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Old 05-27-2022, 08:12 AM   #1
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Upgrade to 12v fridge

I have a 2018 FC and am interested in upgrading the fridge to an all electric model.

Has anybody attempted this as a project and if so what model do have and are you happy with it?

Thanks!
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Old 05-27-2022, 10:53 AM   #2
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That seems to be the new fad in trailers.
But it requires you to have 12 v all the time.
Thus solar is usually first, then big lithium batteries.
My gas/electric fridge works great. I see no reason to swap at this time.
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Old 05-27-2022, 11:24 AM   #3
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12 V Fridge

Based on my experience with a 12v fridge in an SOB van, I would NOT install a 12v Fridge. We were in central Washington last summer during the heat wave - 100F temperatures. The solar would not keep up with the fridge draw - even in full sun and driving some during the day. Ended up starting the van to charge in the middle of the night (no generator policy at night).

We have a typical RV fridge in our AS, which runs off of shore power or propane - works well.

If you plan to always be hooked to shore power then you will be OK ....

IMHO
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Old 05-27-2022, 01:15 PM   #4
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There a few reasons I like the 12v fridge:

-more space up to 8CF
-only uses 4-5amps
-no need to worry about being perfectly level
-no need to use propane while driving
-we plan on installing solar soon

I believe the new 12v fridges have really made some strides in terms of efficiency
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Old 05-27-2022, 01:51 PM   #5
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I just recently installed the dometic dmc4101. Dimension wise it was a direct replacement for the absorption fridge that failed. Capping the propane was easy (simply purchased a 3/8” flare plug I believe). For electric I decided to run a new positive, negative, and ground wire and put the fridge on its own fuse. This was at the recommendation of an electrician since the power center is directly below the fridge it was super easy. So far it’s been great although we really haven’t tested it with solar only.
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Old 05-27-2022, 01:52 PM   #6
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All depends on how you like to camp and how you're trailer is set up.


We had a 12v only fridge in our coach and loved it, but we had a huge battery bank and solar to take us through many days of dry camping without issue. In our current 25-ft
Airstream I'd never consider it. The trailer is already pushing its weight limit, so adding lots more batteries isn't an option, and there's only so much real estate on the roof for more solar.


If you do nearly all your camping plugged in then the only time you'll run it off the batteries alone will be while driving, and that will be helped a little by your charging wire from the tow vehicle. If this is the type of camping you do, then go for it.


However, if you like to spend time not plugged in or do a lot of dry camping on the way to places, then perhaps not. Would suck to want to spend a few days out on BLM land only to realize you can't without adding more batteries or solar (or both) just to keep the beer cold.
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Old 05-27-2022, 01:58 PM   #7
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I question your use of the word "upgrade."

This is at least a bit tongue in cheek. At some point, they will all be electric and while to see the advantages, I have no need to be an early adopter on this one. There is some compressor noise, isn't there?
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Old 05-27-2022, 02:24 PM   #8
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I’d agree that it’s not necessarily an “upgrade” depending on how you travel/camp. For me the decision was tough, I looked into replacing the failed cooling unit, and or buying another absorption fridge. But after seeing two absorption fridges fail, and the updated absorption fridge also requiring new door inserts on top of being almost 1k more than the 12v…I decided to go with the cheaper option. So far I like the 12v. As mentioned there is more space, no ice build up on the fins, temp stays pretty consistent from what I can tell. There is compressor noise. I wouldn’t say it’s loud by any means. But if you are a sensitive sleeper it could be something to think about
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Old 05-27-2022, 02:52 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N95556 View Post
There a few reasons I like the 12v fridge:

-more space up to 8CF
-only uses 4-5amps
-no need to worry about being perfectly level
-no need to use propane while driving
-we plan on installing solar soon

I believe the new 12v fridges have really made some strides in terms of efficiency
The above list captures the benefits of electric-only fridges — except I would add that they cool down faster, too.

However, I take a bit of an exception to the phrase it “only uses 4-5 Amps”. That is a good number for electrical draw while they are running, but omits the fact that they will be running about 50% of the time, more on hot days with warm nights. So, that’s about 60+ Amp hours per day, equivalent to all or more of the usable power stored in a 100Ah lead acid battery. All other uses are in addition.

This is why others are expressing caution. If you are plugged in all the time then it doesn’t matter. I you don’t mind the hassles and annoyances of generators then it doesn’t matter much. But, if you like to go unplugged, then you will need to invest in lithium batteries and some significant solar capability to last more than a day or two.
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Old 05-27-2022, 05:08 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N95556 View Post
I have a 2018 FC and am interested in upgrading the fridge to an all electric model.

Has anybody attempted this as a project and if so what model do have and are you happy with it?

Thanks!


I just installed a NovaKool 9 cubic foot electric/12 volt unit. I’m 90% plugged in to shore power and have a generator for the other 10% so I’m happy to leave the absorption fridge behind.
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Old 05-28-2022, 09:32 AM   #11
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I upgraded to the 12v Norcold N10DCDSSR

First of all it's not a drop in replacement because it requires a zero clearance install. This means to create effective cooling it requires customization of the compartment. Also took advantage of the space no longer needed after sealing the back. I created a new storage compartment with a 110v outlet leftover but had to remove the propane line altogether and using the vent door for access. It is most definitely an upgrade as it just sips power from our 500AH lithium battery bank. And performance is great even in 100 plus degree heat when traveling through Arizona.
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Old 05-28-2022, 09:55 AM   #12
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Hi

Ok, so here's the math:

If you have a 2 cubic foot fridge, it pulls less power than a 4 cubic foot. A 4 pulls less than an 8. First thing is to work out what size fridge we're talking about. The typical fridge in a 28' is fairly large.

Using the fridge in the van as an example (it's roughly the right size):

It has two compressors. Each one pulls about 5A when running. One operates the freezer. The other operates the refrigerator section. With both doing their thing, they pull about 10.5A off the battery.

How often then run and how long they run depends on how well the area is ventilated and how hot / cold it is out. A 30% run time is not a bad guess at 70F. If you are chugging down the road in the hot sun / parked out at the beach, something up around 80% is not impossible.

3A off of your battery for 24 hours is 72 AH. If you have the stock lead acid batteries, you just took them from "full" to "stop using". 8A for 9 hours will do the same thing. That assumes the batteries are in "brand new" condition and got a full charge at the start.

This is not a trivial load to drop on a stock battery system.

Does this mean 12V fridges are a bad thing? No, they aren't. You simply have to upgrade the batteries to match the load. They will do a much better job of cooling the two sections if you get one with two compressors. With a single compressor, you are right back to the same old compromises ....

Bob
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Old 05-28-2022, 11:00 AM   #13
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AC / DC Refrigerator

When we rebuilt our 1967 Safari a dorm style AC refrigerator was removed and new cabinet built to install a marine drawer type 2.3 CF refrigerator, no freezer, that runs on a Danfoss compressor. It is exceptionally efficient, always cooling when on the road or on shore power. We chose Isotherm but there are other manufacturers. Now we do not normally boondock so if you do, this may not be the best option. For us, it has proven to be the ideal solution.

Here's a photo after installation but before the rest of the interior was completed. We could have made it larger using the drawer space above capacity but it has proven sufficient for our needs.
Jim
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Old 05-28-2022, 11:23 AM   #14
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As other posts say, if you do a lot of boondocking (we don't any longer) the change to a 12V-120V unit may not be right for you. We replaced the OEM Dometic with a Nova Kool 3100 on our 2019 Bambi. Works super well! Even last July-August in the desert southwest with temps 100-110F every day, it worked great. We've done a lot of rving in the desert SW and know what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised at how it kept up. Dometic makes great RV products, but the fridge simply didn't function even close to properly. After struggling for 2 years with the Dometic, the switch was made. One cautionary note: check the cutout for the fridge. In our case, the Nova Kool was a bit smaller than the Dometic, but the staff did a great job in fabricating a surround that goes well with the Bambi interior.
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Old 05-28-2022, 12:07 PM   #15
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I have a 12v fridge and freezer which I am not using. It would be nice not to have them in the van which would increase storage space. I find a Yeti hard cooler works great for keeping drinks and the basics cold. I ran into a guy 2 days ago who had 1600 watts of solar and 4 lithium batteries. He said he never runs out of power. The panels were mounted on the sides of his truck camper. I also ran into another couple in a small RV who were headed south for the summer. They installed a fan behind the fridge to draw more air. They said it worked well at helping keep fridge temps in line.
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Old 05-28-2022, 04:04 PM   #16
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No thanks. Absorption all the way. If I have to deal with solar, battery issues etc just to support a fridge. for me I’d just as soon run a yeti cooler full of ice and avoid all the endless “do I have enough capacity?” Issues.
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Old 05-28-2022, 09:42 PM   #17
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Upgrade to 12v fridge

I have a propane fridge and 600ah of lithium. I see no need to move off propane for the fridge - it is the most efficient appliance when boondocking. When plugged in who cares it runs off 120v.

I’ve never had an issue being level and the fridge working in 12+ years and 2 trailers.

It uses less DC energy when boondocking than a compressor fridge.

It is highly reliable.

It uses < 1 amp DC.

It is plenty large at 8cf (I have a 30’ international)

It runs fine when I am driving.

Once it’s cold it stays cold.

Etc…

There are plenty of other upgrades I’d make before dropping $1500 on a new fridge that draws more energy from my lithium bank.
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Old 05-29-2022, 06:17 AM   #18
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Sometimes change pans out, but not always☹️
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Old 05-29-2022, 03:57 PM   #19
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I had the following tech rebuild my Dometic cooling unit 9 years ago. He uses all new tubing especially designed for the inadequate Dometic. The fridge really cools good. He will do the rebuild at his place or ship and receive a replacement for you. This is a very reliable family operation.
RV Cool-Refrigerator Repair
60 Hwy 287
Greenbriar, AR
800 515 6823
wick /stacey@rvcool.com
Wicks/Stacey
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Old 06-01-2022, 09:31 AM   #20
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Do the JC Refrigeration mod. Will convert it to very low power draw compressor.
https://jc-refrigeration.com
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