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Topic: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions? (Read 2927 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Tom Lang –
About six years ago I replaced my refrigerator with a custom same dimensions two compressor unit by SeaFreeze. Each compressor takes 4 Amps while running. I have no idea of the duty cycle.
I also have a seafreeze marine fridge/freezer. Uses a BD50 compressor, both 120V and 12 V. Don't know what the actual power use us but it's a good unit but expensive. Door gasket can be a issue. My compressor is remotely mounted.

Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #22 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
Tom, did you ever add a power meter to measure imcoming power to the refrig/freezer that shows watt hrs over time?  This gives you an accurate measure of power consumed over time independent of duty cycle, amps and battery voltage. 

Something like this one...
Battery Monitor, DROK Voltage Meter Ammeter DC 0-300V 200A STN Digital LCD...

That's still on my to do list.
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Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #23 –
Quote from: Journey, Roam, Explore –
I also have a seafreeze marine fridge/freezer. Uses a BD50 compressor, both 120V and 12 V. Don't know what the actual power use us but it's a good unit but expensive. Door gasket can be a issue. My compressor is remotely mounted.


I agree. I added a second door gasket and it now seals well.

Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #24 –
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-9-2-cu-ft-bottom-freezer-refrigerator-black/6220705.p?skuId=6220705
 Low amp 120V unit .


Measured amps @.91 wither the amp clamp . Measured with the killa watt@ .89  amp.
  About 82 watts running right now .
Volts reads 113. Same as the bus meter.
Looks pretty frugal and my yellow tag says 45$ per year  .
 I still dont quite understand how this can be ice cold and use  100watts or less.
 
Edit ;  I opened the door  and the amp meter shows the light @ .015 or so (LED light.)
 The compressor does not run with the door open.  Let the cooler warm up a few  seconds. Close the door. The fridge must have some sort of smart  box where it waits a couple of minutes to start the compressor .  Compressor starts and the amps go to .90+-3.  Watts to 83 +-.  It does run maybe 20 minutes or more . Never shows more than .85 watts. often .79.    Goes to 0 when  compressor stops.
 It sure gets a lot of BTU from very little power.  My 2 8D should run it for over 12 hrs.
 I  added a second alternator, ( GM 1 wire 105 amp ) in place of the ac compressor . The new PSW inverter should be here today or thurs.

Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #25 –
Hook up your Kill-a-Watt meter and report total watts after a week and divide by the number of hours to get watts average watts per hour.  It is the only way to get a real world number that includes everyday use and some day to day variances.  My Samsung 19 cu ft French Door residential uses about 65 watts per hour measured over a month.  It is more in the summer. Depends on temperature settings. And it depends on whether the side and roof vents are open.  Lots of variables. If you are getting the 120v from your inverter you have to include power to have the inverter to be on and inverter efficiency losses. 

Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #26 –
I agree with Roger's previous reply.  I have used the Kill-A-Watt meter to measure power draw as well as confirm readings from my "Currant Bluetooth Power Monitor" and my similar Samsung usage and reading below.

I was an early adopter of the "Currant" model and was happy with that company's support and updated product they supplied to me, they now sell.

I see Amazon is currently out of stock.  I would call the the Currant manufacturer first before ordering directly from them.

WiFi Smart Outlet | Currant

This is a picture from my phone of a typical day's usage, of 1.44 kWh for a 24 hour time period.  I like the fact the firmware is easily updated over the web, and the fact I can see on my phone so much info over Bluetooth.  Monitoring with the Currant unit, once saved my butt, when it suddenly showed the daily kwh go up by 50% because the Samsung had iced up due to a mistake of mine. Also I appreciated the manufacturers tech support on the web, and by email.

Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #27 –
I've been looking at 12v fridges myself.  I want to put something with more cubic feet than the old Norcold absorption.  Couldn't find any residential fridges that would fit in the opening with the required clearances, and the way my RV is laid out there is no way to expand the opening.  I've looked at Everchil and there clones such as GE and RecPro, but the documentation states that it needs and inch gap on the sides of the fridge.  If you remove the blue foam insulation you could gain 3/4 of an inch which might be enough.  The Dometic, Furrion, and Norcold do not require the added room on the sides like the Everchil.  However, the Dometic and Norcold are so new that I couldn't find any real world use reviews of these fridges.  The Furion had horrible reviews and  supposedly Forrest River had so many problems with them that they switched to other brands. I haven't completely decided yet, but I am leaning to waiting a year and see how things go with the Dometic and Norcold fridges.

Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #28 –
Quote from: jbeem –
......I want to put something with more cubic feet than the old Norcold absorption.  Couldn't find any residential fridges that would fit in the opening with the required clearances, and the way my RV is laid out there is no way to expand the opening.........

jbeam  Your 36ft 270 has a Dometic NPR 1062 only 23 11/16 wide, width height depth measurements are on page 8 of manual your manual. (See below)  Good luck on your search.
Operating Instructions - Dometic NDR1062 Installation And Operating Instructi...

My Samsung RF20HFENBSR, (32 3/16 wide), only required 3/8 inch clearance on top and sides and 1 inch on rear for connections. The space in my 1997 U295 4000 exceeds that, without modification of width of previous  opening.  Had to remove platform below old Dometic.  All intake and exhaust air comes in and goes out at the bottom of the refrigerator and to the front.  I've sealed off top and rear vents.  Normally when operating the refrigerator, the inside temperature of our rv is between 65 and 82 degrees.

Pictures of removed Dometic RM7832 & Samsung, including molding around front edge.
Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos

 

Re: 12v Refrigerators- Any Opinions?

Reply #29 –
Jbeem, your layout in a 36 ft is different than a 40 ft and a non counter depth refrig will stick out about 3 extra inches, likely into the hallway going towards the bedroom.  The doors on most Counter top depth refrigerators stick out past the face of the  cabinets.  You may not want the extra case size to limit your clearances.

Measure carefully.