Running Dometic Refrigerator on 15amp

[kaosinacan]

We are planning on taking our new 2021 Classic 30RB out this weekend and I could not get the refrigerator to come on while the unit is plugged in to the 15amp plug at our storage locker. The guy who did our orientation said it would work on that without needing the propane so I didn't question it. Of course now I can't get it to work. Does anyone have any suggestions, or will we have to use propane? Thanks.

[kittmaster]

What is the failure mode? The fridge should only pull about 2 amps on electric....which is far less than 15A.

Is it blinking? Any display? Blowing fuses?

[kaosinacan]

Nothing, it just shows 6 0 on the display. When I move it to auto mode for electric it doesn't come on.

[GeeSag]

Do you perhaps have the trailer in Store Mode?
When on 120 volts, the Fridge still needs 12 vDC for the control circuit.

[kittmaster]

I bet I know, you have a 50 amp connection, I'm guessing that the 15amp plug is only energizing one leg of the two HOTS and guessing the fridge is on the opposite leg.

I bet if you plugged into the 50 amp connection all is right with the world....I think Airstream may have wired it fine, but the plug adapter only ties one side to gnd/neutral and hot leg 1 vs hot legs 1/2.

That would make the most logical sense.

[n2916s]

Originally Posted by kittmaster

I bet I know, you have a 50 amp connection, I'm guessing that the 15amp plug is only energizing one leg of the two HOTS and guessing the fridge is on the opposite leg.

I bet if you plugged into the 50 amp connection all is right with the world....I think Airstream may have wired it fine, but the plug adapter only ties one side to gnd/neutral and hot leg 1 vs hot legs 1/2.

That would make the most logical sense.

Excellent observation.

[moosetags]

If, in fact, the 50/15 amp thing is the issue, you might try going into the outside refrigerator compartment. There should bean outlet where the refrigerator is plugged in. Unplug the refrigerator from the outlet and plug it into an extension cord plugged into the 15 amp outlet. That should bypass the 50 amp issue.

Brian

[kittmaster]

If you find that all the above solves the issue, then the next response will be how do I use a 15 amp to keep the frig and batteries charged which is a fair inquiry.

The answer, return the 15 to 50 adapter you have, then:

15A > 30A

https://smile.amazon.com/Conntek-141...omotive&sr=1-7



30A > 50A

https://smile.amazon.com/OPL5-Adapte...s%2C223&sr=8-8



The 30 amp to 50 amp will have both HOT legs of the 50 attached to the HOT of the 30 amp.

But that would allow you to keep the trailer plugged into a 15 amp outlet while charging your batteries and running the fridge.

Keep in mind, do not operate your Heat Pumps/Furnace or ACs, I think that would put you over 15 amps and trip the breakers!

Hope this helps.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by moosetags

If, in fact, the 50/15 amp thing is the issue, you might try going into the outside refrigerator compartment. There should bean outlet where the refrigerator is plugged in. Unplug the refrigerator from the outlet and plug it into an extension cord plugged into the 15 amp outlet. That should bypass the 50 amp issue.

Brian

But he still needs 12 v. from the converter!

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by kittmaster

If you find that all the above solves the issue, then the next response will be how do I use a 15 amp to keep the frig and batteries charged which is a fair inquiry.

The answer, return the 15 to 50 adapter you have, then:

15A > 30A

https://smile.amazon.com/Conntek-141...omotive&sr=1-7



30A > 50A

https://smile.amazon.com/OPL5-Adapte...s%2C223&sr=8-8



The 30 amp to 50 amp will have both HOT legs of the 50 attached to the HOT of the 30 amp.

But that would allow you to keep the trailer plugged into a 15 amp outlet while charging your batteries and running the fridge.

Keep in mind, do not operate your Heat Pumps/Furnace or ACs, I think that would put you over 15 amps and trip the breakers!

Hope this helps.

You had me scratching my head. If one leg of a 30 amp adapter feeds both legs of a 50 amp doggone, why doesn't 15 amp do the same? Answer: I don't know, but it doesn't. Maybe the wire gods didn't want to further divide 15 amps?
A bit of research showed me the wisdom of your using two adapters! NICE!

[moosetags]

[QUOTE=Mollysdad;2472989]But he still needs 12 v. from the converter![/QUOT

Without the whole trailer plugged-in, he should have 12 volt from the batteries.

Brian

[kittmaster]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

You had me scratching my head. If one leg of a 30 amp adapter feeds both legs of a 50 amp doggone, why doesn't 15 amp do the same? Answer: I don't know, but it doesn't. Maybe the wire gods didn't want to further divide 15 amps?
A bit of research showed me the wisdom of your using two adapters! NICE!

Glad to help...

[Wazbro]

There have been several posts in the past 2 months about NEW Airstreams that had problems with the fridge blowing the fuse on the fridge control board then the fridge would no longer work on 120 volt.

[KeithC]

The knowledge of contributors to this web site is remarkable. WOW

[GetawA-S]

About the plug in the fridge service compartment: I believe that cord goes directly to the fridge’s boiler heater. The fridge will not modulate. Good for troubleshooting, but you will freeze your lettuce.

[GOUSC]

If your connection is the problem, To keep things even simpler I use an item like this- see picture. I have a Mighty Cord version but this should work as well.

[ETroup]

My 2021 AS International 27FB is plugged into a 110vac 20 amp circuit in our storage site. Everything works fine including the refrigerator. Both 50 amp Power Cord LEDs light up indicating that both legs of the fifty amp cord are powered.

I can also run 1 AC unit using either the 110 vac shore power or one 2000 watt Champion dual fuel inverter generator.

I do not have a soft start installed. Do not seem to need.

[GoBeta]

Originally Posted by ETroup

My 2021 AS International 27FB is plugged into a 110vac 20 amp circuit in our storage site. Everything works fine including the refrigerator. Both 50 amp Power Cord LEDs light up indicating that both legs of the fifty amp cord are powered.

I can also run 1 AC unit using either the 110 vac shore power or one 2000 watt Champion dual fuel inverter generator.

I do not have a soft start installed. Do not seem to need.

I'm a little late to this conversation, but I also have a 2021 27FB International. I wanted to keep my fridge running while parked in my driveway at home. So I simply opened the vented compartment on the exterior of the AS, unplugged the fridge from the outlet it's plugged into under there, and plugged it into an extension cord that runs to a regular 15 amp outlet in my garage. Works fine. No need for expensive SmartPlug adaptors. But then again, that's the only device I care about running while parked in my driveway (not the A/C, microwave, etc.).