I would like to provide my opinion of the 12 volt Norcold Polar #N10DC after >one year of use.
After a short break-in period these are the temperatures we are achieving-
1. Refrigerator set to "3"- +/- 38 degrees.
2. Freezer set to "5"- minus 3 to zero degrees.
We are full timing for the last three months in 90 to 100 degree weather.
We are happy with the build quality.
Hope this helps anyone considering this model.
Best to the forum members.
-FT
Sounds like it works great 👍 do they make a 12-14 CF?
Thanks for the info.
Bruce, yes they make a 15 cu.ft.
Polar® Elite N15DC - Norcold (https://norcold.com/product/polar-n15dc/)
I've been eyeballing this one for a while now. I think without removing the slide, it may be a bear to get in. I don't think it will go through a window. Being only 24" deep, it may go through the door, but at 200+ pounds, not to sure about wrestling it in the door and into position,
We dry camp a lot, and my though is with a couple of 400AH lithium batteries, with small solar system (600 watt) we could go several days before needing the generator to replenish the batteries with the inverter charger.
If you take the fridge doors off, remove all the shelves and bins you remove a good bit of weight and depth for taking through the door. Also remove the grab handle by entry door and move passenger seat back and swivel to improve access between dash and seat. That's also how I took my old fridge out - stripped it down. Even took the cooling unit off, and it slipped right out the door at less than half the regular weight.
You could also mock it up with cardboard and do a dry run through door. That's a lot easier than pulling slide. If it won't make it through front door then a window would be easier to remove and then use a material lift rented from Home Depot.
Have you measured the daily electrical usage in the 90 to 100 degree temperature range? Just curious on how many additional AH required if making the conversion from an absorption mode on propane.
Joe, my Magic Chef 10.1 is rated at 60 watts, I measured actual consumption with a watt meter and it averaged 32.1 watts per hour, so running about half the time. I have 600 ah of lithium but only 900 watts solar. Each morning I'm down about 140 to 180 ah, and on a good day I am at 100% by 1 pm. When it's cloudy or I'm tucked underneath trees I might run generator an hour or two every couple days. I have propane heat and the furnace fan uses 9 amps, so my consumption is highest in cold weather. My fridge is 110 volt not 12. Running on a dedicated Pure Sine inverter 24/7. These numbers do not reflect much over 90 degrees. Wife keeps fridge pretty full and I no longer hassle her about how long she keeps the door open. No ice maker but frost free. We won't ever go back to absorption fridge in this rig.
I installed a stainless Bosch side by side, counter depth fridge several years ago. I have a 1995 with the narrow front door.
I removed the passenger seat and the grab bar by the inside of front door, The Bosch is a beast and weights, as I remember over 300#. I removed everything inside the fridge, removed both doors. It barely cleared the front door. With the doors off it was easier to grab the fridge and maneuver it. My wife and I struggled, but did manage to get it in and installed.
A couple small dents and a mild scratch or two, but I can easily live with that.