Running your RV refrigerator down the road
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Running your RV refrigerator down the road. Using Your Inverter to Power Your Refrigerator While Traveling: Is It Enough? 🚐 - In this episode, Todd tackles two frequently asked questions: Can I use my inverter to power my refrigerator while driving? and Is the power from my RV’s alternator enough to keep everything running smoothly?
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I put frozen water bottles in fridge on travel days.
I converted my propane refrigerator to use a DC compressor instead. Simply pulled the fridge out of the wall, removed all the propane hardware, including the chill plate, and bolted in the DC compressor hardware, then put the fridge back in the wall cavity. Compressor uses 300watts when running, and on a summer travel day will average 120 watt hours consumption per hour. This was a Dutchaire conversion from JC Refrigeration in Shipshewana Indiana. The engine alternator easily has enough output to run the fridge driving down the road, and, with 900watts of solar on the roof and 4.5kWh of LiFePO batteries I can boondock for days at a time without running my generator, if the sun shines enough. This is in a 2008 Tiffin Allegro Bay.
I switched to a 12v dc fridge and it's definitely the way to go. Running it off the 12v system and not having that loss from inverting helps a ton.
Add solar and freeze water bottles prior to travel days and put them in the fridge.
We have a 2000 class A. The fridge and it staying cool/running on long drive days was very important to us.
Our solve:
Took out the old propane/electric fridge. Picked up a contoure fridge from camping world. About 900 bucks with warranty out us at about 1100. We were limited on options as we have a 24 inch wide door and we wanted as large of a fridge as we could. Landed at 15.5 cubic
Installed it. When plugged into shore the outlet for the original fridge is used.
For travel, I ran a through the wall plug that lands in the living space on the wall to the back of the fridge. Kept the access panel usable from the outside. I just switch over the plug to that when we travel.
What provides the power is a eco flow delta pro. I plug that into the wall plug I mounted it goes to the fridge and boom. It is powered.
Now I went over kill on the power station as I couldn’t get the specs for power on the fridge. But start up it pulls about 1500 watts after that and it’s cold it pulls 80 watts or less.
So on 3600 watt delta pro we can go a long time!
I did hack the work around to extend it longer. The 12v wiring that was in the fridge cavity for the old gas fridge. I added plugs to it so I can use that. So now I plug the fridge into the delta, and the delta into 12v and I get about 80 out for the fridge with about 60 watts in from the 12v and well we can go even longer for drives and overnight stays.
Thanks Todd! I never thought about the dc to dc being limited if running all the accessories. It is Victron so easy to pull up on the phone and look. Someday hopefully, I will be sitting in your NRTA classroom asking of all the crazy questions in my head. I should have mentioned it is a modified sine wave inverter, but I wouldn't think that would matter for the induction fridge. Or does it? hmmm Tech tip question: Pure sine wave or modified sine wave inverter. Should we avoid running certain RV appliances with a modified sine wave inverter?
Not really apples to apples but my rig has a dorm frig/freezer about 4.5 cubic feet and 630 watts of solar with no DC to DC. It is plugged into my inverter. If the sun is out I can run all day with zero drain on my two 100 amp agm batteries. My understanding is that these household type frig/freezers are more efficient then RV frig/freezer. Mine is also smaller. Hopefully RV manufactures will wake up and do a couple things. One is better frig/freezer set ups and two is mini split AC. Okay one more is way better and I mean way better quality control. Thanks Todd for all your great tips.
Todd, as always, thank you for sharing this.
Hi Todd, my wife and I faithfully watch your weekly videos, and thank you for all your knowledge and tips! You're always a fountain of good information. My question has to do with converting my 2019 Wolf Pack 24 toy hauler from 30 amp to 50 amp. We primarily camp with full hookups, so no boondocking, although it does have a 1000 watt inverter, no solar. Our refrigerator is electric only, not 12V, one A/C, and a convection micro. Would it be more trouble than it's worth, or is it feasible to do? Also, I would not be trying this myself. Thank you!!
I’m no Todd, but I’ll tell you that this is fairly easy. I’m upgrading our ‘23 Ibex to a Victron Multiplus charger and inverter. You’ll need to upgrade upgrade the wiring from your shore power outlet and you’ll need to upgrade your converter. I’d suggest going ahead and upgrading to an EG4 or Victron unit personally but even the Renogy is a good choice just make sure it’s a pure sine wave unit. Feed the charger converter to your panel and battery and you’re set. The hardest part will be running wire and getting equipment in and out of tight spaces. Just remember the most direct route to a space may not be the best or easiest route.
Good luck and happy camping ⛺️!
Todd....how does your beard smell so good .....love the Tech Tips....see you soon
Warthog's Mobile RV Repair
In my Opinion: Add some solar and replace with 12 volt compressor fridge, Better cooling and less $$ than a big inverter. Evaporator fridges don’t really cool, they help stay cool. A 12 pack will take all day to cool.
What’s the ratio of students that are attending the academy for themselves or a dealer/repair shop.
Absolutely adding a $1K fridge and $1K of solar would be a great solution. I was thinking more like less than $50 of electrical cable my fix the issue though. I use it for glamping not living at the moment.
Would a portable solar set up like a eco flow be a good alternative to a full blown solar system install ?
2513 Princess Valley
Does an inverter use any power running to power equipment on an RV. In other words, does it contribute to the battery drain?
Yes. That’s how an inverter is powered, by battery
Yes, the numbers are in the specs of the power use of the inverter and remember your vampire devices also use some.
Hey Todd. I suspect I am near (if not over) my GVWR for my 34 foot 5th wheel trailer. I want to replace my electrical system that came with 2 wet cell deep cycle batteries to a system with 4 lithium batteries, a large inverter, and 6 solar panels, but I'm concerned about the trailer's weight. If I do some up grades, such as up grade the axles, brake system, suspension, etc.; can I have the GVWR weight limit changed?
@@terrymoses7548 you have to go through the right steps to have reclassified based on the state and DOT but yes it’s a possibility.
Hi from Mcallen Tx
036 Gretchen Estate
Add some solar.
I guess I need to stop at a tunnel n turn off my propane truck before I drive through… just wait until an Ev blows up inside a tunnel. Then just like that no more running ur fridge in an Rv on battery….
@@Alanstrainworld internal combustion is safe. External combustion from appliances are not safe. Nor are the two comparable. But nice try.
@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy I didn’t compare the 2. Most Rv rigs that catch on fire are caused by other issues. But always have the nervous nellies. Not here to argue or disagree. Folks need to check tire pressure, Rv weights n towing capacity of tow vehicles as well. N slow down n drive responsible. Rv refrigerators catch on fire due to lack of maintenance. Mud daubers being the #1 problem. #1 Rv fire starter is electrical issues, ie mice.lots of electric wire coating is made with soybean oil… go figure