Quick Norcold Fridge Question

[Shane826]

I'm packing up to roll out tomorrow for an overnight at Darien Lake Theme Park, also taking my wife to see Sarah MacLachlan & Josh Groban (ugh)... If I set my fridge to "Battery" will it still run while plugged in to a 20A AC outlet? Guessing it will run the battery down and the converter will charge the battery? Thanks!

[inghamm]

Run it on battery only when you have to - when it is folded and you are traveling. It doesn't cool as well on DC as on AC or propane. If you are plugged in to shore power switch to AC. If you are camping without AC, use propane settings. Remember to turn on the fridge fan while folded.

[Shane826]

So it sounds like I have to leave the camper open until I'm ready to roll out and switch from AC to DC at that time... Bummer.

[inghamm]

You can do that, but the longer you keep it up and on AC the better.

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted by Shane826

So it sounds like I have to leave the camper open until I'm ready to roll out and switch from AC to DC at that time... Bummer.

Shane, remember, that the converter runs everything 12 volt while plugged into shore power. The battery is shut off and is charging while the converter runs all the 12 systems, so no, your battery will not run down while plugged into shore power. I think this is why they switched the shore power cord location into the rear bumper....so you could fold up your TM and still have the shore power on. I have the old style bumper and power cord location in the side of my TM. I had to install a second shore power plug underneath my TM to do this exact same thing....load up...close up and have the fridge packed and switched to DC but still be able to have the trailer plugged into the shore power to run the fridge while folded down.
Tom

[ThePair]

Originally Posted by Shane826

I'm packing up to roll out tomorrow for an overnight at Darien Lake Theme Park, also taking my wife to see Sarah MacLachlan & Josh Groban (ugh)... If I set my fridge to "Battery" will it still run while plugged in to a 20A AC outlet? Guessing it will run the battery down and the converter will charge the battery? Thanks!

You can do this. The DC heater is not as efficient at cooling as the AC heater, but if you're thinking of having everything all closed up and ready to go in the morning, you won't be opening up the fridge any, and for that, the DC is just fine to keep it cold overnight. The battery will not run down this way. I've done it before, and not had any issues with food spoilage.

You may, in fact, find that the food freezes overnight, depending on your overnight temps. This is the only disadvantage -- you can't adjust the settings.

[Shane826]

Well we had closed it up on DC power and plugged in, setting 4. It was mid 70s last night. When we got to Darien Lake 10hrs later, the fridge was barely cool. I guess I don't get these absorption fridges. I almost want to put an AC/DC compressor fridge in its place. We don't boondock at all so the propane feature is moot.

[Mr_funnypuns]

Check the heater current draw. Barely cool sounds very odd.

[RottieMom]

I gave up on trying to get Fridge cold before trip and then keep stuff cold enough while traveling. I just bought one of the portable Dometic Fridge/Freezers and plug it into the TV. Works great and gives me an extra cooler for drinks or whatever once I've setup camp and gotten the TM Fridge cold enough to transfer food to it. Only downside is, it's pretty small.

https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-CF-01...erator+freezer

The other thing I did was put a little USB fan inside the TM Fridge. That seems to help it cool down quicker and I can use a lower setting once it's reached cold enough temp.

[Shane826]

Originally Posted by Mr_funnypuns

Check the heater current draw. Barely cool sounds very odd.

How do I go about that? I don't even understand how these refrigerators work. The normal compressor style I understand. These, not so much.