Propane Refrigerators

[Texas Diesel]

My Dutchman 5th wheel is a amonia free! The piece of junk Norcold propane refrig died. What a scam, $900 + $200labor to replace the cooling unit, a new one runs $1200 + tax. Probably will last 3 years. Found out about NovaCool from the EarthRoamer articles so I ordered a 7 CF dual fridge for $979 + $84 freight. Works like a dream, turn it on and in a few minutes it is cold!!! It has a German made 12 V compressor which has a converter to convert the 12DC into 3 phase AC of unknown voltage. Only draws 3. 5 Amps too. Anyone who is sick and tired of propane fridges should look into them. Kiss my A$$ Norcold and Dometic!!! Have two 55Watt solar panels and charge controller to mount on it. Then sell it and buy a slide-in

So many toys, so little time! We put almost 8,000 miles last year on it and hope to do more this year

 

[mbrolin]

Sounds like one heck of a fridge. I have a Norcold in our 5er. No problems as yet but the 4+ hours to cool down can be a pain. Is there a website for Novacool?There cost is comparble and I always like to keep my bases covered even though I dont need a fridge yet. BTW,after looking at your signature I dont feel bad about my 01. Had the oil pressure reflash and sending unit replaced. No other problems. Course my fuel pressure gauge is on order so I dont know my actual pump pressure yet,

 

[Texas Diesel]

http://www.novakool.com



I got the RU-7600.



Cant wait for my new radio mount to get here

 

[MABurns]

So I guess it doesn't need to be vented. Does the 7 cu/ft model match in size as the old one for installation?

 

[Texas Diesel]

It requires much less free air but still needs some. We just left the venting as it was, but it is overkill now. The RU-7600 is taller and a little narrower than the Norcold. I had to put a 2x2 next to it for stability and used wood grain trim to cover the 2x2, I can post a picture (tomorrow) if you want. There is no CO gas danger now either, can drive through tunnels with out having to turn the fridge off and dont have to worry about wind blowing the pilot light out. I wish I would have bought one sooner. The next RV we buy (probably a Lance slide in) will have one from the start. Run time is supposed to be about 20-30 minutes an hour @ 3. 5 A. ( 220AH (reserve) / 3. 5 AH ) /2 = 30 hours for a 50% battery discharge. Not 100% sure of my math here but it seems it will run a full day and discharge the battery 50% assuming no electrical input from the tow vehicle or shore power. The propane jobs use power too just not as much. The solar panels werent required but I wanted them anyway.

 

[Cobra]

norkool refer

Texas Diesel

If the refer uses the battery then do you have to run your truck often to keep the battery charged? If you let it go for a few days without running the truck wouldn't it ruin the battery?

 

[Texas Diesel]

Cobra, you're correct, must have power every couple of days if using the RV battery (1) only. If the RV is plugged into the truck with it's two big batteries that would run it for a long time. We sometimes camp on the beach near Freeport, TX and we run a generator at nights for the A/C or TV or whatever and that will keep the bat topped off. Of course when plugged into the grid or travelling down the road, all is well. The fridge has a low voltage disconnnect that is set at 11VDC I think (adjustable) so the fridge will shut off if battery is too low. It's advantages are:

Immediate cooling when first turned on

Long life

Wont let the food thaw in high ambient temps

low current draw

larger capacity

doesnt generate large amounts of heat

cant set the trailer on fire

costs less

cant kill you with carbon monoxide

Disadvantage:

Needs electricity every couple of days (the sloar panels should keep it happy)



We lived in Arizona (CaliZona) for 7 years and had a multitude of amonia refirgerators because the power company wanted $250,000 to run power 4 miles. We had a stand alone solar power system and a 12kW two cylinder diesel generator to run the 900' water well. The amonia fridges sucked then too. The DC fridges were huge (4" walls) and coudnt be put in an RV because of size, that is why I am thrilled to find these that are comperable in size to Dometic and Norcold because now there is a choice when the amonia unit dies (we went through a BUNCH of them in 7 years)

 

[RThompson]

thanks for the great post on refers. I totally agree with your observations about the 'junk' that is installed OEM in RVs. Going to Seattle next week and do some checking on size and price of the Nova Kool. Our Dometic is still working after 13 years but I know it is on borrowed time. Every time we go to high elevation in warm weather we can count on having cooling problems. The addition of a small computer fan near the coils does help to maintain some stability in refer temperature.

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Brings me to my ultimate RV goal. No propane. An Espar to make heat, a Novakool for the fridge/freezer, and a Wallas stove. Just have to find some way of getting these worked into a slide-in without losing too many dinero...



So many projects, so little time...