Refrigerator replacement

Topic: Refrigerator replacement (Read 1709 times) previous topic - next topic

Refrigerator replacement

May 25, 2013, 10:46:22 pm

While we were at the Mid South Rally our Dometic refrigerator quit, no leak so it plugged internally. The NDR1492 always worked pretty good and I had no plans to upgrade. This forced the issue. I needed the fridge replaced soon as possible due to pending travel plans so I called David Flanigan at FOT. He said he could work it in and told me to pick a model with maximum dimensions he provided. I found a Samsung at Lowes that we liked. Bought it online through the Nacogdoches store, on sale, and they delivered it to FOT. We live only 3 hours from FOT so I dropped the coach off. They called Tuesday and said it was ready, that was over two weeks before the agreed deadline. We picked it up Thursday and it's wonderful. This residential refrigerator is going to be fantastic. We did loose a little storage under the old refrigerator but now we have 24 cf and frost free. I'm rather picky and I noticed a couple of small issues which David had squared away in no time and the cost was considerably less than I expected.
I've been following the posts about do it yourself refrigerator replacement and I'm a do it yourself sort but it was just too much weight for me to even think about. I'm ecstatic over the the way David worked with me and the results. I hate spending unplanned money but now I'm glad the Dometic died.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #1 – May 25, 2013, 11:10:55 pm

What Model Number did you buy? and what were the dimensions?

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #2 – May 26, 2013, 05:58:01 am

Dave's Samsung sounds very much like ours, 24 cuft, water & ice in door (Love that part), yes had to cut the box area under it to 4" high, but the space lost is gained inside that 24 CF monster, now store corn flakes in frig and other items not usual in a refrig. Yes, love all aspects of it so far, the one biggie for me is the temp control of each side, correct ice cream temp and 36f for frig side, they are not dependant on each other having the twin cooling what ever,(Over my head) stuff.
Size is same as origional, counter depth and think 69" tall, it does stick out oittle further than the origional, but not an issue. Mine was about $2,200 + about $1,200 install not MOT, but a very nice job in the Houston area. (ask Rudy)

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #3 – May 26, 2013, 07:57:56 am

Welcome to the club a great upgrade.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #4 – May 26, 2013, 08:24:49 am

Agree with everything. Your story is why I chose to replace my 13 year old Dometic "on a prophylactic basis", as I live a long way from NAC and Parliament in FL. Planned ahead, bought refrigerator on sale for $1,284 as previously documented on forum, had it put in on my schedule and convenience in two days for a total cost of a little less than $2,400.

You were fortunate to live close, catch a sale and have David squeeze you in (although some other job may have suffered in his shop....), but with my luck it wouldn't turn out that way.

These refrigerators are awesome, getting rid of the fire risk is nice, but it is way down the list of justifications for this Mod. Once you see one of these installed, you want one.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #5 – May 26, 2013, 09:03:54 am

FYI,
The Samsung refrigerator we used is Model RGS257AARS. I believe the original price was $2400, we bought it on sale for $1899 and are getting a Lowes card worth $180 in addition.
There is an issue with the vegetable bins in the fridge. Since the right door will only open barely past 90 degrees it's impossible to get the bins out. The bins lack fully opening by something less than an inch. It has three of these bins, Wish I had removed one of them and realigned the shelves prior to installation. I could slide the fridge out and remove the door which would allow rearranging the bins but it's too much trouble. there's so much usable space in this refrigerator compared to the Dometic it's not worth the effort. In a 42 ft coach it wouldn't be a problem since there's additional space for the right door to open.

Some of the reviews on this refrigerator complained about the vegetable bins not opening far enough and complaints about the ice maker being slow.
Item 1 is somewhat correct but no big deal for us. The ice maker has worked great, no complaints with performance of the ice maker or anything else yet.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #6 – May 26, 2013, 10:27:34 am

Quote from: David Bethard – May 26, 2013, 09:03:54 am

FYI,
The Samsung refrigerator we used is Model RGS257AARS. I believe the original price was $2400, we bought it on sale for $1899 and are getting a Lowes card worth $180 in addition.
There is an issue with the vegetable bins in the fridge. Since the right door will only open barely past 90 degrees it's impossible to get the bins out.

David - what is immediately on the right side of your fridge? Is it a wall that extends past the front of the fridge, like atom6, John S., and Dave M. have, or is it the can rack pantry pull out, basically same depth as the fridge) like Steve and I have? The Samsung that Dave M. installed (and I think is the one you went with) is the one we're leaning towards so I'd like to know if we'll need to deal with the bin issue.

Thanks,

Michelle

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #7 – May 26, 2013, 10:40:29 am

I have the exact issue, but the three drawers open enough to put most veg's in. A watermelon nor cantaloup nor a full head of lettuce will go in the slides, but normal size veg will fit fine along with box things and cans go fine. Whay there is more storage now and no need to get on knees

The track that the slide door is what my issue is, thought woth a longer coach, this may not be a big issue like my 36'.
Still in the final, I am very happy and my ice. Maker stays ahead of me, guess I dont drink enough iced tea

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #8 – May 26, 2013, 04:54:10 pm

Love our Frigidaire SxS too. Much better than the GE in a previous coach which could not have in-door water/ice as the coach did not have a pure sine inverter. I think most of these newer Energy Star units use between 450-550 KW per year much better than older units UNLESS you go way back:

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #9 – May 26, 2013, 11:19:18 pm

I am intrigued by the idea of a residential refrig to replace the Dometic.

Help me out with the power math. At 560 kw/yr this looks like about 1.5 kw per day or about 65 watts/hr or about a 5.4 amp load on the 12 v battery assuming 100% efficiency, maybe a 6.5 amp draw at normal efficiency. That is about 165 amp hrs over a day. This is not an issue if you are plugged in or driving. If not, then this is a significant load. I see some have a smaller LP tank or none and add extra batteries and an second inverter. How are these hooked up to 110v? Do they put in a new circuit or power the existing line differently? If you are dry camping on 3 8D's how much more generator time do you need?

What other fridges have been tried?

A week or more dry is not uncommon for us. Without demand for LP except for the stove which might get used 1/2 hr or so a day, could one use the small LP cylinders that we use for the grill?

$1899 delivered at Amazon. They say they will bring it into your home through your preferred entrance, a window perhaps?

Thanks

Roger

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #10 – May 27, 2013, 12:05:04 am

Two burner stove will run for EON's on a standard 20LB propane cylinder. FWIW, Mom used the coach for 6 months in FL this winter, cooking most every day 1/2/ or 3 times a day, plus grilling meet outdoors. When I picked up the coach this spring I think I put in 3 gals. of propane (the cylinder was still 3/4 full!).

I have stayed in my coach (3 8D's I think) overnight multiple nights w/o the generator kicking on since getting residential refrig. - remember, no one is opening the refrigerator overnight.

I wonder about the relative costs of Propane cooling in a refrigerator vs. running the generator occasionally if on residential refrig. Many posts on this forum have said that generators burn .5 GPH of fuel under load (with air-conditioners running). If you need to run Genny two hours per day, that is 1 gal. or $4.00 at current prices. (Yes, there is also wear/tear and maintenance on Genny to consider). What is the aversion to running the generator an hour or two each day?

I have the large Propane cylinder (currently), and once left it on Propane b y mistake after leaving in FL. with Mom on board. 30 days later I got the call, refrigerator isn't working. YIKES! figured out it was still on propane, had her switch to electric, and no problem for rest of winter (except she had to pipe in a 20 lb cylinder to the coach since propane companies wouldn't come out and fill in the RV PArk and she couldn't move it to get it filled.

to it.

I plan on doing a quite a bit of boon docking at some point in the future. When I do, I will add a couple of batteries and some solar. Was thinking of going all electric, but instead of induction cooktop (which my DW really wants). I might take out big cylinder and put in a little 20lb. one and then add batteries to that compartment.

Anyone know how many gallons/lbs my propane cylinder holds on my 2000 U-320?

As I have put it before, the refrig sells itself if you see one installed.

Based on these experiences, I know that the residential isn't that bad of an energy consumer, and that the RV refrig does use quite a bit of propane. But hey, this is America, if you think propane is better for boon docking, by all means stick

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #11 – May 27, 2013, 01:52:16 am

Hi Tim, the U320's LP tank holds 17 gallons. I have to fill mine at least once a year and our coach spends about 5 month a year in the barn hibernating. They have three 8D batteries as well. I have two mor that I could use as well but wouldn't want to hook them in parallel with the three in their now because they are older but seem to be in OK shape. Maybe those on a separate inverter to power the refrig. I'd be interested in how the res refigerators get hooked up. Solar would be nice too but I am not sure it could add enough to keep up with and electric refrig especially up North here.

We have switched to almost all LED lighting, switch off power to TV and related systems when they aren't in use and are pretty careful with power use in general. I think the Dometic uses 12v even when on gas. We can boondock in the summer on and hour or two of generator per day. I would rather not see that double to keep up with an electric refrig.

Still it seems very interesting to consider.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #12 – May 27, 2013, 05:24:53 am

Like the saying YMMV is true reguarding the refrig, since having the Samsung 24 cuft and turning off the auto defrost mode when on battery, I have no complaints of battery life when not plugged into the "pole".
Do not recall the spec info on electrical needs, but well with in reason for me.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #13 – May 27, 2013, 07:53:18 am

No problem going ten hours on the batteries. If I had solar that would recharge them then you could be off grid all day. Simple for me to run the genset when I wake up to make coffee and. It will bulk charge the batteries. Then I will start. Up and leave the genset running a bit to save overheating the alternator. So it is on about an hour or two and I am fully charged running down the rad with the engine filling the need for power. It works fine and my stove just came so next is induction and an extra battery or two.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #14 – May 27, 2013, 09:49:13 am

Makes perfect sense. I am up north in summer, plugged in for winter. Go on a lot of three and four day weekends that are boon dock (NASCAR), but don't worry to much re how much we run Genny at those, since it is often hot and we use the air conditioning.

I am all LED in the lights we use, closets and fluorescent lights haven't been changed out yet since they don't get much use, we default to the LEDS under the cabinets and in the fixtures.

I have the stock inverter (pro sine 2500?) powering everything. Dometic uses 12V in controls AND has a separate compressor for the ice maker (not sure but I think it is 110). you have two outlets behind refrigerator, one brown and one white. THe white one is on the inverter. the brown one is only on when running Genny or connected to Shore power. Your refrigerator may have two 110V plugs, you can take off access panel and check.

If you do go residential, make sure that you plug into the white plug so that refrigerator will run off converter when 110 not available, of course you know why I know this....

17 Gals is a lot, Mom only used 2.6 GAL (Checked receipt) cooking all winter (Nov 1 till May 1). Aquahot took care of heat and water, 110 ran the refrigerator. Point is, the cooking load is very small on the total propane budget.

Might consider two new batteries replacing large propane bottle with common gas grill bottle, then add two dedicated new batteries and inverter to that bay. Not sure how that would effect my future solar installation with two separate battery banks.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #15 – May 27, 2013, 10:26:17 am

I had my Norcold quit in my 1998 U270 after 16 years so I was considering replacing it with a residential. MOT said I needed a 3 battery bank for residential refrigerator. So I went with a Norcold and MOT replaced it for me. I also had a fire suppression system installed on the new refrigerator. Hopefully the new and improved unit will last as long as the previous Norcold,

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #16 – May 27, 2013, 10:30:17 am

with Propane!

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #17 – May 27, 2013, 06:10:56 pm

John/Pat, I had a 99 34 footer and I had enough room to add two extra batteries. I had 4 8ds and loved it.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #18 – May 27, 2013, 10:22:08 pm

Roger

You math is right on - but there is more good news - there is a 12v power draw from a RV fridge running on propane, about an amp - or 24 amps per day - so the net increase from switching to a residential unit is maybe 100 to 125 amps on DC (thru the inverter) per 24 hour day depending on which model residential unit you are looking at.

I have no problem overnight without running the genset with my Frigidaire on 3 8D batteries. No solar on this coach (yet) but just run genset at dinner time for about an hour and then shut it down.

Dry camped a lot last winter (2011-2012) with previous coach with same battery capacity, residential fridge, but with 600 watts of solar. I ran the genset for an hour at breakfast (bulk charge) and by noon the solar had the battery bank fully charged and it stayed charged until sunset around 5PM. Did not need to run the generator again until the next morning and stayed well above the 50% discharge level.

This coach without solar just needs an additional generator cycle sometime during the day. We are fairly energy thrifty but not obsessive about it. You should have no problems.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #19 – May 27, 2013, 11:23:04 pm

I added a couple of pictures in the Photo section of our new refrigerator.

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #20 – May 27, 2013, 11:50:18 pm

@David

There's no way I'm letting Dori see those pictures!

see ya
ken

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #21 – July 02, 2013, 05:21:08 pm

I had forgotten how much I HATE RV absorption refrigerators (we'd installed a residential frig in our '96). Sitting in Nac, I am having a hard time keeping the frig at a food-safe temperature (NDR1492 Dometic). I'm having to keep rotating in Blue Ice. Jim has spent the day adding fans to the interior and to the exterior stack to try to get things cooling better. At this point, we don't want to add replacing the frig to our long list of must-dos for this new-to-us 2003. Plus, there isn't time to get it done here at Nac. We have appointments at HWH in Iowa (7/11), Cummins in Spokane (7/18) and Allison in Spokane (7/19) so we will need to get out of here (we've already been here much too long).

In reading through all of the refrigerator posts, it appears, however, that if we do decide we need to replace the frig, the Samsung RSG257 is our best bet. But, from David's pictures, wow, it looks like it overwhelms the kitchen. It looks huge!

My question, for David, or anyone else with this frig: Is it as overwhelming to the interior as the picture appears?

I wish we had known David was having his replaced -- I think we were here during that time period. It would have been good to see it installed in person.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #22 – July 02, 2013, 06:11:08 pm

Gayle,

In mine (the Haier counter depth french door unit) it was about 20.6 Cubic feet, and was 10" taller than the absorption - the doors some out about 1.5 inches into the aisle further, and I lost the cabinet under the refrigerator - the Samsung may be bigger than mine, but the biggest difference is acres of stainless steel for doors, vs. the wood insert doors in the OEM ref rig. That makes the refrigerator stand out more, but I wouldn't say mine is overwhelming at all. If you are in NAC, dont any of the newer coaches have a residential or two you can look at?

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #23 – July 02, 2013, 07:39:45 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – July 02, 2013, 06:11:08 pm

If you are in NAC, dont any of the newer coaches have a residential or two you can look at?

The only coaches at either FOT or MOT that have a stainless residential frig are the new 45 foot, quad slides. Although I've looked at them, it's really comparing apples to oranges. Size makes a difference. None of the "smaller" coaches like a 40 ft U320 have a residential frig.

Re: Refrigerator replacement

Reply #24 – July 02, 2013, 09:31:46 pm

Gayle,

You could "kind of" mock it up with some aluminum foil to see what it would look like. Dull side out (to more closely simulate the brushed stainless exterior), the width would be the same as your current NDR1492. Height would be basically floor to top of current fridge (you lose the 2 pull-outs below the fridge, and it's a more expensive retrofit if that happens to be the space for Intellitec lighting and not just pullouts). Doors stick out roughly 1 1/2 - 2 inches from the face of the current fridge space (so best if you have a can rack cabinet adjacent to the fridge - if it's a wall with the pocket door look at atom6's 32" Samsung fridge retrofit instead Residential fridge ).

Michelle

Affiliate Notice