GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] 12 Volt Refrigerator
[GMCnet] 12 Volt Refrigerator [message #307742] Sat, 24 September 2016 13:02 Go to next message
Peter Garry is currently offline  Peter Garry   United States
Messages: 138
Registered: July 2011
Karma: 0
Senior Member
OK.. this is what I have installed so far:
1) 3, 120 watt photovoltaic penels mounted flat on the roof
2) 1, 1500 watt inverter/charger connected to the PV panels as well as to a 15 amp shore power connection
3) 2, 100 amp hour lithium batteries
4) 1, Dometic 12v portable refrigerator/freezer that sits between the driver and passage seat and doubles as a sort of table top and drinks receptacle.
5) 1, microwave, rated at 800 watts (plus any surge)
6) ALL the lights are LEDs (lots of them)
7) Several 12 volt cigarette lighter type outlets
8) created a space for a 4.1 cubic ft under counter frig (now occupied by a $50 home depot special)
9) installed a CAT vented propane heater (has a 12v fan for the exhaust system)
I have removed the inoperable Onan as well as the rooftop AC. Also installed a completely separate 110v system for the temp. frig and to run power tools etc while working on the coach.
Now… gather enough cash (about 1K) to buy the 12v frig.
We are in western Canada so AC although nice is not necessary (well that statement is still open for debate) So I’m looking at a AC system that can work while driving…. still looking, any ideas?
This last summer all worked very well, a couple of trips to the national parks in the rockies (not hot enough for AC) and the PV panels have kept the batteries over 13v all the time.
We calculated and then attempted to balance the PV input with the expected electrical demand.
Peter Garry
Calgary Alberta
23ft 73 GMC
(once a painted desert)
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Re: [GMCnet] 12 Volt Refrigerator [message #307743 is a reply to message #307742] Sat, 24 September 2016 13:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
Senior Member
Peter Garry wrote on Sat, 24 September 2016 13:02
...I'm looking at a AC system that can work while driving.... still looking, any ideas?...
What you want is an auxiliary evaporator, either for the living space or the cockpit or both, that runs off the existing A6 compressor. If you decide you need cooler in the cockpit, install something like the "vintage air" unit from AppliedGMC and install a shower curtain behind the cockpit seats to keep the cool air up front. If you want BOTH a cooler cockpit and cooling in the living space, install both a vintage air like unit AND an aux evaporator for the living space and disconnect the OEM evaporator. I am not sure the A6 can run three evaporators.

Post back here if you have trouble finding ideas for an aux evaporator on the photo site.

If you don't have OEM dash air, the only practical choice is to get the Onan working, reinstall it and the roof AC, and run the Onan to run the roof air while underway. Either that or find a 1977 or 1978 GMC that is being dismantled and transplant all the dash AC stuff into yours.
Re: [GMCnet] 12 Volt Refrigerator [message #307744 is a reply to message #307742] Sat, 24 September 2016 13:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
Senior Member
Candles and ice blocks are cheaper. More of a P.I.T.A. too. ( grin)
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or.
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Sep 24, 2016 11:03 AM, "Peter Garry" wrote:

> OK.. this is what I have installed so far:
> 1) 3, 120 watt photovoltaic penels mounted flat on the roof
> 2) 1, 1500 watt inverter/charger connected to the PV panels as well
> as to a 15 amp shore power connection
> 3) 2, 100 amp hour lithium batteries
> 4) 1, Dometic 12v portable refrigerator/freezer that sits between the
> driver and passage seat and doubles as a sort of table top and drinks
> receptacle.
> 5) 1, microwave, rated at 800 watts (plus any surge)
> 6) ALL the lights are LEDs (lots of them)
> 7) Several 12 volt cigarette lighter type outlets
> 8) created a space for a 4.1 cubic ft under counter frig (now
> occupied by a $50 home depot special)
> 9) installed a CAT vented propane heater (has a 12v fan for the
> exhaust system)
> I have removed the inoperable Onan as well as the rooftop AC. Also
> installed a completely separate 110v system for the temp. frig and to run
> power tools etc while working on the coach.
> Now… gather enough cash (about 1K) to buy the 12v frig.
> We are in western Canada so AC although nice is not necessary (well that
> statement is still open for debate) So I’m looking at a AC system that can
> work while driving…. still looking, any ideas?
> This last summer all worked very well, a couple of trips to the national
> parks in the rockies (not hot enough for AC) and the PV panels have kept
> the batteries over 13v all the time.
> We calculated and then attempted to balance the PV input with the expected
> electrical demand.
> Peter Garry
> Calgary Alberta
> 23ft 73 GMC
> (once a painted desert)
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Re: [GMCnet] 12 Volt Refrigerator [message #307751 is a reply to message #307742] Sat, 24 September 2016 16:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
k2gkk is currently offline  k2gkk   United States
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
Senior Member
For refrigeration, you might wish to consider the Vitrifrigo 12/24V DC and 120V AC unit.


The Danfoss high-efficiency compressor works at fairly low power drain on either 12 or 24 Volts and automatically selects the mode.


For 120V AC operation, the fridge includes a 120V AC to 24V DC power supply which will be used whenever AC power is available (Genset or shore power).


I had almost new one on my boat (Carver 355 Aft Cabin) which was totaled in Feb 2011 in an ice storm. Brought the fridge home and currently use it in the garage for pizza and beer!


It will go into "The Money Pit" if the 3-way box that came with the coach decides to not work properly.


Bought from Defender Marine supply.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ Since 30 November '53 ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ Member GMCMI and Classics ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"




________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Peter Garry
Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2016 13:02
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] 12 Volt Refrigerator

OK.. this is what I have installed so far:
1) 3, 120 watt photovoltaic panels mounted flat on the roof
2) 1, 1500 watt inverter/charger connected to the PV panels as well as to a 15 amp shore power connection
3) 2, 100 amp hour lithium batteries
4) 1, Dometic 12v portable refrigerator/freezer that sits between the driver and passage seat and doubles as a sort of table top and drinks receptacle.
5) 1, microwave, rated at 800 watts (plus any surge)
6) ALL the lights are LEDs (lots of them)
7) Several 12 volt cigarette lighter type outlets
8) created a space for a 4.1 cubic ft under counter frig (now occupied by a $50 home depot special)
9) installed a CAT vented propane heater (has a 12v fan for the exhaust system)
I have removed the inoperable Onan as well as the rooftop AC. Also installed a completely separate 110v system for the temp. frig and to run power tools etc while working on the coach.
Now... gather enough cash (about 1K) to buy the 12v frig.
We are in western Canada so AC although nice is not necessary (well that statement is still open for debate) So I'm looking at a AC system that can work while driving.... still looking, any ideas?
This last summer all worked very well, a couple of trips to the national parks in the rockies (not hot enough for AC) and the PV panels have kept the batteries over 13v all the time.
We calculated and then attempted to balance the PV input with the expected electrical demand.
Peter Garry
Calgary Alberta
23ft 73 GMC
(once a painted desert)

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

Re: [GMCnet] 12 Volt Refrigerator [message #307752 is a reply to message #307751] Sat, 24 September 2016 16:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bumpersticker is currently offline  bumpersticker   United States
Messages: 60
Registered: February 2004
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Karma: 0
Member
Another choice for a electric RV refrigerator being sold by a solar cell manufacter;

https://www.amazon.com/Grape-Solar-GS-UF-5-Fab1-Glacier-Freezer/dp/B00HVXE154

Looks like a fair deal.


Bob Cook
78 Birchaven
75 Avion (In work)
Redondo Beach, CA
Re: [GMCnet] 12 Volt Refrigerator [message #308606 is a reply to message #307752] Wed, 12 October 2016 06:46 Go to previous message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
Senior Member
Sir, thanks for the link on the fridge. I ordered one along with some leds for the coach. Fridge was here in 3 days, still waiting on the delayed small parts shipment. There was a small dent in rear corner from shipping. Amazon knocked $150 off so ended up with ~ $500 in new fridge. I have a 23' and I did not want to hang the fridge out in the hall cause of the rounded side of the coach. I did have to open the hole 1" from the width and 1 1/2" in height. I removed the upper shelf and will put non skid shelf pad on top of fridge and set microwave on it.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6981-grape-solar-refridgerator.html


bumpersticker wrote on Sat, 24 September 2016 17:55
Another choice for a electric RV refrigerator being sold by a solar cell manufacter;

https://www.amazon.com/Grape-Solar-GS-UF-5-Fab1-Glacier-Freezer/dp/B00HVXE154

Looks like a fair deal.


C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
Previous Topic: OFF TOPIC OCTOBER 10/2016
Next Topic: [GMCnet] Missing Exhaust Manifold bolt
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Fri Mar 29 04:30:43 CDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01276 seconds