| all-electric frig only [message #258608] |
Tue, 12 August 2014 15:45  |
ernie
Messages: 64
Registered: June 2005
Location: ellensburg, wa
Karma: 0
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I have an all-electric refrigerator (12/120v) . Anybody successfully boondock with this? How do you do it? With solar?
ernie garcia
1975 eleganza II
ellensburg, wa
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| Re: all-electric frig only [message #258609 is a reply to message #258608] |
Tue, 12 August 2014 16:00  |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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good batteries, low electricity use throughout the rest of the coach, and the occasional use of the generator.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: all-electric frig only [message #258610 is a reply to message #258608] |
Tue, 12 August 2014 16:26 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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might need more details on what fridge you have.
unlimited answers to that question... the variables are how long do you need to boondock? and how often would you want to run a generator? and the biggest question of all, how much money do you want to spend?
I have an original norcold fridge(110v and 12v). and I cannot get more then a weekend out of my 65 watt solar, 2 6v golf cart batteries. LED lighting, I can barely get 24 hours in some cases. I have learned that by stuffing it with ice, it will significantly keep the draw down. I have a few other things I want to do, just have not done yet. the main solution for me is to replace that fridge with a propane one. with my setup, I know my boondocking at that point would be limited back to how much black water I can deal with, and not battery life.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: all-electric frig only [message #258629 is a reply to message #258628] |
Tue, 12 August 2014 19:32 |
A Hamilto
Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 39
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Matt Colie wrote on Tue, 12 August 2014 19:09...set the Onan running frequency real close to 60 or you will kill the reefer. ... The pdf that I pointed to says to run the fridge through a modified or full sine wave inverter from the battery/converter to the fridge 120VAC input.
It will use less current (battery) than the built-in inverter, and will also keep the frequency at 60Hz (protecting it from any Onan frequency variations).
[Updated on: Tue, 12 August 2014 19:34] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: all-electric frig only [message #258708 is a reply to message #258629] |
Wed, 13 August 2014 11:54 |
ernie
Messages: 64
Registered: June 2005
Location: ellensburg, wa
Karma: 0
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I have a Norcold, and the buzz-box has been replaced with a Progressive with a charge wizard.
Thanks for all the replies. You guys are great. A lot to think about; not the least of which is, how badly do we want to dry camp?
ernie garcia
1975 eleganza II
ellensburg, wa
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| Re: all-electric frig only [message #258725 is a reply to message #258608] |
Wed, 13 August 2014 13:51 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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ernie wrote on Tue, 12 August 2014 13:45I have an all-electric refrigerator (12/120v) . Anybody successfully boondock with this? How do you do it? With solar?
We dry camped a couple of times in the first few years of ownership, with the original all electric Norcold. I used a small portable generator to keep the batteries charged (first a small Coleman 1600 watt and then a Honeywell 2000 watt inverter generator). The small generators used considerably less gas than the Onan but still made noise. At the sand dunes, it was no big deal, but at Quartzsite, in the Ham fest area, I got the hairy eyeball from a lot of the other people with solar and heat absorption fridges. Since then I have replaced my fridge with a 3-way and added a 140 watt solar charging system, among other things, and I no longer worry about it. We dry camp frequently.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: all-electric frig only [message #258740 is a reply to message #258610] |
Wed, 13 August 2014 17:14 |
Chr$
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
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lqqkatjon wrote on Tue, 12 August 2014 14:26might need more details on what fridge you have.
unlimited answers to that question... the variables are how long do you need to boondock? and how often would you want to run a generator? and the biggest question of all, how much money do you want to spend?
I have an original norcold fridge(110v and 12v). and I cannot get more then a weekend out of my 65 watt solar, 2 6v golf cart batteries. LED lighting, I can barely get 24 hours in some cases. I have learned that by stuffing it with ice, it will significantly keep the draw down. I have a few other things I want to do, just have not done yet. the main solution for me is to replace that fridge with a propane one. with my setup, I know my boondocking at that point would be limited back to how much black water I can deal with, and not battery life.
65W of solar isn't gonna do it. You are only pushing 4-ish amps to the battery, and given about 3-5 charge hours per day, you will not replenish your charge totally.
I ran 2 days then about 2-3 hours with the genny to recharge, but the PD9460 puts out 60 A while charging. This was running my furnace, and dropping the batteries (2 GC2's) below 80% which is not good.
Run the genny every day to keep your batteries from dying an early death, or add about another 300w of solar. That refer is an energy hog.
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ
77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
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