Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Topic: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style?? (Read 5355 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #25 – April 17, 2018, 01:24:09 pm

Converting propane absorbtion fridge to electric compressor is a brilliant idea. Fins will still freeze up and need defrosting. Our Whirlpool has an electric heating element for automatic defrosting, one of the better features of buying electric. Our hair dryer is gathering dust.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #26 – April 17, 2018, 05:21:44 pm

I think it's wonderful that there are so many options available, that while not all of them are perfect for everybody, usually everyone finds something that works perfectly for them.

Our reasons behind choosing this new residential cooling unit are unique, and perfect to us.
1. We cannot install a full size Samsung fridge, because our cat condo access hole is underneath the Dometic. As long as we have kitties, this will never be an option to give up that space.
2. We like having an ice maker built into our freezer; going with a Whirlpool or similar smaller residential, or even a Vitrifrigo unit would not have that feature.
3. We love the wood paneling that matches the rest of our beautiful walnut interior.

And as far as defrosting, we only need to defrost the freezer maybe once every 3 months; I can't remember the last time we had to tend to the fridge. Installing two of those fans made all the difference.

Our installation date of this awesome new cooling unit has been moved up to Tuesday, May 15th.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #27 – May 15, 2018, 08:33:30 am

Today is the day!!!

We are pulled up to the door and J.R. is going to bring us in in just a few mintues. We are getting one of the VERY FIRST EVER residential cooling units for Dometic 7832 installed NOW! YAHHOOOOOOO!!!!!

Parking lot is full.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #28 – May 15, 2018, 08:57:32 am

Great. We are scheduled to have our Dometic cooling unit replaced tomorrow.
We are currently at the Van Wert fairground campground and are 1:30 away. Will be there this afternoon.
Hoping to meet you two.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #29 – May 15, 2018, 10:46:24 am

Ask for a factory tour, it's pretty awesome!

Can't wait to learn more about these new units. Be sure to fill up your new freezer at Yoder's Market. I enjoyed my trip to Shipshewana so much that we are headed back in September to go to the flea market and Yoder's.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #30 – May 15, 2018, 10:54:46 am

Amanda,

Please take/post a lot of pictures of the conversion.

Thanks.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #31 – May 15, 2018, 05:57:17 pm

Two Foretravels passing at JC Refrigeration, Shipshewana, Ind.
Dan & Amanda had their conversion/upgrade done today and we are in line for tomorrow.
Yes, we'll take pictures.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #32 – May 15, 2018, 05:59:41 pm

Wow, a sailor and a photographer!

Can't beat that.

I can do one, Dianne, the other!

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #33 – May 15, 2018, 06:19:38 pm

Great picture!

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #34 – May 16, 2018, 12:08:48 pm

Our first morning waking up to our new "residential" fridge, and MAN, is it CCCOOOOOLLLLDDDD! We are SO pleased with the workmanship and quality of product and person at J.C. Refrigeration.

It was nice seeing another Foretravel pull into the parking lot behind us. We enjoyed meeting Dick & Sue, and chatting about all things Foretravel & Sailing. We also got to peak inside their 1999 U320 36', and saw some of the upgrades they have done to their coach.

Definitely would recommend J.C. Refrigeration. JR was a stand up guy, and he and his boys worked flawlessly. We are so grateful to add them to our list of "absolutely would return" if we needed any other refrigeration work done.

Now to go grocery shopping......

Here are a few pictures I took during the process. Having 4 guys working in the coach with the fridge out doesn't give you any space to walk around and take pictures, so I waited until lunch break.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #35 – May 16, 2018, 12:15:01 pm

Here is the old absortion cooling unit, looking sad and dirty sitting outside the coach.

And here are a few pictures of the AMAZING new "residential" style compressor cooling unit.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #36 – May 16, 2018, 04:31:19 pm

Was our turn today. Into the garage at 6:45am and out by 9:00 am!
Amanda beat me to posting pictures, but I have a few to add.
Woke up this morning to 2 additional coaches in the parking lot.
A 2003 BlueBird went in right after us.
JR had us stay in the parking lot for a couple of hours just to make sure everything was working. The freezer is now at Zero degrees.

JR suggested that we add a fan ($25) to the upper end of the cooling unit. Said that it would work better.
and we did.
Spent some time with Dan & Amanda before they headed off to their next adventure.

I attached some pictures of our install and tried not to duplicate Amanda's posting.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #37 – May 16, 2018, 04:40:50 pm

Some of the shop area

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #38 – May 16, 2018, 04:44:05 pm

Last 2 for now.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #39 – May 16, 2018, 05:10:51 pm

The shop...all run by a generator.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #40 – May 16, 2018, 05:30:07 pm

Smart business man.....he sees the writing on the wall

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #41 – May 16, 2018, 08:18:18 pm

I think that the quote of the day by JR was "Ammonia, the smell of money" .

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #42 – May 16, 2018, 08:50:17 pm

Quote from: Hans&Marjet – May 16, 2018, 05:30:07 pm

Smart business man.....he sees the writing on the wall

Amish living off the grid.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #43 – May 17, 2018, 07:04:51 am

Total cost out the door?

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #44 – May 17, 2018, 10:44:28 am

Our total cost, out the door was $1,357.65.

$895 for the residential cooling unit
$62.65 for 7% Indiana Sales Tax
$400 for the install

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #45 – June 17, 2018, 07:14:52 am

We are getting ready to make the move to either Amish, residential or this conversion. Would very much appreciate an update on your experience so far as to power usage. I am not trying to revisit the propane/residential discussion.

I spoke with JR recently and they can do this for our Norcold 841R. When I look at the residential, I think the larger interior is at the expense of insulation. Currently we do not run the propane while underway and have not had a problem with warming being outside of acceptable norms to us. I think this insulation should translate to lower total draw. While this would seem obvious, it would be invaluable to have your experiences. I very much appreciate your pioneering this technology. Thanks!

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #46 – June 17, 2018, 08:51:13 am

Good Morning George,

The Norcold 841R at least has some usable freezer space. The side by side Dometic we had in our coach was so limited in freezer space that it was a big reason we switched to a residential. It was so narrow that even a small 7" pie wouldn't fit on a shelf let alone a frozen pizza or anything bigger. And it wasn't cooling very well.

The smaller apt sized residential refrigerators probably are not as well insulated as the bigger ones. Our 19 cu ft Samsung is about the smallest full sized cabinet depth one you can get. The doors and handles stick out into the interior space compared to the almost flush OEM refrigerators. But we went from about 9.5 cut ft to 19 cu ft. and much more freezer space. For us it was a great move. Our Samsung averages about 75 watts (6 amps from the battery) per hour and runs on a smaller inverter. This is not an insignificant power use. We sold our Dometic which made the total cost about $800 including a 5 yr extended warranty on the refrigerator.

Interesting choices now. This electric conversion would be appealing with your refrigerator configuration.

The JR conversion says it uses less than 1 amp. NovaKool refrigerators about the size of yours with a variable speed Danfoss compressor draw about 5.2 amps running.

Roger

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #47 – June 17, 2018, 11:28:03 am

We have one of the (smaller size apt fridges) at 11 cft and are very happy with the performance running off a 1000 watt separate PS inverter. We can live very well off the contents for a week with no problem. Stacking a bigger fridge with lots more food is not the way we live as we like to buy as much fresh food as possible, when possible. I would say the total cost of the purchase and install was around $400 as I did it myself and the weight of it is less than the old one. If you live off frozen food then a bigger one is needed for sure, but this one has a very decent capacity for it's size.
FWIW
JohnH

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #48 – June 17, 2018, 12:47:34 pm

Many of the smaller res refrigerators use about the same amount of power as the bigger ones. Our Samsung weighs less than 1/2 of the Dometic we took out. We make a lot of stews, soups, chili, roasted peppers, roasted corn and other stuff in bigger batches and freeze it in smaller containers for use as we need it. We make pies in the fall from our apple trees, usually 25 or more. We bring a couple of those to share. We smoke ribs in bigger batches and freeze those too. When we leave for elsewhere our freezer in the coach is pretty full. Our old Dometic just didn't work for that.

You can put in whatever you want. Lots of choices and options.

Re: Whats This? convert existing Dometic/Norcold to a residential style??

Reply #49 – June 17, 2018, 12:55:44 pm

Roger,
From the sounds of your freezer, I sure hope to cross paths with you one of these days.

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