Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

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Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

October 02, 2022, 04:56:06 am

Can anyone who has installed a separate inverter for their install of a residential fridge advise of how they installed the
inverter? Pics and instructions?. Also what type/brand/size of inverter did you install??
My plans are to install a 17.5 cu inch Samsung in my 98 U320

Peter

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #1 – October 02, 2022, 05:37:11 am

Do you still have the original Heart Inverter/charger?
If so, You might want to consider replacing it with a modern designed pure sign wave inverter/charger for the entire coach.
The Victron 3000 inverter/chargers are very energy efficient.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #2 – October 02, 2022, 05:50:19 am

No I have installed a Magnum 2812 and am quite happy with it.
Peter

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #3 – October 02, 2022, 07:39:10 am

Peter, we are not running a second inverter for our coach, we did install the Xantrex 3012 and it works fine. We have the 18 cu ft. Samsung fridge!

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #4 – October 02, 2022, 08:04:18 am

Peter, here's what I basically copied...used an 800w Victron inverter with Bluetooth.

Additional Inverter

Woody.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #5 – October 02, 2022, 08:08:21 am

Quote from: Woody & Sitka – October 02, 2022, 08:04:18 am

Peter, here's what I basically copied...used an 800w Victron inverter with Bluetooth.

Additional Inverter

Woody. Nailed it I was just going there😎

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #6 – October 02, 2022, 10:31:39 am

Peter why not use the Magnum 2812 that's what I use for My Frigidaire, it's pure sine wave.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #7 – October 02, 2022, 11:16:13 am

We use our Magnum 2812 for our Samsung RF18 and it works quite well for us as well.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #8 – October 02, 2022, 11:39:47 am

If you Boondock a lot it would be nice to be able to shut down everything but the refrigerator when you are gone or while you sleep

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #9 – October 02, 2022, 12:19:40 pm

You might consider the high-quality output and efficiency of the main Magnum to power the fridge by running or finding a dedicated Romex cable from inverter panel on its own breaker. Turn off most other inverter panel beakers if you need to conserve battery while dry camping. Many add-on inverters are not more battery efficient then the Magnum.

And if you need any small 120v power while dry camping, you will be leaving the Magnum on, anyways.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #10 – October 02, 2022, 12:29:49 pm

I bought the Victron inverter Roger set up for the fridge and entertainment center. Haven't installed it and may not. the reason is battery and solar balance. My Xantrex SW 3012 does use 5 amps at idle but I am always over 60% SOC in the morning and the solar gets me to 100% each day. If I install the small inverter I will just be shedding amps sooner in the day by the controllers. Trying to make up my mind.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #11 – October 02, 2022, 12:35:31 pm

Yes, when weighing out whether to run the large inverter for refrigerator or add a small one, several considerations:

Amps when not powering anything (in general, the larger the inverter, the more power it takes in standby mode). But, one needs to look at the specifics for their inverter-- all are NOT the same.

Secondly, efficiency at refrigerator running load.

Third, as Craneman said immediately above, your total power consumption vs solar, generator time or shore power time needs to be considered. If you have plenty of "supply", conserving by spending $$ on a separate inverter doesn't make sense.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #12 – October 02, 2022, 12:57:47 pm

Elliott is spot on. The whole point of putting in a second inverter for the residential fridge is for energy efficiency off grid. The Magnum inverter is awesome, but has about 5A parasitic draw, and the 800W Pure Sine Victron draw is a tenth of that. Why waste battery capacity for unused power capability? If you are an occasional camper or pole-hugger, or even worse, a genny addict, then a second inverter may be a waste of time and money. However, when the big inverter quits and your big diesel generator won't start, or the power grid goes down, your fridge becomes a cool closet. The second inverter gives you valuable days to save all your cold/frozen stuff in this worse case scenario.

Another plus of the second inverter is that on most U320's, and probably some other models, if you wire the smaller inverter up to the duplex freezer outlet circuit breaker (switched or not), that same circuit, at least on my '01 U320, also powers the TV/Sat outlets up front (Starlink), the driver side outlet, and the bedroom outlets. So internet, TV plus cold beer, and bedroom outlets on a power budget!!! I only fire up the Magnum to make coffee or run the m-wave. Off grid life is great!

Off topic: if interested, watch for a thread on my shower-loop install in the next month or so. Woody.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #13 – October 02, 2022, 01:27:57 pm

Woody's mention of having the Victron for a back-up inverter will push me to get the Victron inline this winter.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #14 – October 02, 2022, 02:04:21 pm

I took the original Taytronics inverter out and have installed 3 inverters. One Trace 1500 watt MSW inverter I bought new in 1989 with a power saving system check ever second and two sine wave inverters, one 1500 watts and the other 2000 watts. Bought one new off Amazon and the other, used off Facebook marketplace. It was new with the owner buying a larger for the whole coach. Only $60 so a real deal.

As Barry posts, good to just put in a dedicated Romex line to the fridge. You might add the microwave on the circuit as sine wave inverters operate the MW about 3X faster as they give the 177V peak the MWs need. Since we have the RV fridge, the last 2000 watt inverter is used for the MW now. FYI, the 12V supply the board on the RV propane fridges use, also draws enough juice to run the house batteries down in a few days all by itself.

I don't believe in an inverter/charger combination as failure can leave you hurting, especially if you dry camp/boondock a lot.

I also installed rotary 12V supply switches for each inverter in case it might fail and overheat, etc.

Pierce

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #15 – October 02, 2022, 02:57:16 pm

I use 2 PSW inverters. 1500 for the resin fridge and work station .?
The 3000 runs the mini split ac . The models part sources are on the reimagining solar thread . Both draw very little idle amps. Less than 1 o the spec sheet .?
All of the stated specs have tested lower than stated as far as draw and user tax on load. Very happy with them and great price.
FWIW my fridge draws about 40 watts average.
Power Inverter 12V dc 110V 120V ac 1000 Watt 2000W Pure Sine Wave LCD 2.1A...
EDECOA 2500W Power Inverter Pure Sine Wave DC 12V to AC 120V 110V RV Camper...

I have one of each .

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #16 – October 02, 2022, 06:17:50 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – October 02, 2022, 02:04:21 pm

You might add the microwave on the circuit as sine wave inverters operate the MW about 3X faster as they give the 177V peak the MWs need.
Pierce

V_PK = V_RMS(1.414)

So for 117VAC you will see 165V Peak to Peak.

AC voltage travels in a sine wave, and the measuring point was chosen to give work equal to the same DC voltage.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #17 – October 02, 2022, 07:50:10 pm

FWIW...I do have a third inverter: a 400w Victron mounted in the forward passenger bay right below the Magnum. Its sole purpose is to charge my Lectric e-bike!!! W.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #18 – October 02, 2022, 10:21:43 pm

I can see the advantages of having a fridge only inverter and not only does the big inverter use more
amps in my coach the transfer switch also uses amps.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #19 – October 02, 2022, 10:23:42 pm

Quote from: Old Toolmaker – October 02, 2022, 06:17:50 pm

V_PK = V_RMS(1.414)
So for 117VAC you will see 165V Peak to Peak.
AC voltage travels in a sine wave, and the measuring point was chosen to give work equal to the same DC voltage.

I get about 119.8V at home so just about what you have or 170 volts.

P

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #20 – October 02, 2022, 10:25:36 pm

Quote from: oldguy – October 02, 2022, 10:21:43 pm

I can see the advantages of having a fridge only inverter and not only does the big inverter use more
amps in my coach the transfer switch also uses amps.

Don't the transfer switches only use power when activated by generator or land line?

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #21 – October 02, 2022, 10:29:15 pm

Chuck, good point. I never hear the buzz when the inverter(s) are operating.

Pierce

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #22 – October 02, 2022, 10:38:56 pm

One of my transfer switches clicks on with the inverter.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #23 – October 02, 2022, 10:54:06 pm

Quote from: oldguy – October 02, 2022, 10:38:56 pm

One of my transfer switches clicks on with the inverter.

I believe you could rewire it to default to inverter with no draw. Maybe one of the electrical guru's could reply.

Re: Separate Inverter install for residential fridge

Reply #24 – October 02, 2022, 11:16:40 pm

I have thought about it but it hasn't got to be a priority maybe some day.

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