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Post by cindyf on May 31, 2019 7:35:11 GMT -5
New to this. Just purchased 2019 KZ sportsmen 303rl Have had propane/electric in past Now only electric, trying to figure out if while traveling will fridge stay running with food in it? We do plug into bed of truck. Will this fridge drain trailer battery down fast when we stop to rest for couple hours with truck off. I've read a lot about converter and inverters but that just loses me....we also have a generator for our overnight stay in Walmart. Not boondocking unless have too. Our camp sites have hook ups. ....any help is appreciated and welcomed.
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Post by Edd505 on May 31, 2019 10:28:18 GMT -5
Just checked and yours should be a 12V system. Cool the unit down before you leave, most say at least 24hrs ahead, the temp will hold with the doors shut for hours. If it's 12V it will stay running with a the charging circuit from the truck. If it's 110V the truck supply 12V to an inverter which will change that 12V to 110V. A converter takes the 110V from the camp ground and converts that to 12V to keep the trailer battery(s) charged. That the simple answer, maybe someone with more electrical experience can give you a more detailed answer. Home the helps.
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Post by cindyf on May 31, 2019 11:54:02 GMT -5
Edd505 is an inverter something we have to install??
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Post by Edd505 on May 31, 2019 14:51:53 GMT -5
Yes the inverter would be an upgrade or modification. Most RV's do not have inverters and the ones that do are normally larger RV's that have residential refrigerators, just like the one at home 110V. Some people will install a small inverter to power small tools, a drill, maybe and outside TV when there is no 110V. My 5W has an 18cf refrigerator that runs on gas or electric and will automatically switch to gas when the electrics cut. I looked at the unit you said you have and it looks like it's straight 12V. There should be a 7pin connector the connects the trailer to the tow vehicle. In that plug should be a 12V power to the trailer that will keep the trailer battery(s) charged and fridge running. When you go to a camp ground and plug in there is a converter built into your trailer that will take the 110v your plugged into and charge the 12V battery. Pre cool the fridge while your are plugged into 110V if you can, it takes time for the box to cool down. Once cooled the less the door is opened the less cold air gets out just like any other refrigerator. If you use the RV a lot & have it home, keep it plugged in. Mine is always plugged in and running at home. It stays stocked so a trip means putting in the fresh fruits & veggies, grab our meds and off we go. If you can't keep it at home, bring it home the night before to load & plug it in with a simple extension cord. Hope this helps.
By the way; Welcome to the forum!
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Post by Edd505 on May 31, 2019 15:48:46 GMT -5
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Post by cindyf on May 31, 2019 16:42:45 GMT -5
Edd505. Thank you so much this helps alot. We always had propane/electric and this just worried me. Lol. All good. Will watch the video and try and understand inverter and if needed will do that too!
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Post by nvguy on May 31, 2019 21:07:51 GMT -5
According to the owners manual I found on line (so please verify this) the refrigerator isn't designed to run on an inverter. Now why they say not to use an inverter with this refrigerator doesn't make sense, as it's supposed to run 12V DC and inverters make AC power. According to various other sites/sources this refrigerator will draw 8-10 amps at start up, then it drops to about 3 amps, which may very well be all you will get from the charge line from your tow vehicle (3 Amps). A bit of background- and this is very general. The charge line from a tow vehicle is more of a maintenance line than an actual "charge" line. Reason being the typical late model vehicle's charging system's main goal is to keep the vehicle's battery charged and run all the electrical loads- A/C, stereo, fuel pump, so depending on how large your alternator is, there may or not be a lot of extra current (amps) available for your RV. In short: It is entirely possible that your tow vehicle can supply more (possibly enough to run the fridge), but don't count on it.  |
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Post by cindyf on Jun 1, 2019 7:23:36 GMT -5
nvguy....thank you for that info. There wasn't an owners manual. I will research that too. Inverters, I'm still studying on.
For most part on this 5W may main concern is this fridge. And the battery keeping charged. Which we will take generator on our long trip . Thank you !!
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Post by Edd505 on Jun 1, 2019 13:49:22 GMT -5
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Post by nvguy on Jun 1, 2019 21:55:17 GMT -5
I have attached a copy of the refrigerator owners manual- its a PDF. Hope it works. WD-282FWDC_User_Manual.pdf (884.33 KB) Since I haven't had a lot of experience with the performance of these 12V compressor refrigerators I can't say how much they cycle and as a result discharge a battery. The other variable is you tow vehicle's charge line capacity, your tow vehicle may very well produce enough to keep your RV's battery fully charged to offset the refrigerator's load. To keep things simple, what I would try is (as previously suggested) with the RV plugged in, start the fridge (loaded with pre-cooled food) a day of so before you leave to allow it to get cooled down. When you get to your destination check the voltage of your RV's battery, as that will give you a rough idea as to how much your tow vehicle charge line charges- or doesn't. After a few trips and checks like this you will have a better idea of how things perform. |
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Post by cindyf on Jun 2, 2019 10:38:41 GMT -5
Edd505. Thank you!
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Post by cindyf on Jun 2, 2019 10:39:52 GMT -5
nvguy....thanks. Will read up on this too.
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Post by Chuck on Jun 3, 2019 6:13:34 GMT -5
Hey guys not to muddy the water here but dozen't these smaller Frigs change over to propane when not plug in thus the 12v
supply from the truck or camper batteries is not needed... I know are old 5th wheel had the small frig an that was what ours
did if you set it to the auto setting an it was made in 2006  Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by laknox on Jun 3, 2019 10:21:37 GMT -5
Also check out "The 12 Volt Side of Life" here: www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm. Lots of good stuff... Another hint, chill =everything= at home, before you load it into the fridge. Personally, I've collected a couple dozen freezer packs and I'll put a bunch of them in the fridge during the "cool down" phase. I also have a small battery-powered fan to help circulate air, which =does= help maintain a more even temp, top to bottom. There are kits you can buy that use a small computer fan wired into the light wire to do the same, and from what I've read, actually help make your fridge more efficient because the temp is more even. Most that have installed them usually raise their setting 1 or 2 "notches". Lyle |
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Post by cindyf on Jun 3, 2019 12:07:37 GMT -5
Chuck. Thank you for your input. Our older trailer fridge was propane/electric. This us electric only
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Post by barnettgreg6 on Mar 12, 2021 7:17:37 GMT -5
I have the same Frig, it will run the battery down if no power is supplied from the tow vehicle or when plugged in to services. Luckily my truck will not supply power to the rv when shut off otherwise i would drain its battery also. I wish I had the 110volt/gas model. but my rv came with the 12 volt only.. I don't have the luxury of cooling the frig overnight before traveling so I usually throw a bag of ice in the freezer before heading out..
I am surprised how fast these units cool down. My only issue is there is no off button/switch that I can find.. I read my manual several times and cannot find it, so I normally pull the fuse and see a spark when reconnecting.. I'll get around to installing a switch soon. Happy Camping
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Post by laknox on Mar 12, 2021 10:21:49 GMT -5
I have the same Frig, it will run the battery down if no power is supplied from the tow vehicle or when plugged in to services. Luckily my truck will not supply power to the rv when shut off otherwise i would drain its battery also. I wish I had the 110volt/gas model. but my rv came with the 12 volt only.. I don't have the luxury of cooling the frig overnight before traveling so I usually throw a bag of ice in the freezer before heading out.. I am surprised how fast these units cool down. My only issue is there is no off button/switch that I can find.. I read my manual several times and cannot find it, so I normally pull the fuse and see a spark when reconnecting.. I'll get around to installing a switch soon. Happy Camping If you have shore power, you =can= plug into your house 110v and the fridge will run, so you can pre-cool it. If you don't have one, get an adapter for your shore cord to 110v. Also, instead of wasting ice, get some large freezer gel packs to use to pre-cool. I've done that for years and feel that my fridge cools down much faster. I also have a small fan that I put in the bottom of the fridge to help circulate air, and I feel that I have more consistent cooling. Uses 2 D cell batteries. Lyle |
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