Refrigerators~ What works and what does not?

[GotSmart]

Opinions are like refrigerators. Everyone has a different one. Some have an ice box, and others have power to them.:-/

What I have for free, and free is the reason I want to use this, is a Haier household refrigerator. 4.6 cf, 115v, 1.5A with 6A max (starting) I am planning on building a solar system in my van, and with costs estimated between $1,000 and $1,500... I would like to keep my expenses as low as possible.

Because I have heard different ways of estimating power, and opinions on buying a household vs rv unit~~~ I would like the community to chime in on this. What do you have, what power does it use, (Proper formula) what does not work, and especially what manufactures are the worst to deal with. I was looking at inverters online, and found several with terrible customer service. So they are on my NO WAY list. :dodgy:

Opinions please?

 

[akrvbob]

I've had a Dometic 12 volt compressor fridge for 4 years and I highly recommend it. It draws 3 amps but runs maybe 4-6 hours a day in the summer and less in the winter.

I easily run it on 190 watts of solar.

In 12 years I have owned many inverters. The best is a Cobra 400 watt MSW. Go to any other page on this site and there is a Amazon link to it down the right hand side.
Bob

 

[GotSmart]

I've had a Dometic 12 volt compressor fridge for 4 years and I highly recommend it. It draws 3 amps but runs maybe 4-6 hours a day in the summer and less in the winter.

I easily run it on 190 watts of solar.

In 12 years I have owned many inverters. The best is a Cobra 400 watt MSW. Go to any other page on this site and there is a Amazon link to it down the right hand side.
Bob

You should start selling these things yourself. You could make a good living just by word of mouth.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I haved a cobra 400, it is noisy...i can hear the fan rev up when i do anything...i mean hitting a key on my laptop i can hear a corresponding sound from the inverter.

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Its works tho and i guess thats to keep it cool, but it might bug you like me.

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Your refrig is 1.5a x 115v= 172 watts /12v=14.3amps 12v if i understand things correctly. There is a kenmore someone linked at sears that was 30watt non peak supposedly which is 2.5 amp at 12v.

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https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=5854

 

[GotSmart]

I haved a cobra 400, it is noisy...i can hear the fan rev up when i do anything...i mean hitting a key on my laptop i can hear a corresponding sound from the inverter.

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Its works tho and i guess thats to keep it cool, but it might bug you like me.

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Your refrig is 1.5a x 115v= 172 watts /12v=14.3amps 12v if i understand things correctly. There is a kenmore someone linked at sears that was 30watt non peak supposedly which is 2.5 amp at 12v.

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https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=5854

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HMM. Noisy fan. I can fix that. Fans are easy to change / upgrade.
All I have to do is take it into a good electrical parts house, and they have them in stock.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Ok but i think you will need the higher watt version anyway if you run tools etc, not positive tho.

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Also for surge on you fridge you definitely need a much bigger inverter.

 

[GotSmart]

Ok but i think you will need the higher watt version anyway if you run tools etc, not positive tho.

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Also for surge on you fridge you definitely need a much bigger inverter.

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Most of my tools are battery, with the exception of my Skill Saw. That one dims house lights when I use it. Old school worm drive.

 

[user 423]

Dewalt,Ryobi,etc. chargers may be different but my Craftsman 19.2V charger will not work on MSW inverter.

Check this link for amperage conversions:

http://www.batterystuff.com/kb/tools/ac-to-dc-amperage-conversion-run-through-an-inverter.html

 

[GotSmart]

Too bad. That is what I have. I guess I will have to keep them topped up whenever I have access to power.

 

[akrvbob]

DazerFaidin wrote:
Your refrig is 1.5a x 115v= 172 watts /12v=14.3amps 12v if i understand things correctly. There is a kenmore someone linked at sears that was 30watt non peak supposedly which is 2.5 amp at 12v.
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I'm not sure who you are writing about, but it's not me. That is not my fridge. Mine is 12 volt only and draws 3 amps at 12 volts = 36 watts. It averages probably 4 hours a day or 12 amps a day. My 190 watts of solar doesn't even notice it. I also have a 65 quart Whytner and it draws more. 5 amps at 12 volt. But it literally only runs 2 hours a day for a total of 10 amps. I unplug it so I know exactly how many hours a day it runs. I think most of us could spare 10 amps a day in the winter or or maybe 20 in the summer.

I don't know anything about the Kenmore but I would be very surprised if it was native 12 volt, not many dorm rooms are wired for 12 volt. But I guess anything is possible.

It's my understanding that Engle came out with the first 12 volt compressor fridge for the 4x4 expedition crowd. They were running 110 volt dorm room fridges and breaking them because they didn't stand up to the rough treatment. The Engle (and all 12 volt fridges) can be abused like crazy and not even notice.

My concern with a dorm fridge would it be standing up to the pounding it would get. I love remote dirt roads that other RVers don't like. If you never leave the pavement it might wouldn't be an issue. I don't know, but I don't think they are intended for a lot of pounding, moving and vibration. Not even in a dorm room!
Bob

 

[akrvbob]

I'm surprised to hear that about your Cobra 400. What I love most about mine is that the fan works perfectly. If there is little or low draw it never comes on, but as the draw goes up it kicks in and increases with the draw.

I've had inverters that the fan never came on, and others that the fan never went off. This one has been by far the best.

I have a Ryobi drill kit and it works fine with MSW. After a few years with a MSW inverter I replaced the 110 volt charger with a Ryobi 12 volt native charger so it would be a moot point. The Dewalt is obviously far, far better equipment and ideal for a pro or heavy user. But the Ryobi is much cheaper and a superb tool for the light use I give them. The set I have now is 6 years old and the batteries are 3 years old. I've built a cabin, two decks, a camper, a trailer, installed a half-dozen solar systems and countless projects with it. It works for me.
Bob

 

[GotSmart]

I'm surprised to hear that about your Cobra 400. What I love most about mine is that the fan works perfectly. If there is little or low draw it never comes on, but as the draw goes up it kicks in and increases with the draw.

I've had inverters that the fan never came on, and others that the fan never went off. This one has been by far the best.

I have a Ryobi drill kit and it works fine with MSW. After a few years with a MSW inverter I replaced the 110 volt charger with a Ryobi 12 volt native charger so it would be a moot point. The Dewalt is obviously far, far better equipment and ideal for a pro or heavy user. But the Ryobi is much cheaper and a superb tool for the light use I give them. The set I have now is 6 years old and the batteries are 3 years old. I've built a cabin, two decks, a camper, a trailer, installed a half-dozen solar systems and countless projects with it. It works for me.
Bob

He was commenting about my 110 dorm fridge~~~

The Craftsman kit I have has been built up over the past 6 years, with constant replacements of different parts. I must have 5 drills, perhaps 6 batteries, sawzall, mini circular saw. (Blades are so expensive it is useless!) I don't remember how many jobs I have done with this set But it is being made obsolete by the new tools coming out.

If I get the right job I will be able to upgrade all at once.

I think I need to be able to find the winning lottery ticket. (If I have a spare buck!)

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

DazerFaidin wrote:
Your refrig is 1.5a x 115v= 172 watts /12v=14.3amps 12v if i understand things correctly. There is a kenmore someone linked at sears that was 30watt non peak supposedly which is 2.5 amp at 12v.
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I'm not sure who you are writing about, but it's not me. That is not my fridge. Mine is 12 volt only

I thought that was obvious :/ nothing i wrote even matches your fridge, i was talking to the op.

 

[akrvbob]

DazerGaizdn wrote:
I thought that was obvious :/ nothing i wrote even matches your fridge, i was talking to the op.
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Sorry about that. You're right, that should have been obvious to me.
Bob

 

[Simran]

I have a solar set up with a, strictly, 12V refrigerator/freezer made by Norcold. I don't think mine is quite as efficient as Bob's but it is darn good. I had a gas/110V fridge; never again. I love this little fridge; it is the bee's knee's. :heart:

 

[Willy]

Yup, the 12v compressor fridges/coolers are where it's at. ..Willy.