Page 1 of 1
Has anyone ever replace the fridge with an ac/dc unit?
Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:27 pm
by RobertL
I am currently losing my patience with the current fridge and considering going with a Norcold ac/dc unit.
Pros i am told: uses less power, uses no gas, cools quicker, cools better in dc mode, uses no gas.
Cons?
Has anyone gone this route?
I have 3 deep cycle agm batteries so amperage is not an issue here. Gas capacity is.
Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 1:06 pm
by skater
Sounds good to me. You could throw some solar cells on the roof if you don't have any already to help even more. The power issue is what would stop me, but with the three batteries you should be in good shape for a while (I'd check the amperages and figure out how long you can run it with your batteries, just so you know).
Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 8:18 pm
by RobertL
Seriously considering it but there is not a lot of love out there for either Norcold or Dometic with regard to refrigerators.
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:45 am
by skater
RobertL wrote:Seriously considering it but there is not a lot of love out there for either Norcold or Dometic with regard to refrigerators.
Really? I know nothing about Norcold, but Dometic is sort of the quintessential RV appliance maker, and they make the stock fridges in our campers. I'm surprised to hear this.
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:15 am
by weekender
I have a newer Dometic as well, previous owners replaced the original fridge with it. It is a totally automatic system, works great on gas or electric-- gas even when driving, so rarely does it switch over to the DC mode. Keeps ice cream rock hard, frozen foods. Lasts 2-3 weeks on our small propane tank-- depends on how warm it is outside, and how much food is in it. I never experienced the original fridge, but am still close friends of the original owners, who said the new fridge was a "game changer"
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:47 am
by skater
Even my original fridge works extremely well, especially now that I got a new gasket on it. I had all kinds of problems with it before that, but I spent $150 or so for a new gasket kit, and I cleaned up the rust and repainted the frame where the gasket contacts.
The old gasket had lost its pliancy, and the rust wasn't helping, so the fridge was basically open at the bottom corner, which made it REALLY hard to keep up. Since I cleaned and replaced it, though, even hot days at the Outer Banks haven't been a problem.
I do have one of those $15 fridge fans for it - they run off two D batteries, which seem to last for years for me (obviously I take a battery out when I'm not using the fridge). I don't know how much it helps, but it seems like it should. I keep it on the 'floor' of the fridge.