12VDC Dual Compressor Refrigerator Installation

[scottz]

I have completed the installation of a 12VDC kit on my Norcold 2118 refrigerator. I took a few photos along the way. The installation was not too difficult, but does require a helper or two to move the refrigerator around. The hardest part was pulling new cables from the battery compartment to the slide out.

I've had it running a few days, and the new unit is working great. The freezer is a consistent 0 and the refer is 34. Current pull with both compressors running is 11.3A, but I do not expect this unit to run constantly like the old one. I'll have to use it for awhile to determine how much power it pulls per day.

Photos:
Unboxed
Starting to remove old unit
Old unit exposed
Old unit removed

[scottz]

Additional photos:
Cabinet prepared for new unit
New unit installed on cabinet
Final wiring & installation complete

[Daryles]

Nice job!!!
I may be doing that someday soon.
I've always wondered how you get the fridge out of the wall. How is it Anchored into the cavity?

[Foldbak]

That's impressive as hell. I'm not sure I'm confident enough to tackle that job.

[Baldicon]

Dual compressors? First I have heard of that. But I am a little slow. What is the purpose of two? Do they work in stages? I think some home AC units have dual speed compressors. The unit in our house is almost 30 years old and I installed it myself. I was a little more energetic back then.

[AZ Traveler]

Looking good Scott!

[scottz]

Originally Posted by Daryles

Nice job!!!
I may be doing that someday soon.
I've always wondered how you get the fridge out of the wall. How is it Anchored into the cavity?

You might be surprised; anchored might be an overstatement. Two #10 screws in the outside compartment, going into the floor. Inside, four #10 screws on top & bottom behind trim piece. Had it out in about 30 minutes cause I'm slow.

[scottz]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

That's impressive as hell. I'm not sure I'm confident enough to tackle that job.

The instructions they provide are very good, step-by-step. Pulling the cables was another project.

[scottz]

Originally Posted by Baldicon

Dual compressors? First I have heard of that. But I am a little slow. What is the purpose of two? Do they work in stages? I think some home AC units have dual speed compressors. The unit in our house is almost 30 years old and I installed it myself. I was a little more energetic back then.

Larger compressor for the refrigerator, smaller for the freezer. They work independently. They are not dual speed; just two of them.

[Joint Venture II]

Is that the DutchAire kit from JC Engineering? Just left there yesterday having that kit installed on my Norcold. Like yours it is a vast improvement.

[scottz]

Originally Posted by Joint Venture II

Is that the DutchAire kit from JC Engineering? Just left there yesterday having that kit installed on my Norcold. Like yours it is a vast improvement.

Yes. DutchAire from JC Refrigeration.
https://jc-refrigeration.com/

[TWC84]

Nice job! Looking at the JC Engineering website, it looks like they also offer a 120V conversion kit. Would the 120V kit just plug in like the original unit, avoiding the challenge of running new wires? Is there a reason you went with the 12V version?

[Baldicon]

Originally Posted by scottz

Larger compressor for the refrigerator, smaller for the freezer. They work independently. They are not dual speed; just two of them.

Thanks for the explanation Scott. Now I don't feel so dumb. Still feel dumb, just not as much.

[scottz]

Originally Posted by TWC84

Nice job! Looking at the JC Engineering website, it looks like they also offer a 120V conversion kit. Would the 120V kit just plug in like the original unit, avoiding the challenge of running new wires? Is there a reason you went with the 12V version?

Thanks. I don't know, but probably. I went with 12V to avoid having to run the fridge off my inverter. If you look at the specs, the 12V is also more efficient. The gas absorption refrigerator running on AC pulled 624W, without shore power it burned a lot of propane; and didn't work well in either mode. The 12V version pulls 143W.

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by TWC84

Nice job! Looking at the JC Engineering website, it looks like they also offer a 120V conversion kit. Would the 120V kit just plug in like the original unit, avoiding the challenge of running new wires? Is there a reason you went with the 12V version?

I had made arrangements to have the conversion kit installed on my 1200 series Norcold. After arriving there I discussed with them as to what was the best option, 120v or 12v compressors? Their words were, 12v is better for boondockers with solar and 120v works best for those that spend lots of time in campgrounds and no solar. Running 120v while traveling will use more battery as the inverter will have some loss that a 12v version doesn't have.

[Lee-CI]

Originally Posted by scottz

Additional photos:
Cabinet prepared for new unit
New unit installed on cabinet
Final wiring & installation complete

Awesome job Scott! Quite the project you undertook there