Fridgidaire Refrigerator

[klassic]

Has anyone paid attention to power consumption the fridge uses when on inverter power for extended periods by viewing it on the inverter remote set to the amps setting for 20-40 hours worth?

I have 520watts of solar and for the most part this fridge NEVER shuts off. I've seen it use 0amps probably 2 times for around 10minutes, and I watch it a lot.
It will use 4-5a a lot of the time, 8-11a most of the time. The second someone opens the door it will jump to 18a, then instantly back to what it running at when closed.

It likes running at 18-22a for quite a while too. I have caught it on a few occasions sucking a whooping 52amps!!
When I actually catch it at 52 I shut off the inverter to cut power to the fridge, then when I turn it back on it doesn't go back to 52amps

If I leave the fridge off for 5-10 minute the freezer temp will rise from 0F to about 20F. The fridge temp, though, will remain unchanged. It will then take 30-40 minutes for the freezer temp to get back to 0 with the unit running around 8-11amps. I see no reason for this temperature rise in such a short time.
I have even manually raised the temp, example, freezer from 0 to 4F and fridge from 36-40F...then the fridge will shut off but only for about 5 minutes. Then it turns back on to the 4-5amp draw.

If it would actually shut off like my house fridge for 20-40minutes every few hours then I wouldn't be using so much precious battery power while boondocking.

Anyone?

[Cdash]

Hearing the real high amps, I wonder if it has a frost free feature that uses heat?

[klassic]

Originally Posted by Cdash

Hearing the real high amps, I wonder if it has a frost free feature that uses heat?

Maybe it wouldn't need to go into "frost free" if it would actually shut off once and a while.
I'm wondering if it is stuck so tightly in its little cocoon that it's getting no air circulation and it has to keep the fan running because of the heat built up behind.

The only way I could test that theory is for late fall to hit up here... If the sun is beating on the slide it must be really hot in there.
We've had 0 rain here for 2 1/2 months and temps mid 80's to high 90's.
Very unusual. It's like the desert.

[Grumpy]

Most residential frost free run 80-90% of the time it's just the nature of the beast. Your unit at home probably does exactly the same thing, but your not that close to it all day to notice like you are in the RV.

Defrost cycle is usually every 8 hours.

[tnchuck100]

JMO but I don't think a residential refrigerator and boondocking are practical combination.

I have read stories of people buying a Pinnacle only to later find out it has a residential refrigerator and they would not be able to boondock as they wanted to. The salesman neglected to inform them of this drawback.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by tnchuck100

I have read stories of people buying a Pinnacle only to later find out it has a residential refrigerator and they would not be able to boondock as they wanted to. The salesman neglected to inform them of this drawback.

I won' t even comment on that..

[klassic]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Most residential frost free run 80-90% of the time it's just the nature of the beast. Your unit at home probably does exactly the same thing, but your not that close to it all day to notice like you are in the RV.

Defrost cycle is usually every 8 hours.

Ya..90% for sure.
I can get 2 nights and 3 days with 520watts and 2 T-105's. And that's with a couple hours of tv too.
I would get the 3rd night if I had 2 more batteries.
2 nights was what I was after.
But if I get two days of cloud then I'm done.

I knew the residential wasn't the best choice, but it is the best when I'm gone for a week with shore power and food.
I only dry camp a couple times and a couple 1 night stop overs.
I didn't think this fridge would run so often though.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by klassic

Ya..90% for sure.
I can get 2 nights and 3 days with 520watts and 2 T-105's. And that's with a couple hours of tv too.
.

Of course you have solar, but JAYCO says 16-18 hrs on two batteries for the fridge.

[jasum]

Klassic is you frig still acting goofy? Taking mine time dealer August 5th because frig is not cooling.

[klassic]

Mine is cooling, but I think it's acting goofy. Grumpy is probably right though, if these things are designed to run 90% of the time then that's what it doing.

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Of course you have solar, but JAYCO says 16-18 hrs on two batteries for the fridge.

I don't think anyone with 2 12v dealer supplied batteries is going to get 16 hours with the fridge. Maybe... but they surly won't be putting in the slides after, or lifting the rig back in the truck.
My 6volts are under 12v after 12 hours.

[jasum]

I have 2 12volt in mine. Not sure if the invertor is even working. Not sure if my truck is charging batteries when I am towing.
So much about all this that I don't know about. Hoping dealer can get it all straightened out so we can start using again.
Had a frig Service guy check frig out and it is not cooling.

[Marine71-76]

When we originally ordered our unit, we debated between this and the propane unit. Now wishing we had gone with the propane unit. We get about 4-5 hours off 2 batteries.

It also appears there is an issue with the batteries charging when connected to the truck. Unit goes to the dealer & that is one more thing for them to check out.

[klassic]

Originally Posted by Marine71-76

When we originally ordered our unit, we debated between this and the propane unit. Now wishing we had gone with the propane unit. We get about 4-5 hours off 2 batteries.

It also appears there is an issue with the batteries charging when connected to the truck. Unit goes to the dealer & that is one more thing for them to check out.

4-5 hours sounds more realistic. I thought 2 12v 80ah batteries you would get closer to 8hours though. ..16 hours would kill the battery. I think I could get 16 hours from just my 2 T-105's but they would be well below the 50% rule after.

Don't expect too much from your trucks charging system. My SuperDuty has a high output alternator and it puts back 3amps to the trailer. That's not much.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by klassic

Don't expect too much from your trucks charging system. My SuperDuty has a high output alternator and it puts back 3amps to the trailer. That's not much.

I've mentioned this before. We travel 6/7 hrs a day with the inverter, 2 batteries, running the fridge. When we arrive at a CG the inverter still shows 12.7/8 volts (85%) so obviously my Chev is keeping things charged while on the road.

[klassic]

Grumpy I don't know why your system is working so darn good. Mine stinks. Obviously if I was getting results like you I wouldn't be starting threads like this.

There is no way I could travel for 7 hours and have batteries at 85% without my solar.
I guess you've never watched your inverter control with the amps displayed because you are traveling, but I would be interested to know what results your Samsung gives to compare with the Fridgidaire.

I just checked my Trojans...unplugged them at 13.22 volts. Twenty four hours later 13.10v. I don't think I have a battery problem.

[Bassdogs]

I switched to a residential fridge in my houseboat because the gas/eled Norcold was over $1200. Also since the boat is in a slip w/ shore power 95% of the time it was pretty much a no brainer with the new fridge costing less than $300 on sale at Lowes. When "boondocking" out on the lake, I run my Honda 2000 pretty much from 6am till 11pm and shut everything down [including fridge] over nite. With no one opening the door the fridge holds temp pretty well and the ice trays remain hard frozen until morning.

I would have bit the bullet on a new Norcold if we were planning on spending more time on the lake like some of our neighbors do. They go out for 10 out of 12 weeks between memorial and labor days. The newer boats can be equipped with residential fridges and electric stoves as the manufacturers are going without propane. Those boats have large inverters and a significant battery bank. Even the bigger hi $$ houseboats pretty much all run a Honda 2000 [some 12/7] to keep up with the draw thru the inverter.

I would not want an RV that I expected to do a lot of boondocking equipped with a residential fridge.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by klassic

I guess you've never watched your inverter control with the amps displayed because you are traveling, but I would be interested to know what results your Samsung gives to compare with the Fridgidaire.

Never looked at amp draw, really had no need. I do know the SAMSUNG has what is called an inverter compressor, what ever that is.

[blujay40]

We have a 2017 Eagle 330RSTS on order with the Frigidaire and found out today that there may be no way to install more than 1 battery in the new design. I have started a different thread on this subject to let anyone else know that may be ordering these.