Residential refrigerator

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by AKRUEBBE

Tom, don't know if it makes a difference but my RAM has dual 220 AMP alternators and I have two batteries in the 5er.

I have dual alternators on my Ford as well. As Dan said, the wires should be the same size.

[dkegel]

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

I have dual alternators on my Ford as well. As Dan said, the wires should be the same size.

And you both have had your batteries drained by the fridge? I only have one battery in the 5th wheel but have only traveled about 4 hours. Battery was still fine for me, so I don't know what the limit might be.

Dave

[Philbert]

We love our Residential fridge. We traveled to Florida last month. 9 hours one day, 8 the second and 5 on the third. Batteries were never below 12.3.

[Bookemdanno]

I have three 12 volt batteries in my RV. The longest I’ve driven is 16.5 hours and batteries were down to 12.1 volts when I completed driving that day.

The wire in the plug is only going to provide a trickle charge to the battery(s) and won’t be able to keep up with the draw by the fridge. If you wanted to “charge” the batteries while driving, you’d need to install a heavy gauge wire directly from your engine bay and run it back to the RV.

[Gizmopilot]

Originally Posted by dkegel

And you both have had your batteries drained by the fridge? I only have one battery in the 5th wheel but have only traveled about 4 hours. Battery was still fine for me, so I don't know what the limit might be.

Dave

It is going to depend -

The residential refrigerator can run a defrost mode that can draw 500 watts of power. (41.6 amps at 12 volts)

If it is very hot and you just put in items that need to be cooled down.

Icemaker - ?

Many 7 pin connectors only can put in about 10 amps at 13.X volts or about 130 watts of power.

Your trailer brakes consume power

parasitic draw of the camper - mine is about 2-3 amps per my BMV-712.

Observation camera - lights, etc.

[Marine71-76]

One thing didn't see mentioned is winterizing the fridge. Depending on the unit installed depends on how you winterize it. With that said, after the first season the wife decided she will put ice trays in the freezer or if necessary, buy bagged ice. Otherwise, she loves the fridge and the space. We do run with the inverter & have 4 batteries.

Oh, forgot to mention, some of our roads are "rough" and the fridge has popped open, even with the latch on. We have since purchased some child proof holders to keep the doors closed.

[Bookemdanno]

Originally Posted by dkegel

Dumb question... Why would the fridge/inverter discharge the battery(s) when traveling? Won't the plugged-in tow vehicle's alternator keep things charged?

Dave

Dave....there's a really good explanation of this over on the IRV2 website. Here's the thread: Dual Alternators - Page 3 - iRV2 Forums

[klassic]

My two Trojan 6v’s are so low after 2 hours of driving that leveling pretty much is the end for their power.
The truck pretty much gives them nothing. 2 alternators as well.

[Gizmopilot]

Originally Posted by klassic

My two Trojan 6v’s are so low after 2 hours of driving that leveling pretty much is the end for their power.
The truck pretty much gives them nothing. 2 alternators as well.

If you have drained them that low it sounds like you went much past 50% and they may not be able to hold full power anymore.

When you need to replace them you may want to give some serious thought with those battleborn batteries 2 of them will have more than 2x the useful power and they have a ten year warranty and you can’t damage them by draining them empty.

[oh355mbqs]

We have a residential in our 2017 Eagle 355MBQS. I have seen the posts about 4-5 hours and dead batteries. I have seen the posts about not charging while driving. I understand wire size, I have a degree in electrical engineering, granted I haven't used it in almost 30 years . Here's my experience. We have done 2 big trips, I have been unplugged (traveled) as much as 18 hours in a day, batteries never dropped below 13 volts. I have 2 Interstate deep cycle 12 volt batteries. I tow with a 2016 Duramax, 1 alternator, 2 batteries. Last year on a trip we got to the campground early, couldn't get our spot. We had plans for the day so I dropped the camper in the parking lot, came back about 7 hours later, batteries were still at 13 volt, according to the Lippert One Control, I didn't check with a meter. I know it is a Xantrex 1000 inverter, I can't remember the brand of refrigerator. This is our first residential, my experience so far, I will never go back. The winterization is a little more involved, but not bad.

[Gizmopilot]

Originally Posted by oh355mbqs

We have a residential in our 2017 Eagle 355MBQS. I have seen the posts about 4-5 hours and dead batteries. I have seen the posts about not charging while driving. I understand wire size, I have a degree in electrical engineering, granted I haven't used it in almost 30 years . Here's my experience. We have done 2 big trips, I have been unplugged (traveled) as much as 18 hours in a day, batteries never dropped below 13 volts. I have 2 Interstate deep cycle 12 volt batteries. I tow with a 2016 Duramax, 1 alternator, 2 batteries. Last year on a trip we got to the campground early, couldn't get our spot. We had plans for the day so I dropped the camper in the parking lot, came back about 7 hours later, batteries were still at 13 volt, according to the Lippert One Control, I didn't check with a meter. I know it is a Xantrex 1000 inverter, I can't remember the brand of refrigerator. This is our first residential, my experience so far, I will never go back. The winterization is a little more involved, but not bad.

If you have good batteries (doesn’t matter lead acid or lithium) and have at least 100 amps useable at 12 volts (this would mean at least 2 fully charged 100 amp hour lead acid batteries) you should be able to get about 16 hours (not counting any other drain or charge ie 7 pin etc.) before you get down to %50 based on my 2018 Whirlpool and the energy star sticker of needing an average of 75 watts per hour.

If you are not getting that it probably means your batteries are not healthy or something else is also putting a drain on your batteries.

You may want to consider getting a good battery monitor like the BMV-712 - This will let you see your SOC (State of charge) and any charge or discharge via wireless bluetooth even from your truck - Not recommending looking at this while you are driving - (Even though it is tempting)

[klassic]

Originally Posted by Gizmopilot

It is going to depend -

The residential refrigerator can run a defrost mode that can draw 500 watts of power. (41.6 amps at 12 volts)

My fridge defrosts at 45a for 20 mins.
I built (Mustang65 designed) a defrost defeat so the defrost can be turned off while driving and boondocking. I catch it trying to defrost quite often

[Cannon]

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

I have dual alternators on my Ford as well. As Dan said, the wires should be the same size.

Wow dual 220a. My old ford has two batteries and only one 140a alternator.
I also have residential fridge and have had no issues with dead batteries. I have the two 12v that came in RV when new. When I leave home I'm at -6 and 34 and when I arrive at campground I'm still at -6 and 34. My battery voltage is 12.4 to 12.6 Longest trip was almost 13hrs. However I did have to replace alternator about a month ago. Maybe it's working it to hard to kept up but I know it was at least 7 years old because that's how long I've had truck.

[jasum]

Originally Posted by klassic

My fridge defrosts at 45a for 20 mins.
I built (Mustang65 designed) a defrost defeat so the defrost can be turned off while driving and boondocking. I catch it trying to defrost quite often

Klassic when are you coming to Florida to hook my refrigerator up??

[klassic]

Originally Posted by jasum

Klassic when are you coming to Florida to hook my refrigerator up??

My NorthPoint doesn’t have enough brake power to get me down the Virginia mountains. Lol.

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by klassic

My NorthPoint doesn’t have enough brake power to get me down the Virginia mountains. Lol.

3 words....

Disc brake conversion
[emoji23][emoji1787][emoji1787]

[jasum]

Originally Posted by klassic

My NorthPoint doesn’t have enough brake power to get me down the Virginia mountains. Lol.

You don't need brakes..........just hammer down!!

[McGintys924]

We had one in our old camper and we dry camped exclusively and it would drain two batteries in under 6 hours. Some days we had to make the judgement of weather to run fridge or furnace. Now, that we have the RV fridge here the issue is the need for near perfect levels. So if power is not a problem then the residential is the way to go, but if you have limited power supply then go RV style.

[bgelyhome]

Jayco manual says to shutdown inverter when on shore power.

[JesseS]

I guess if you stay at RV parks with hookups, or invest in Solar and more batteries they are great, but we have neither the room or need for one. We boondock (dry camp) for weeks at a time and our gas fridge works just fine, actually to well as it will freeze the milk and eggs if I turn it down to far. I have heard to may stories of dead batteries, which makes sense as the inverter for the fridge can use 200AH in a single night. I will stay with my 10cf gas unit.