Fridge Swap For New Winnebago

[nut17]

Our shiny new Winnebago - now a year old and 16,000 km on the ODO is about to get a fridge swap. The fridge supplied in the factory build does work pretty well and without a doubt would be the best absorption fridge we have encountered. https://www.dometic.com/en-nz/outdoor/n ... x-_-186740
I would like to have fitted another Samsung 254lt inverter fridge - The one fitted to our monster 25' Jayco Silverline Outback was absolutely brilliant. However, the re hashing of the cabinetry to accommodate one of these was going to be a big job !!
Dometic have hopefully solved my issue and have a 12/24 volt compressor version of our existing fridge with identical cabinet dimensions and venting requirements. I will need to run a substantial power feed from the battery and terminate the gas supply from the old unit, but apart from that it will be a pretty simple one day swap.
This is the new one https://www.dometic.com/en-nz/outdoor/n ... x-_-186741 With my 1200 watts solar and 80 Amps DC - DC charging and 400AH LiFePO4 battery, keeping sufficient electrical energy available to power it should not be an issue.
LPG is becoming more expensive with less outlets providing access to refills. We only get about 10 days from $30 9KG bottle so we should be ahead within 12 - 18 months depending on how much I can sell the 12 month old immaculate as new one about to be removed. It will good to make practical use of all that excess electrical energy coming off the roof!!

[T1 Terry]

You would think they could come up to speed with the 21st century and have in cabinet condenser rather than the fluff and dust collector on the back, use a hydrocarbon refrigerant and have auto defrost ... the basics for a 21st century fridge.
One day an RV fridge manufacturer will build an RV size 240vac fridge with inverter compressor and a built in inverter to replace the 240vac to 12v dc power supply they use now. Then they can have auto defrost, a fridge/freezer that is star rate and meets Aust/NZ standards for a fridge/freezer meaning it will work in 45* plus temperatures and still drag a 45* soaked fully loaded fridge space down to an even 5*C and heat soaked fully loaded freezer down to -15*C in 15 hrs
The 12v/24v compressor fridge/freezers still can't do this so they don't mention it meets AUS/NZ standards.
I guess until then, people will still have to swap out their RVfridge or a household 240vac inverter fridge if they want the performance they expect from the fridge/freezer they have at home.

T1 Terry

[nut17]

The new fridge arrived today. Will be a good weekend project to swap them over. The biggest project will be to run a pair of cables from the battery, down through the floor, then across to the other side of the motorhome to the fridge. Will get my son to give me a hand as with my dodgy hip I do not do well working under vehicles.

Cheers Chris

[T1 Terry]

Isn't the 12v wiring for the 3 way fridge heavy enough to power the compressor? The lithium batteries ability to hold the voltage higher really helps the 12v fridges and makes the 3 way fridge actually work properly on 12v while driving as well if a DC to DC charger is added.

T1 Terry

[supersparky]

If it's wired like my Winny, then it's from batts then rearward 4 metres , up the wall, forward 3 metres then to amp gauge in overhead, then rearward 3 metres again, and down wall. It's no wonder the 3 ways are crap on 12v.

[T1 Terry]

If it's wired like my Winny, then it's from batts then rearward 4 metres , up the wall, forward 3 metres then to amp gauge in overhead, then rearward 3 metres again, and down wall. It's no wonder the 3 ways are crap on 12v.

Never could understand the idea of passing all the circuits through an amp gauge rather than a shunt at the battery so the max size cable can go from the battery in and out of the shunt.
With the addition of bluetooth to a smart phone makes the cabling even easier these days, doesn't even require a 12v electrical cupboard now, everything can be mounted with the battery.

T1 Terry

[supersparky]

The technicalogical advances over the past few years are surely a good thing. When they can move power with Bluetooth or wi-fi will be the next big thing. Can't wait.

[T1 Terry]

The technicalogical advances over the past few years are surely a good thing. When they can move power with Bluetooth or wi-fi will be the next big thing. Can't wait.

They are doing it by induction now, just need to improve the efficiency at the high current rates. 40kWh @ 95% efficiency is still 2,000w of heat or some other unwanted energy produced

T1 Terry