Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Topic: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash (Read 2679 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far

Reply #25 – May 13, 2021, 09:57:13 pm

Inverter Wiring

The Victron 1200VA Phoenix inverter Jeff is using can use up to 2 ga wire.

At max continuous output it can pull 68 amps from your batteries. Using 2 ga wire with batteries at 12.5 volts and a maximum voltage drop of 3% this inverter can be located so that the maximum length of the 2 ga cable (plus and minus) is 34 ft.

A 1% voltage loss (much better) the maximum length of 2 ga cable is 12 ft.

A 1% voltage drop using only 4 ft of cable lets you use much smaller 6 ga cable.

Bos'ns' Corner - Wire Size Calculator

So putting the inverter close to the batteries as Brett suggests is a good plan. Put a switch and a fuse in the Plus wire or a circuit breaker that can be opened. Circuit breakers don't usually make a good switch but in this case when it would rarely be used as a switch it is a good choice. Then use Romex or a high quality round three wire 20 amp extension cord to plug in at the inverter and connect the other end to an outlet for the refrig.

While the inverter has built in short circuit and overload protection the 120v circuit should ideally be protected by a circuit breaker close to the inverter.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far

Reply #26 – May 14, 2021, 05:05:51 pm

Good points. Thanks, Roger.

jk

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far

Reply #27 – May 15, 2021, 08:06:35 am

Update, after a few days, we are thrilled and wonder why we didn't do this sooner. The fridge has been rock steady for 3 days between 39 and 40 degrees while parked, fridge side in both bright mid-day sun and while underway, at all times of day and night.

I'll move the probe to the freezer today.

Edited to add: Freezer rock solid at 0F

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far

Reply #28 – May 15, 2021, 08:48:14 am

Coach buck creep.... Put in new backsplash.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #29 – May 15, 2021, 11:29:29 am

Finished product looks real sharp, Jeff.

jk

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #30 – May 15, 2021, 11:36:12 am

HOLY MOLY SCHMOLY!!!! That new backsplash matches P*E*R*F*E*C*T*L*Y*!!!! Absolutely beautiful!! Congratulations to you both on your newest upgrades! Thrilled that you are thrilled!

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #31 – May 15, 2021, 10:06:29 pm

Beautiful job, Jeff! It was fun hanging out and meeting you and Sandy. Love your coach. Safe travels and hope we can cross paths again soon.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #32 – May 15, 2021, 10:17:41 pm

Looks very nice Jeff and Sandy. Nothing better than making your coach just the way you want it.

Roger

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #33 – May 16, 2021, 09:55:33 am

Quote from: Joe Phebus – May 15, 2021, 10:06:29 pm

Beautiful job, Jeff! It was fun hanging out and meeting you and Sandy. Love your coach. Safe travels and hope we can cross paths again soon.

Thanks Joe, great meeting you guys as well. Hope to see you on the road.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #34 – May 17, 2021, 05:56:11 pm

Quote from: Jeff & Sandy – May 13, 2021, 10:27:15 am

Thanks. They capped the propane for the fridge at the manifold for that line in the fuel bay.

Hey Jeff new fridge and backsplash looks awesome, just wondering which line did they disconnect from the propane manifold?

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #35 – May 17, 2021, 06:49:56 pm

Quote from: Phranko – May 17, 2021, 05:56:11 pm

Hey Jeff new fridge and backsplash looks awesome, just wondering which line did they disconnect from the propane manifold?

Second from the top, on the manifold.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #36 – May 17, 2021, 08:10:32 pm

Quote from: Jeff & Sandy – May 15, 2021, 08:48:14 am

Coach buck creep.... Put in new backsplash.

Wow - that's gorgeous!

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #37 – May 18, 2021, 11:20:38 am

I replaced my old fridge with a Samsung residential. Not a moment's regret. Better cooling, freezing, storage. I tapped into the old fridge propane line & ran it into the bay below where my fuel tank resides. Installed a shutoff valve & propane quick disconnect. Now I just hook a propane hose into the line and run it to my grill, propane fire pit, or BBQ. No need for those portable propane bottles.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #38 – May 18, 2021, 04:51:22 pm

5 days in, parked and traveling, temps have stayed constant. 42 fridge, zero freezer.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #39 – May 23, 2021, 08:18:44 pm

I finished my Magic Chef 10.2 install today. (Except for finish trim.) Called my biggest, strongest friend and we put it up in the reworked space. I lowered the floor in fridge space approximately 6", capped both the LP Gas supply line and 12V electric for the old Dometic. All in all, not a bad project. Most time was spent figuring out the support for the base. Not al lot of thing to fasten too. I reworked the rolling door in lower compartment by a commensurate amount. This was done on a work table by rolling it out straight and then cutting to size with a sharp utility knife with the aid of a framing square. Also did some minor trimming with a zip saw. Fridge projects out from the wall about 2" more than the flush mounted Dometic. Seems to be a non factor.

I'm looking at a couple of Pure Sign Wave inverters to finish off power requirements. It is working fine on gen/shore power,

We gained about 25 - 30% more space for cold/frozen foods.

The refrigerator was around $380 at Homedepot before military discount was applied. I have a piece of cable to run from inverter for $22.00 or so and then an inverter which should run up to $350.00.

Here are some pix.

jk

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #40 – May 23, 2021, 08:43:43 pm

Quote from: kimosabe99 – May 23, 2021, 08:18:44 pm

I finished my Magic Chef 10.2 install today. (Except for finish trim.) Called my biggest, strongest friend and we put it up in the reworked space. I lowered the floor in fridge space approximately 6", capped both the LP Gas supply line and 12V electric for the old Dometic. All in all, not a bad project. Most time was spent figuring out the support for the base. Not al lot of thing to fasten too. I reworked the rolling door in lower compartment by a commensurate amount. This was done on a work table by rolling it out straight and then cutting to size with a sharp utility knife with the aid of a framing square. Also did some minor trimming with a zip saw. Fridge projects out from the wall about 2" more than the flush mounted Dometic. Seems to be a non factor.

I'm looking at a couple of Pure Sign Wave inverters to finish off power requirements. It is working fine on gen/shore power,

We gained about 25 - 30% more space for cold/frozen foods.

The refrigerator was around $380 at Homedepot before military discount was applied. I have a piece of cable to run from inverter for $22.00 or so and then an inverter which should run up to $350.00.

Here are some pix.

jk

Looks really nice

Windy Nation has really nice inverters, with remote switch. Half what you are thinking for price.

Do you have solar?

They are the best:

Inverters

I installed this one for a friends FT with same fridge as yours works perfect.

VertaMax PURE SINE WAVE 1000 Watt (2000W Surge) 12V 12 Volt Power Inverter...

Chris

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #41 – May 23, 2021, 09:01:21 pm

Another nice refrigerator conversion. Be sure you get a pure sine wave inverter fro your refrigerator. Make sure you size your inverter to at least twice the power it uses while it is running and enough for startup power. Most residential refrigerators use somewhere around 70 watts per hour on average. Normal running power is twice that or 140 watts. If you look at the specs it will show maximum power used. Maybe around 6 amps or 720 watts. This is the power it uses when you do a warm start.

Use a Kill-a-Watt meter to measure what your refrigerator really uses in actual use. Measure over a week or more and get the average daily use. I have one of these.
P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor - - Amazon.com

There are other choices for more or less $$. Warranty, how close to true pure sine wave?, power to be on? You get what you pay for.

This is a good small inverter choice for a refrigerator.
Victron Phoenix 500 VA Pure Sine Inverter

Not much more $ to go to an 800VA model. You can add a TV with a bigger inverter.

Put the inverter close to the battery. Use a switch in the positive wire so you can isolate the inverter if needed.

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #42 – June 01, 2021, 05:43:37 pm

What did you do with the old dometic vent out the roof and the vent on the side of the coach? I know the dometic had a trim piece that pretty much seals the unit from the inside of the coach. Just curious if the conversion is pretty much sealed up or you have air gaps that would allow outside air into the coach.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #43 – June 01, 2021, 08:42:55 pm

All sealed up. They fabricated a frame with removable center portion on the side wall... in case access is needed in the future.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #44 – June 29, 2024, 06:55:17 am

I know this is a three year old thread, but Jeff and Sandy, if you still have pictures of what they did to lower the fridge floor, I'd be grateful. For some reason the thread doesn't show them anymore. I bought a 10 cubic foot Norcold yesterday and will need to do the same to make it fit. Thank you for any advice you all have. Michael

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #45 – June 29, 2024, 07:51:27 am

Hi Michael,

Here you go. They removed the existing 'shelf' that the old fridge was sitting on as it was 1/2 too high. They build a new one at the proper height. I went this route to avoid losing as much original walnut trim as I could

The cabinet doors below the fridge were untouched.

Re: Another residential fridge…thrilled so far, added backsplash

Reply #46 – June 29, 2024, 10:01:45 pm

Thank you Jeff. That looks great.

Affiliate Notice