2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Topic: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions (Read 1900 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #25 – August 10, 2015, 08:58:02 pm

Barry, we had the Samsung RSG257 installed and like it very much.
We did lose the storage space under the fridge. Our installer did not install it quite low enough for the right hand door to clear the pocket door frame at the ceiling, so we can't open the drawers completely. I think Michelle posted about this awhile ago; there is enough room to lower it and we probably will at some point. Two inches lower would do it.

Dick

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #26 – August 10, 2015, 09:15:38 pm

Would one of the moderators please split the inverter posts/discussion into their own topic? It doesn't belong here with residential fridges for a 2003 Foretravel.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #27 – August 10, 2015, 09:28:47 pm

Tim,

Nice Induction cooktop...

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Great cook set, induction ready, ceramic coated, removable handles, fully nesting, very sturdy

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Our 35 year old aluminium, non-stick nesting pots and pan set has been retired from active duty, mothballed for the next people we know that buy and RV.

Roger

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Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #28 – August 10, 2015, 09:46:38 pm

The interference between refrig door and sliding door track is a common thing overlooked when installing the res refrig. It is earier to raidpse them up higher to clear all of the existing wiring and plumbing. Some time making that neater makes the refrigerator slide as deep as it needs to be. The refrig can be up off the floor a couple inches for vetilation underneath. See my post that Michelle referenced. Even with the narrow side cabinet and all of the final trim in place we can still get ours in and out as needed even though in our 36ft there is a pantry in the way.

I moved the inverter outlet from behind the LP gas refrig to behind the kitchen drawers for better access and added a switch to the power to that outlet so that I could completely shut the refrigerator off and isolate it.

My sidewall refrig vent is still there, all the holes closed up, and there is now a slide up insulated panel to keep outside air from coming in. The roof vent is about 75% closed. I am working on a way to have it partly open in the summer, closed in winter.

Details make this a good install or a great install. Either way, in spite of what some may think, for many of us this is a very big improvement with very few drawbacks. For us, money well spent.

Roger

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #29 – August 10, 2015, 09:58:35 pm

H I bought the nesting cookware on suggestion a few weeks ago! Used it yesterday. Loved it.
Like I said we're pretty similar.
Got your PM will connect later.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #30 – August 10, 2015, 10:04:24 pm

Used my own inverter
Same old (3) 8d's

1,399 for refrigerator (French door 33" wide).
$800 for parliament to I might cabinet and install.
Solar would be nice. Someday with new batteries, Made a mistake one winter and left reefer on gas in Florida when my mom moved in. The propane lasted 27 days from a full tank to empty. Couldn't fill it in the park, so got some 20 pounders and use those through the winter by accessing gas system via barbecue outlet.
There is no free lunch propane cost some money too. For some propane is the way to go I'm off for others it's DanFoss, but for me it's residential.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #31 – August 10, 2015, 11:31:21 pm

Quote from: Michelle – August 10, 2015, 08:21:51 pm

Do what makes you happy, Bob.

We are some of those who are much happier with our residential fridge so we're doing the same Many, many thousands of residential fridges in motorhomes out there so this isn't a new thing.

Maybe the answer puts together what you posted and my buddies comments.

Maybe the brands have engineering staffs and have looked at the compressor issues and selected the units that will not have reliability issues?

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #32 – August 10, 2015, 11:55:32 pm

My Samsung came with a one year basic warranty and a ten year on what makes it work. I bought a five year extended warranty for maybe $100 that covers everything 100% for five years. Fix or replace. Try twice, replace. I told the dealer that it was going in a motorhome, asked about specific installation requirements, followed their recommendations (just like it was in a house). No problems with it being in a motorhome.

This Samsung was the most installed res refrig of all in motorhomes. Thousands. If it was a problem they would have heard about it. Followed all of the venting requirements. Any heat in the summer goes out the roof vent. Any heat in the winter is welcome.

Roger

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #33 – August 10, 2015, 11:59:01 pm

All for it. Sounds great.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #34 – August 11, 2015, 08:03:29 am

Quote from: Dick S – August 10, 2015, 08:58:02 pm

Barry, we had the Samsung RSG257 installed and like it very much.
We did lose the storage space under the fridge. Our installer did not install it quite low enough for the right hand door to clear the pocket door frame at the ceiling, so we can't open the drawers completely. I think Michelle posted about this awhile ago; there is enough room to lower it and we probably will at some point. Two inches lower would do it.
Dick

Dick, Where did you have it installed. I don't want to drive all the way to Nac. Has anyone used a dealer on the West Coast? Preferably Southern CA. I would like to use a dealer that has some experience.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #35 – August 11, 2015, 08:52:28 am

Our (MY!!!) new Samsung fridge is wonderful. I bought the French Door model (no water or ice in the door) from Home Depot when they were having a sale ($999) and had it delivered to FOT. We lost the storage underneath, but with the French Door there is no problem with opening. The freezer is a pull out at the bottom, again, no issue with opening. Larry (at FOT) has developed a method os closing off the opening to the outside to keep winter wind out and keep AC cooled air IN ... just a nifty panel that fits behind the access plate and raises or lowers to provide access to the rear of the fridge and the elec connection. I believe it is part of his framing after the old fridge is removed and in preparation for the new one to go in. Great upgrade .....

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #36 – August 11, 2015, 11:54:46 am

Samsung Install Photos

Clearance at the top for the sliding door
Up off the floor for ventilation
Slide up inside insulated side wall vent cover
Outlet in kitchen cabinet base
On/off switch for the refrigeraton and a duplex outlet

Probably not in that order

Roger

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #37 – August 11, 2015, 01:24:54 pm

Roger,
Very nice detail work! Love the bottom trim... my kind of obsessing over the details

Don

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #38 – August 11, 2015, 06:01:48 pm

Thanks, Don
The bottom trim has pockets into which the screw down feet fit. Those same screw down feet are part of the door alignment. There are two E-W tracks that you don't see for the wheels to roll on. This keeps the whole refrigerator up off the coach floor by about 2-1/2". Just enough to clear all of the wires and plumbing in the back and provide plenty of open ventilation.

It was interesting that the non-adjustable wheels tilt the refrigerator top toward the back about 3/16". I didn't notice this until the first test fit. I am sure this is to help the doors close by themselves. It looked odd so I had to raise the back end of the wheel tracks about 1/8" to get the front to be plumb and align with the cabinets.

It was a great project with a very nice outcome for us.

Roger

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #39 – August 11, 2015, 06:24:14 pm

I may have missed this, is there any issue with keeping the doors closed on a residential fridge when underway? Is the magnetic seal enough, or need something additional?

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #40 – August 11, 2015, 06:31:45 pm

Quote from: prfleming – August 11, 2015, 06:24:14 pm

I may have missed this, is there any issue with keeping the doors closed on a residential fridge when underway? Is the magnetic seal enough, or need something additional?

We use a velcro strap through the handles for our side by side. No issues. French door models require a little more creativity.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #41 – August 12, 2015, 01:08:33 am

Peter, see my reply#11.

Our Samsung is a French door model. I used a sliding door latch on the freezer door. The part on the freezer drawer is on there with the 3M high strength double stick tape, no screws. A simple Velcro strap on the upper side by side door handles. I don't think they ever came open while underway before we added these but they are so simple to use, better safe than sorry.

Roger

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #42 – August 12, 2015, 06:53:18 am

Quote from: prfleming – August 11, 2015, 06:24:14 pm

I may have missed this, is there any issue with keeping the doors closed on a residential fridge when underway? Is the magnetic seal enough, or need something additional?

Foretravel made us a 2" wide strap that loops through the fridge doors and then wraps around the freezer handle. Not the best, especially on rough highway ... but for most interstates it is plenty.......UNLESS you have a little watermelon or something that shifts around inside!! Ask me how I know.

We found that attacking small brackets to the wood on either side of the freezer door and running a velcro strap across the front of the entire freezer has kept it shut on even the bumpiest surface. The FOT strap then anchored to that has been pretty much foolproof. I did add the tension rods inside to avoid watermelon shifting ... and all is well.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #43 – August 12, 2015, 08:59:45 am

I think I got this one working again . It looks like the refer door was Unlatching while I was driving and let all the cold out. When I checked the coils they were not hot. After checking the control board and heating element they were good. Checked the propane flame and it was coming on but the cooling unit was not getting very hot so I thought it was bad. After researching my notes from previous encounter I realized I had not cleaned the burner in a long time. The flame was not a bright blue but yellowish. I cleaned the burner and it appears to be working again. I forgot how long it takes for the refer to get cold once you turn it on. I may have dodged another bullet due to my skillful troubleshooting

or it just might be another intermittent pain in the ---

I will be at HWH today

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #44 – August 12, 2015, 01:57:01 pm

You might as well bite the bullet and make plans to replace the fridge. After you do so you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner. It is just a fantastic improvement over the old one. I think it is one of the best upgrades you can do. I once thought about trading my 40' off for a smaller coach. The reason I didn't was the new fridge. I never want to put up with or have an old RV fridge again.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #45 – August 12, 2015, 03:42:50 pm

Quote from: Dick Henry – August 12, 2015, 01:57:01 pm

You might as well bite the bullet and make plans to replace the fridge. After you do so you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner. It is just a fantastic improvement over the old one. I think it is one of the best upgrades you can do. I once thought about trading my 40' off for a smaller coach. The reason I didn't was the new fridge. I never want to put up with or have an old RV fridge again.

This buys me some time to research on where to get it done and what is involved on my coach to do it. Working great now.
I had a chance to try out my Reflective Refer vent cover in this high heat and it works great. Temperature in refer came down much more quickly and stayed down even as I was on the Sun Side.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #46 – August 12, 2015, 06:49:50 pm

Residential fridges get rid of condenser coil heat several different ways, all of which work fine in normal open kitchen space, but all will not work the same in an enclosed space like our RVs.

Most common is probably bottom coil that uses a motorized fan to move inside air over coils and then blows the heated air back inside the room. This is the type where they recommend using a long narrow brush to clean out the coils, because being located at the floor level, the fan sucks in room dust that accumulates near the floor, and the coils are tightly packed due to the limited space under the fridge. No real need to keep the propane fridge back and top vent open. I assume many have installed this design in their motorhome, especially the wider more expensive fridges.

Another method uses the outside metal of the fridge to radiate the heat to the room. This may be an older and little used method, and requires an air space on both sides of fridge.

The third method is like our 10 cu ft Whirlpool, which many have recently installed in their RVs and is similar to how most fridges were built years ago. It has open coils on the most of the backside of the fridge and uses convection room air to get rid of the heat. Both outside vents must be open to let air flow in, up and heated air out the top of the motorhome and we also have several 12-volt quiet computer fans to assist moving air over the coils. Without a fan motor, there may be fewer motor sounds. The 10 cu ft size is 2' x 5' and fits in the exact same space as our old propane fridge, without any need to modify cabinet.

We have seen another type of condenser cooling that does not appear to have a bottom coil nor a visible open rear coil. I thought maybe the rear non-metallic cover may hide rear coils like our fridge.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #47 – August 12, 2015, 09:59:39 pm

Choices are wonderful, glad I chose the big Samsung with the ice in the door, I had no idea how much that little feature spoiled me. Yes everything has a end date down the road, when it happens & I am still kicking, will have another installed.
It is nice to not have big worries, and the refrig. is not a concern nor was the new Aqua Hot, tires, radiator, CAC, air bags, steering gear etc. etc... Health is the concern if I wanted to worry.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #48 – August 13, 2015, 04:34:56 pm

I'm hoping when mine goes someday that we can get a new helium cooling from (I think) rvcoolingunit.com

And well said Dave.

We are thinking a little boondocking in our future so the gas job might be a better choice for us.

Re: 2003 Residential Refigerator suggestions

Reply #49 – August 13, 2015, 07:58:35 pm

Barry
The Reflective Refer vent cover is a great idea.

How did you attach it? Looks like snaps, but can't tell for sure. That looks like a great upgrade for those sunny side refers.......

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