Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Fridges (Residential or RV?)
| Fridges [message #349263] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 12:34  |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
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So the wife is concerned that the poor old Dometic rm100 in the coach wont keep things coldong enough, between stops and she doesnt feel safe running propane while driving.....so does one install a residential fridge with an inverter or does one spring for a RV specific model?
I know there is mucho talk about how an RV fridge is built for RV use and a house fridge is built for a house.....
Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions? Experience?
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
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| Re: Fridges [message #349265 is a reply to message #349263] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 13:24  |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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I have never heard anybody have a problem with installing a residential fridge in an RV.
The main point, is how are you going to use it? If you do any boondocking of any length of time(even overnight), you need to put more thought into how you are going to be running a residential fridge in you coach when not plugged in. More batteries/solar or? There are huge variables in fridges on how much battery juice they will need. For me I could never figure out how to make a 110v fridge run off my 100 watt solar system and 2 6v golf cart batteries from Thursday night through sunday. Usually my old Norcold would barely make 24 hours, 36 if I stuffed it full of ice. So I went propane and never looked back, and I do run the fridge on propane while driving.
There are now new 12v only electric options that are extremely efficient. So not every fridge is the same anymore.
There are 3 way fridges that use Propane when parked(boondocked), 110 volt on shore power and 12volt while you are driving down the road.
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: [GMCnet] Fridges [message #349267 is a reply to message #349263] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 13:53 |
Richard Denney
Messages: 920
Registered: April 2010
Karma: 9
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Propane is the way to go if you are away from power for more than a day. I
don’t run the propane while driving (the wind will blow it out, often as
not), but I light it at night when boondocking to keep things cold. When
parked at a campsite and plugged it, I freeze ice packs in the freezer. I
move those down into the main fridge when driving.
I’ve seen residential refers in motorhomes, but I think RV refers fit
better and are easier to lock down. They also have locking doors and front
panel controls. Their AC operation is purely resistive so there is no
starting surge as with a compressor. Some also have a 12-volt option to
make its 3-way, but that only maintains cold already established with more
powerful sources. Mine is a 2-way.
Rick “propane is best for dry camping more than a day or two” Denney
On Mon, Oct 14, 2019 at 1:35 PM tonka6cuda6--- via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> So the wife is concerned that the poor old Dometic rm100 in the coach wont
> keep things coldong enough, between stops and she doesnt feel safe running
> propane while driving.....so does one install a residential fridge with an
> inverter or does one spring for a RV specific model?
>
> I know there is mucho talk about how an RV fridge is built for RV use and
> a house fridge is built for a house.....
>
> Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions? Experience?
> --
> Rich Mondor,
>
> Brockville, ON
>
> 77 Hughes 2600
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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--
'73 X-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
Offlist email: rick at rickdenney dot com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fridges [message #349268 is a reply to message #349267] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 14:08 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
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I run a Vitrifrigo RV specific 12V and absolutely love it. There are similar offerings with the 12v danfoss compressor from Norcold and Dometic as well as others.
We doubled out battery bank and cut our propane in half when we swapped from a 3 way. Would not go back to propane.
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fridges [message #349269 is a reply to message #349265] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 13:53 |
Dolph Santorine
Messages: 1236
Registered: April 2011
Location: Wheeling, WV
Karma: -41
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Senior Member |
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Jon:
I could get that kind of life out of four 250aH EV batteries (basically taller T-105’s) with a 135 watt draw residential fridge using a Xantrex Pure Sine inverter.
Modified square wave units would cause an increase in draw of nearly 25%, making that impossible.
The issue was that I never got through two seasons on a fridge. The units did not have coils on the back, which necessitated a small fan on the cabinet that the fridge was in. They were also not designed for the earthquakes that we put them through (driving).
Both suffered refrigerant leaks which lead to their demise.
I now have a 8.1 cu ft Vitrifriglio unit with the Danfoss compressor. Almost twice the fridge, and draws 5.8a at 12V. That’s less than 70 watts!
With 250 amp hours on tap, and 25% run time, 150 hours is not going to be much of a problem.
Just be sure you understand the difference between absorption and refrigerant cycle refrigerators.
Dolph
DE AD0LF
Wheeling, West Virginia
1977 26’ ex-PalmBeach
Howell EFI & EBL, Reaction Arms, Manny Transmission
“The Aluminum and Fiberglass Mistress"
> On Oct 14, 2019, at 2:24 PM, Jon Roche via Gmclist wrote:
>
> I have never heard anybody have a problem with installing a residential fridge in an RV.
>
>
> The main point, is how are you going to use it? If you do any boondocking of any length of time(even overnight), you need to put more thought into
> how you are going to be running a residential fridge in you coach when not plugged in. More batteries/solar or? There are huge variables in fridges
> on how much battery juice they will need. For me I could never figure out how to make a 110v fridge run off my 100 watt solar system and 2 6v golf
> cart batteries from Thursday night through sunday. Usually my old Norcold would barely make 24 hours, 36 if I stuffed it full of ice. So I went
> propane and never looked back, and I do run the fridge on propane while driving.
>
>
> There are now new 12v only electric options that are extremely efficient. So not every fridge is the same anymore.
>
> There are 3 way fridges that use Propane when parked(boondocked), 110 volt on shore power and 12volt while you are driving down the road.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Jon Roche
> 75 palm beach
> St. Cloud, MN
> http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fridges [message #349271 is a reply to message #349268] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 15:09 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Fridge? You don' need no steenkin' fridge. Use an ice chest with dry ice.
It will keep stuff cool like you won't believe. Leave all those solor
arrays, huge battery banks and inverter/converters and propane tanks, too.
Take a giant leap into the 1930's. Rough it a bit. (VERY BIG GRIN).
Seriously now for a bit. I bought my first wall tent in the mid 1960's
when my children were little. We slept on air mattresses in mummy style
sleeping bags. Camped at rustic campgrounds with pit toilets, and manually
operated centrally located pumps. Fire circles for cooking. Pretty
primitive stuff. But we loved doing it.
Moved up to Coleman style white gasoline 2 burner folding stove, and
styrofoam ice chests with melting ice to cool our foods. Had to drain them,
or everything got soggy fast.
Later moved up to a 20 pound propane bottle connected to an apartment
style 2 burner hot plate. Folding tables, portable wind screens, later on
E-Z UPS. Still tent camping.
Next phase, a pickup with a slide in 10.5 foot Open Road camper. 3 way
Dometic fridge, 3 propane burner cooktop with propane oven. Left the
propane on sometimes, depending upon the condition of my pickup battery.
Then we moved up to a 26 foot tow behind trailer. All the bells and
whistles. Propane on all the time, too.
Two other stick and staple Dodge Van type Chassis built motorhomes.
Same deal. Left the propane on while traveling.
Finally, a 26 foot GMC Royale, 1978 party outfitted. Bar, blender, dry
bath, 3 way fridge, propane hot water heater and forced air furnace. Leave
the propane on in it, too. Do I FEAR IT? Not so much as I respect the heck
out of it. Do your maintenance, tighten check all your fittings and inspect
your hoses. Bubble test every fitting, and try to do it annually. It will
serve you very well. I have been using it since my 20's and in my late 70's
now. Use ordinary care and you do not need to fear it.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
On Mon, Oct 14, 2019, 12:09 PM Justin Brady via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> I run a Vitrifrigo RV specific 12V and absolutely love it. There are
> similar offerings with the 12v danfoss compressor from Norcold and Dometic
> as
> well as others.
> We doubled out battery bank and cut our propane in half when we swapped
> from a 3 way. Would not go back to propane.
> --
> Justin Brady
> http://www.thegmcrv.com/
> 1976 Palm Beach 455
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fridges [message #349272 is a reply to message #349267] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 15:06 |
rallymaster
Messages: 662
Registered: February 2004
Location: North Plains, ORYGUN
Karma: -4
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Senior Member |
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Yeah, me, too.
Sometimes run the furnace while driving, too.
RonC
Ron & Linda Clark
North Plains, ORYGUN
1978 Eleganza II
========================
On Mon, 14 Oct 2019 12:24:11 -0600 Jon Roche via Gmclist
writes:
............... >For me I could never
> figure out how to make a 110v fridge run off my 100 watt solar
> system and 2 6v golf
> cart batteries from Thursday night through sunday.
> So I went > propane and never looked back, and I do run the fridge
> on propane while driving.
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Ron & Linda Clark
North Plains, ORYGUN
78 Eleganza II
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| Re: Fridges [message #349273 is a reply to message #349263] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 15:30 |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
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Im not afraid of it, wife is and we all know she wins.....lol.
I think she's more worried about having a fridge that will keep foid cold for more than 12hrs if we cant or dont have the ability to keep it cold.
Propane works as does the fridge system but it just doesnt work great.....im going to test it more before i condemn it as im reluctant to spend 1200$ on a fridge....i would rather have EFI....lol.
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
[Updated on: Mon, 14 October 2019 15:56] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Fridges [message #349275 is a reply to message #349263] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 15:41 |
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RF_Burns
Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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I have had an Avanti 7.5 cubic Ft electric fridge since my original all electric Norcold died about 2011. It cost me about $400Cdn vs about $2,000Cdn for a RV 3-way or all-electric. We like it, it cools fast and no propane worries.
When I park the Murray in the shop, it takes on a very important job... Beer Fridge for the shop!
We always get electric sites but we can go overnight at Walmart using a 10year old Telecom backup battery (100Amp hr). It was a reject from radio tower sites due to its age, so I don't know its capacity now.
I put a 150W solar on the roof this spring and on a sunny day it seems to keep up while in a parking lot during day outings.
With the $1,500 I saved, I can go to LiFePo4 lithium battery.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6634-all-electric-fridge-by-avanti.html
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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| Re: Fridges [message #349276 is a reply to message #349263] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 16:01 |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
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Bruce did you modify anything around the fridge or add a fan etc? (Other than adjust for the fridge size of course).
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
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| Re: Fridges [message #349277 is a reply to message #349273] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 16:25 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Rich,
clean the propane oraface, and burner(plenty of you tube videos). and check the LP pressure. of 3 GMC's I have actually taken the time to check LP pressure on, all 3 were down in pressure. no issue for the stove, and furnace, but the fridge is much more finicky about wanting to see full 11" wc. sometimes no one around has a way to test the pressure, so just go and replace a LP regulator, it is about $30. if you still have issues cooling, then get it tested by someone.
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: [GMCnet] Fridges [message #349278 is a reply to message #349265] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 16:48 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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I don’t really understand replacing a 2 or three way rv fridge with a 120
volt ac only fridge. It would reduce the value for most looking for an rv
for actual camping. If I see a rig with a full size house fridge in it I
also assume it was lived in. Another negative imo.
Sully
Bellevue wa
On Mon, Oct 14, 2019 at 11:24 AM Jon Roche via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> I have never heard anybody have a problem with installing a residential
> fridge in an RV.
>
>
> The main point, is how are you going to use it? If you do any
> boondocking of any length of time(even overnight), you need to put more
> thought into
> how you are going to be running a residential fridge in you coach when not
> plugged in. More batteries/solar or? There are huge variables in fridges
> on how much battery juice they will need. For me I could never figure out
> how to make a 110v fridge run off my 100 watt solar system and 2 6v golf
> cart batteries from Thursday night through sunday. Usually my old Norcold
> would barely make 24 hours, 36 if I stuffed it full of ice. So I went
> propane and never looked back, and I do run the fridge on propane while
> driving.
>
>
> There are now new 12v only electric options that are extremely efficient.
> So not every fridge is the same anymore.
>
> There are 3 way fridges that use Propane when parked(boondocked), 110
> volt on shore power and 12volt while you are driving down the road.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Jon Roche
> 75 palm beach
> St. Cloud, MN
> http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: Fridges [message #349280 is a reply to message #349277] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 17:17 |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
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Senior Member |
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lqqkatjon wrote on Mon, 14 October 2019 17:25Rich,
clean the propane oraface, and burner(plenty of you tube videos). and check the LP pressure. of 3 GMC's I have actually taken the time to check LP pressure on, all 3 were down in pressure. no issue for the stove, and furnace, but the fridge is much more finicky about wanting to see full 11" wc. sometimes no one around has a way to test the pressure, so just go and replace a LP regulator, it is about $30. if you still have issues cooling, then get it tested by someone.
I cleaned the jet and the burner....it actually looked ok but im.going to service the propane tank so replacing anything propane related is a good idea as it looks to be original.
The other thing i did not do, nor did i know it was recommended till i read a newer model maintenance quide was to clean the flu....so i will do that tomorrow as i gsther it probably hadnt been done in a long time.
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
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| Re: Fridges [message #349282 is a reply to message #349263] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 18:10 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Norcold 3 way and never look back.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: Fridges [message #349283 is a reply to message #349280] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 18:29 |
Gail Marks Cruiser
Messages: 125
Registered: August 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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G'day,
I am in the 12v fridge group.
I have mentioned before we have two 12v fridges, one a slide out drinks fridge by the door and a 2 door upright danfoss compressor fridge in the kitchen. We free-camp (boon dock) a lot, sometimes not plugging in for a weeks at a time. We have a decent solar and battery set up, which we love. I like simplicity that having 12v refrigeration provides, plug in to the mains power the fridges transformer switches on, unplug from mains power the transformer switches back to the battery bank automatically. The 2 door upright stays on permanently, used as a second fridge when we are home. Not having a gas fridge also means we have no need for a large gas (propane) tank, just two small BBQ bottles we can put in the car to take them to be refilled.
We have had gas/electric fridges in the past, but even the tropical rated ones, struggle here in Australia in the hotter months.
As soon as anything is rated for RV's the price seems to jump, we found a good range of fridges sold by suppliers of appliances for remote area housing that don't have access mains power.
My view- Gas (propane) refrigeration is so 80's
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Fridges [message #349290 is a reply to message #349286] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 19:37 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Hmmm. Good discussion. Different viewpoints. We boondock (dry camp)
frequently, NEVER, NEVER, at Walmart. I never shop with them, so do not
sponge off of them either. Don't like their predatory purchasing methods,
nor their treatment of established small community stores that they put out
of business with their loss leader pricing. But, enough of that. Our
holding tanks give out long before our batteries do. Many off the grinders
use domestic refrigerators that use bottled gasses of one type or another,
as do the Amish and Quaker communities. They are quiet, and long lasting
products. Our original RV refrigerator, a Dometic 3 way lasted over 40
years. Hard to find an electric anything with that kind of a life span.
But, it is your choice, and your money. Spend it how it serves you best.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
On Mon, Oct 14, 2019, 4:55 PM kelly stockwell via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> I'm in the 12v fridge club. put this in
>
> https://uniqueappliances.com/product/unique-solar-powered-dc-fridge-2/
>
> I used 30amp hours a day, have 200 aH of lithium. Dry camped for 8 days
> with mediocre solar options but moved my 2 100 watt panels around.
> Worked much better and stayed much colder than my 21 year old Norcold
> did. I had changed the burner, cleaned the flue- still didn't keep up in
> the
> summer.
>
> I do miss the larger freezer.
> --
> 1978 Kingsley
> Putney VT
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: Fridges [message #349291 is a reply to message #349286] |
Mon, 14 October 2019 19:57 |
6cuda6
Messages: 975
Registered: June 2019
Karma: -6
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Senior Member |
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kstockwell wrote on Mon, 14 October 2019 19:54I'm in the 12v fridge club. put this in
https://uniqueappliances.com/product/unique-solar-powered-dc-fridge-2/
I used 50-60amp hours a day, pulls 3 amps when on. I have 200 aH of lithium. Dry camped for 8 days with mediocre solar options but moved my 2 100 watt panels around.
Worked much better and stayed much colder than my 21 year old Norcold did. I had changed the burner, cleaned the flue- still didn't keep up in the summer.
I do miss the larger freezer.
Very interesting products.
Rich Mondor,
Brockville, ON
77 Hughes 2600
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