We're planning to join the residential fridge contingent this spring with FOT doing the work (left a "may we please have an appointment" message with David F. and Joshua this afternoon).
Going to do the same Samsung RSG257 that Dave M. and I believe David Bethard have.
Question - has anyone who's gone to the larger residential models done so with a dedicated small inverter for the power? I know we could just run the "big" inverter, but I'm thinking having a small one might be practical, and I seem to recall that's how some friends' Tiffin has the fridge powered. Thoughts?
Michelle
I might consider a small dedicated inverter but that is one more thing that can fail.
Michelle... as posted earlier, I have a similar Samsung in the Tucson winter house. I discovered that I could order an extra freezer shelf for $20 from appliancepartspros.com (http://appliancepartspros.com) - be sure to verify which part number (my freezer has 3 different style shelves: upper, mid, and lower). I added an additional mid-level shelf which dramatically increased the storage space in my freezer, not to mention the fact that I could find items much easier! :))
really large refrigerator that Samsung.
I will go dedicated batteries/inverter and solar when I lose the two burner propane cooktop
Specs says 30" deep.
case is 23.75" deep. We measured it at Lowes yesterday.
Shop Samsung 24.5-cu ft Side-by-Side Counter-Depth Refrigerator (Stainless) (http://www.lowes.com/pd_102751-149-RSG257AARS_1z0y0cd+1z11pma+1z13z1v__?productId=1210367&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=Samsung)
Specs:
Height to Top of Case (Inches) 68.625
Height to Top of Door Hinge (Inches) 69.8125
Width (Inches) 35.875
Depth (Including Handles) (Inches) 29.875
Depth (Excluding Handles) (Inches) 27.25
Depth (Less Door) (Inches) 23.75
Depth with Door Open (Inches) 41.75
I would not go with dedicated battery. You will want all of your batteries available. The inverter is plenty big and running down the road the alternator provides juice but stopped I would want all my batteries.
Wonder why the spec difference? Airflow?
Bob
We weren't thinking dedicated battery. Dedicated small inverter.
The smaller (and newer) inverters probably have better efficiency than the big inverters (like the original one in my 2001), so owners who do a lot of boondocking like a 2nd inverter. On the other hand, if you also run other things then your end up running the big inverter anyway - for stuff like a CPAP machine at night. With 3 8D batteries and the original inverter we do fine with our residential refrigerator overnight with no shore power.
How many amp hours do you notice it uses?
Yup Cpaps and fridge and heat too and we can go all night too.
Michelle, didn't notice if it had door locks. Good looking unit thou.
Richard B
When I put in our residential fridge, I did install a dedicated inverter. Makes it easy to manage power when boondocking. I also installed 120V outlets in the fridge external compartment for direct shore power, main inverter power, and dedicated inverter power. That way I can cover all bases and just move the fridge plug if I need to.
Tim, I took out the big lp tank when I did the Samsung. I replaced it with two little 5 or 10 pound tanks with a selector regulator. They only run the burners so I picked up almost the entire bay the big LP tank was. In and kept the burners which we like.
As for the inverter we use or big one and so far no issues with power. Going down the road the alternator seems to keep up fine and when we boon dock I run the gen for a few hours a day until I get around to doing the solar.
Dave, that is a good idea.
Sweet. I wonder if I could get a couple of 8d's in that space plus the standard 20lb propane refillable tank that could be removed and swapped at HD etc. when empty. Mom stays in coach all winter and maybe uses 2 gals on the big tank, I use even less since I cook outside usually on grill and two burner camp stove.
Hmmmmmm. two new 8d's, small propane tank for two burner in kitchen, solar on roof, dedicated inverter for the Residential ref rig - now that would be awesome! Have to take some measurements when I get back. Maybe John S will post pictures of his new battery install. Dave M put in one new 8D, looked like a lot of room left over after that.
Do you remember what your average amp hour comsumption is overnight running the refer?
This is what I did for my additional inverter for fridge, and it gives me a simple switch for going from one source of power to another. It has worked flawlessly and a lot better than using the 2500 Prosine while driving.
Additional Inverter (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/additional_inverter.html)
This is so simple to do and does not cost an arm and leg, would not do it any other way.
John H