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Old 12-20-2019, 02:34 PM   #1
sherlosttravelers
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Residential Refrigerator

I have a question regarding my Montana I have a Residential Refrigerator now when I'm plugged into Shore power do I still need the inverter turned on I have not used my new Montana yet so I'm just trying to find out if it runs off a battery all the time even on Shore power or can I turn the inverter off when I'm on Shore power
 
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Old 12-20-2019, 03:32 PM   #2
Russ&Reen
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If you are plugged into shore power the inverter isn't used. We leave our inverter off unless we are running off batteries/or on the road.


And welcome!!!
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Old 12-20-2019, 04:03 PM   #3
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If yours is like our Montana, your inverter has an auto by-pass switch which passes shore power (120 vac) to the circuit for the frig. You can leave the inverter on with no issue. When you are not on shore power, the inverter uses battery power to create 120 vac for the frig. Totally automatic!
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Old 12-20-2019, 05:01 PM   #4
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Thank you for your replies. I appreciate it.
I will not have to worry about it then working off the batteries.
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Old 12-20-2019, 05:37 PM   #5
mhs4771
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If your inverter has the built-in transfer switch and you leave the inverter on and you're away for the afternoon, if you should lose power the inverter would keep your fridge cold.
Our inverter stays on 24/7/365.
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Old 12-20-2019, 05:46 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by mhs4771 View Post
If your inverter has the built-in transfer switch and you leave the inverter on and you're away for the afternoon, if you should lose power the inverter would keep your fridge cold.
Our inverter stays on 24/7/365.
Ours stays on all the time. Another reason to leave on is you may forget to turn it back on when you break camp and hit the road. Ask me how I know.
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Old 12-21-2019, 01:51 AM   #7
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I don't believe I have an inverter switch other than an on-off switch on the inverter and there is a kill switch by the batteries for the inverter.

I Have a 2020 Montana High Country 295rl and I don't believe I see a switch anywhere other than the kill switch by the batteries and the little switch on inverter. The kill switch goes directly to the inverter from the batteries.
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Old 12-21-2019, 08:37 AM   #8
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You probably have an inverter with a built-in transfer switch. You do know that you will be pulling anywhere from 5 to 35 amp hrs from the batteries when not hooked to shorepower or not having them recharged by the truck when towing, yes? And that you never want to go below 50% of the amp hrs stated on the batteries or you reduce their life?
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Old 12-21-2019, 06:43 PM   #9
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Actually I went inside the pass-through compartment I found the transfer switch up above in between the aluminum rafters. On which would be the top of the pass through it was kind of hidden but I did find the transfer switch.

I thank you all for your help and I did while I was at it I put a battery in and I checked everything out to make you sure everything was working both ways and everything works great thanks again everyone I truly appreciate it
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Old 12-21-2019, 06:46 PM   #10
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jcurtis934

Yes I know I have to watch that real closely I'm trying to figure other things out I have a inverter generator to but I'm looking at putting solar on sometime in the future
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Old 12-21-2019, 06:50 PM   #11
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Yeah I really didn't think that through very well when I bought this trailer having a Residential Refrigerator I should have had an regular RV gas electric put in maybe.

After I bought this I started finding out that there's alot that I'm reading that residential refrigerators don't stand up too well to traveling .
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Old 12-22-2019, 08:27 AM   #12
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If they didn't stand up to travel, class a motor homes wouldn't have gone with them. I have had zero issues so far with mine. I don't boondock, so I love the extra space over the absorption fridge, a freezer drawer that freezes everything especially ice cream. I also have a progressive industries power management system to protect the trailer against all kinds of power issues and so my fridge, tv's, laser printer, etc don't see voltage swings that can affect their operation.
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Old 12-22-2019, 09:18 AM   #13
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Yeah I also bought a progressive Industries management system the more expensive one and it seems to work great.

That's great news to hear that you are you're not having troubles with your Residential Refrigerator it gives me some hope that I won't have any problems anytime soon
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Old 12-22-2019, 09:45 AM   #14
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We have a Residential Fridge in our unit, it will be 5 year old in March and we've put almost 45K miles on it without an issue, plus it's on 24/7/365. Would not go back to an RV Fridge unless we were planning months without shore power, not going to happen.
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Old 12-22-2019, 03:29 PM   #15
sherlosttravelers
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That's good to know you haven't had any issues.
You know you hear all the horror stories about Residential Refrigerator so it's good to hear some good words about them.
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Old 12-22-2019, 04:44 PM   #16
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I will add a disclaimer:
We do have the MORryde IS suspension and a cushioned hitch in the TV. Thus our entire setup rides as smooth as you can on our Great Roads.
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Old 12-22-2019, 05:41 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by sherlosttravelers View Post
That's good to know you haven't had any issues.
You know you hear all the horror stories about Residential Refrigerator so it's good to hear some good words about them.
At the recent Goshen Rally, the vast majority of refrigerator problems I heard about were with the absorption units. We have a residential unit, but only have around 8000 miles on the trailer, so keeping our fingers crossed. I have added an air cushioned pin box, so hoping that will help a little bit. We do love the ice maker.
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Old 12-22-2019, 09:52 PM   #18
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I was just about to say that I hear a LOT more stories about issues with RV fridges compared to residential!!! And the issues with RV versions always sound way more expensive to fix.....
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Old 12-23-2019, 05:06 AM   #19
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Given that Res refers are somewhat new and they still add RV refers, I'll take a swag that the ratio is 4 to 1 RV vs res. So you will see a lot more complaints with RV refers even if quality and durability were the same.
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Old 12-23-2019, 07:36 AM   #20
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Given that Res refers are somewhat new and they still add RV refers, I'll take a swag that the ratio is 4 to 1 RV vs res. So you will see a lot more complaints with RV refers even if quality and durability were the same.
You have a point. But I suspect that RV models are no more durable than Residential. Only time will tell for sure.

However, there are some other reasons to go Residential:
They perform better.
Can get them with ice makers.
Wider variety of models.
Less expensive to replace.
Very easy to find a replacement and nearly always one that will work in stock at any big box store.
Easy to find someone to work on them.
Work on 110 volt and don't put a strain on your 12volt system.

In fact about the ONLY advantage that we know for sure the RV fridges have is they will run on propane if you boondock.

I guess this is going back to the question: what do you use your camper for. Are you a frequent boondocker or a full timer that never boondocks.
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