raised to 78 in the afternoon and dropped to 68 at night again.
Fridge was empty, it should consume less if i filled it with cold items. It should use less if i had started on shore power for 6 hours.

[field & stream]

Great data, thanks. I hope others will add their measured experience to the community knowledge.

As an unplugged camper, this is why I replaced my failing absorption fridge with a new absorption fridge instead of “upgrading” to the “improved” electric only. My 3 cu ft fridge uses 7 amp hours per day.

[panamerican]

Thanks for sharing this info. It pretty much is what I had expected those 12v compressor fridges would consume.

I think as the new model year starts to get in customer hands, those that do go off grid are going to be in for a fairly rude awakening. Those that don't won't notice much difference.

The solar was upgraded on the Classic line to 270watts (for 2022 MY), which is still woefully low and on the non-Classic lines (over 25') even less useful at 180w. Not even gonna get into the shorter rigs that only have 90 watts...of course full wattage depends on a lot of factors...quality of the silicon in the panel, in-line losses, etc as well as sun exposure and panel degradation over time.

I've said it before, and will again. If one of Airstream's mottos is do more, see more, live more, they should add- if you have electric hookups because as a part-time boondocker, the power consumption basically isolates a whole section of camping and usefulness of the RV.

The arguments I hear back from the non-boondockers is that it's an improvement, what's the problem? My response is, well, then why not shrink the fresh, grey and black tanks if all Airstream is interested in is full hookup camping?

I think if they haven't already realized it- that if Airstreams are for "glamping" only, then those tanks will shrink in size and function. If Airstream is truly an RV that is for seeing more, doing more and living more, then they will fix this oversight or honestly folks that boondock are either gonna spend warbucks on a new Airstream and a tidy sum on fixes that allow them to boondock, or go with another brand that has either reduced the impact of the soon to be mandatory 12v fridges or still have absorption fridges available.

For me, besides the wickedly long COVID wait times, it's one of the issues that IS preventing me from pulling the trigger on a new 30 bunk. I know I can haul a generator, but why should I have to run a generator 1x every day or two just to keep my food temps proper? I bought an RV to get out there, not spend an hour (or longer with non-lithium batteries) every few days running a generator in the middle of the woods, when I'm out there to enjoy the peace and quiet? True, I still need to bring a generator with me, but only have to connect it after about 2 weeks of boondocking. I need a bare minimum of a week to camp without the extra hassle which I currently enjoy now. IMHO, this is not progress (unless you are a non-boondocker).

[spinter]

Is this good or bad?

Originally Posted by Tadfar

I did an experiment yesterday to see how many Amp Hours the NOVAKOOL RFU 6800 uses in a 24 hour period. This is the refrigerator that came in my 2022 Flying Cloud 23CB.
at 08:30 i turned on the Fridge while the Airstream was connected to shore power. Disconnected shore power at 09:00
11.6 AH Consumed 12:00 Noon
29.2 AH Consumed 5:00 pm
47.2 AH Consumed 10:00 pm
78.3 AH Consumed 09:00 pm


Ambient Temperature was 68 degrees at 9 am, raised to 78 in the afternoon and dropped to 68 at night again.
Fridge was empty, it should consume less if i filled it with cold items. It should use less if i had started on shore power for 6 hours.

[field & stream]

Originally Posted by spinter

Is this good or bad?

Well, it depends. It’s not good, but if you are plugged in the 50-80 amp hours per day hardly matters. If you are unplugged and don’t have a big investment in solar panels and lithium batteries then your batteries are dead in a day or two.

For those who can tolerate them, running a generator daily is a work-around.

[Mikemdd]

I had to read this message 4 times. The first 3 times I read it to say that the usage was 6800 amp hours per day based on the heading.....

[Tadfar]

Sorry, i see how the title could be confusing, the model is RFU 6800

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by field & stream

Well, it depends. It’s not good, but if you are plugged in the 50-80 amp hours per day hardly matters. If you are unplugged and don’t have a big investment in solar panels and lithium batteries then your batteries are dead in a day or two.

For those who can tolerate them, running a generator daily is a work-around.

Being of grid and stressed out constantly about available power doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Nor the idea of dropping 20 k for a set up to sit around quietly for a few days.
I have no issues with running a generator especially the newer dual fuel quite 2500W models that are plenty to keep you going without anxiety.

[bcheever]

When I used to camp with my folks in our SOB trailer in the 60s the fridge was basically a cooler built into the wall with a huge block of ice in it. I'm beginning to think that wasn't such a bad idea : )

Seriously though thank you for this data, very helpful.

[field & stream]

How about this for a good idea: how about a trailer refrigerator with a freezer compartment that wouldn’t use any electricity at all?

I have one in my 1962 trailer and it is still functioning properly.

[ROBERT CROSS]

People hear 'glamping' and immediately think Airstream..."Be not deceived with the first appearance of things, for show is not substance."
Sad the road the bean counters have chosen.

Bob
🇺🇸

[1StreamDream]

Originally Posted by spinter

Is this good or bad?

I see this as *really* bad, here’s the frame of reference that helps illustrate it more boldly. The trailer comes with 2 batteries, each is rated at (approximately) 80amp hrs, but with lead acid, you can’t go below roughly 50% capacity without risking permanent damage to the batteries, so you’re entire budget for 12vdc operation is about 80amp hrs (total of all electrical loads). The OP will have to confirm if his amp draw numbers are exclusively the fridge, or the entire 12v subsystem, but either way, there is no electrical budget left for other important items like the LP furnace, the water pump, the lights, the fans for air circulation. As a few others have said, if on 120vac shore power it is a ”don’t care” but my primary objective is to visit national parks, where there is *no* shore power. I do not like the idea that I would need to run my generator 10 to 12 hrs a day just so I could make it overnight on battery power.

[Tadfar]

I left out that information, the only thing running for the entire 24 hours was the Refrigerator. The amperage draw went down to .57, yes point five seven amps. Just the propane alarm which you cannot shut off.

[suncoasteng]

Been on the road for 10 weeks, two 30# LP tanks for cooking and fridge. Cool weather hit two weeks ago. Went to get LP refill today and only one tank needed 1/3 fill, other still full
Why would anyone go all electric????

[spinter]

I don’t think we have a choice.

[GetawA-S]

Tadfar,
I assume you meant to type 9 AM for the final reading, since this sounds like a full 24 hours of operation test.
Was the fridge was in cool-down mode at least part of the time? You went from an average 4 A during the first part of the day to 2.5 A overnight. Some of that might be because of cooler overnight temperatures. Have you repeated this experiment with the fridge in regular operating mode? (Already cooled down)

[Tadfar]

To answer the last question, yes it was in cool down mode for the first part. I only had the fridge running for 30 minutes on shore power before i unplugged and went to all battery.


It did get to 80 degrees outside during the day but i think it was higher in the trailer. I did not have the fantastic fans running so probably 90 degrees in the trailer.


I agree it would have been less if i would have run the fridge on shore power for 6 hours, and or loaded the fridge with cold items, a full fridge will hold temperatures.


No plan to run experiment again


tim

[Bill M.]

And I bet it would have used more power if someone was opening and closing the door all day for lunch and dinner and drinks and snacks.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

How were you logging the power used?

Bob

[Tadfar]

Uncle bob


I have a Victron 500a Smart Shunt installed, thats how i get the usage readings