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Topic: Fridge Replacement (Read 779 times) previous topic - next topic

Fridge Replacement

I had to replace my refrigerator, and I wanted to keep to a Dometic elect/gas unit, but didn't want to pay thousands for a replacement the same size.  I went with a 8 cf, and incorporated a 'hidden' compartment on the left sized 9"x 60"x 15" deep, with a hidden sliding latch inside the food storage cabinets to the left. 
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Fridge Replacement

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Yetch –
I went with a 8 cf, and incorporated a 'hidden' compartment on the left sized 9"x 60"x 15" deep...
Nice work!  The hidden compartment is a perfect place to store your ironing board.  You DO iron, don't you?
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Fridge Replacement

Reply #2 –
What's an ironing board?
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Fridge Replacement

Reply #3 –
If I were faced with this and I insisted on keeping an rv fridge, I would do the 12v compressor retrofit from jc refrigeration.  I haven't heard any long term reviews but the concept seems sound.  Dometic 1350 Hvac 12V 7.5A 90W @12V *( see order info requirements below )...  I'm not sure if that's the exact one we'd need but I'm pretty sure they do supply one for our dometic elite "extra wide" side by side fridge/freezers.  That said my real preference would be one of the samsung retrofits.

An induction cooktop and a yanked out propane tank probably wouldn't be far behind.

Re: Fridge Replacement

Reply #4 –
But you still have the old refrigerator.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Fridge Replacement

Reply #5 –
Ah yes if you don't have the original to retrofit that's kind of an issue ;)

Re: Fridge Replacement

Reply #6 –
With a straight 12v unit you don't have the inefficiency factor of an inverter
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country
 

Re: Fridge Replacement

Reply #7 –
Users with the 12v (or 120v) conversions report average watts used over time is not much less than an efficient residential.  (1600-1700 watts per day) Our 36" wide Dometic wasn't working well, cooling slowly and had a basically useless freezer shape that nothing fit in well.  A 12v or 120v conversion would have left us with the same configuration, insulation, door seals, all problem areas.  Our 32" wide Samsung has almost twice the volume, weighs about 1/2 what the Dometic did and when we bought it cost less than the 12v conversion kit and I sold the Dometic for $250.  And we added a narrow pantry area that has been quite usefull.

Our bigger inverter is actually a bit more efficient than the smaller one I added but the smaller one uses less power to be on. Just slightly in favor of the smaller one, I can use either one or both or the landline or generator. Using any 120 volt refrig on an inverter will have some efficiency cost, about 160 watts per day.  Going from an LP refrig to a 12v or 120v refrig will add significantly to your total daily power use and demand on your battery capacity.

But for us the benefits have been huge and available every day in the coach. We would be very hard pressed to do anything else.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN