Refrigerator Ouestion

[Larry&Janet]

We just bought a 2023 North Point 310RLTS with an Overland 2 Solar package, 30 amp controller 1800 watt inverter and 2 200W panels. 18 cu ft 2118X Norcold refrigerator. Question: when traveling do I have to run the frig on propane or will it operate on electric from the solar? The ops manual does not address this question. Several 110 outlets are labeled ‘inverter’, but the frig receptacle is not labeled.

[kirkelli]

Originally Posted by Larry&Janet

We just bought a 2023 North Point 310RLTS with an Overland 2 Solar package, 30 amp controller 1800 watt inverter and 2 200W panels. 18 cu ft 2118X Norcold refrigerator. Question: when traveling do I have to run the frig on propane or will it operate on electric from the solar? The ops manual does not address this question. Several 110 outlets are labeled ‘inverter’, but the frig receptacle is not labeled.

I installed my own solar system and run the fridge off AC at all times traveling included. Once cooled the fridge will draw very little current..I would think your fridge is included on the inverter circuit but test it to make sure..

[Grumpy]

Since it is LP/120 my guess is you will need propane.

[RedHorse1]

Our AC/LP Norcold has 2 heating elements that provide the heat when LP is not available. I can’t quote the load they generate but I can say it’s not low. Once cooled, as Kirk says, the load will be intermittent and the batts/inverter/batts might keep up.
On the other hand, it’s AC/LP for convenience, it uses AC when it’s avail and LP when not. Our LP usage is very minimal when traveling.

[TaftCoach]

X2 RedHorse1

I carry two sources of power, batteries and propane. My electric systems are the more challenging to keep charged. Shifting any load from propane to DC just makes that more difficult. One 30 pound propane tank with lots of cooking, some heating, and running the refrigerator, lasts us a month or more. Why add an additional load to my batteries?

But everyone camps different. If you are just off grid for the time it takes to drive a couple hundred miles and you are hooking up again you are probably fine not using the propane.