Residential Refrig on 12V?

[ScaryPapa]

We just took our first trip in our new 2022 3121RL. I couldn't get the residential refrigerator to work with 12V. Is there a switch somewhere for that? Plugged in the refrig works fine, but without 120V it won't work. The battery switch is on. We have two solar panels to charge the batteries.
Thanks

[rohrmann]

Sounds like 12 volt power isn’t getting to the inverter or the inverter is turned off. There should be a large breaker near your batteries that is for the inverter that should be turned on.

[AZ Traveler]

Cary,

The refrigerator requires 120 volts. As Bob highlighted, 120 volts will be provided through your inverter.

[USA-C2C]

We also just finished our 1st trip with our new 2022 3121rl legacy with residential fridge.

We have 3 solar panels and two lithium batteries. If your set up is like ours, make sure you are providing power to the inverter - our switch is just above the batteries. See the picture I have attached. I have our switch in the off position in this picture since we are parked at home now so no need to have the fridge running. Push the knob and turn it to the right so it is in the on position.

If you have it in the ON position already, double check the inverter.

[Bill&Terri]

With the solar and two lithium batteries how will it power the residential fridge while boondocking?

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by Bill&Terri

With the solar and two lithium batteries how will it power the residential fridge while boondocking?

In addition, you will need an inverter which takes 12v battery power to produce 120vac power needed to power the fridge.

[Bill&Terri]

Thanks. We currently have a residential with inverter and one standard battery which won’t last the night. With your config, how long will the fridg run?

[USA-C2C]

Bill & Terri

Actually, not sure how long the fridge it will run while boondocking. The dealer added the two extra solar panels, put in the lithium batteries, and swapped out the charge controller to a 50 AMP. I think they estimated 3 - 4 days if we were having other modest electricity demands from the trailer. I guess I need to turn the inverter switch back on and let it run while here at home.

[Bill&Terri]

Thanks for the info. I’m just needing to boom dock overnight for longer distances.

[USA-C2C]

When we had our Airstream and went boondocking, we carried our Honda EU 2200 generator and its companion (very quiet generators) that we connected together if we needed to generate 30 amps to kick on an A/C unit or charge up the lithium batteries. We plan to do the same with the Montana. The Montana is already prepped for a generator so maybe one day we will get the Onan on board generator.

We are just part time campers and don't anticipate boondocking for more than 4-5 days at a time.

[Bill&Terri]

Part timers also. We only started over night boondocking this last trip. A generator might be in the future.

[Rjlg]

We have a 2021 , 3121rl withe residential frig. There ia a switch above the coffee bar that has to be pressed after unhooked your electric. That will power your frig on the inverter.

[Bill&Terri]

Thanks

[CRUZIN 2]

We had the same problem; the problem was the inverter has a ground fault receptacle on the inverter which trips when you go from 110 to 12 volt (sometimes). You may want to check to see if the green light is on that receptacle and you may have to push the button to reset it.

[Bill&Terri]

Thanks

[Rod Spohn]

Originally Posted by Bill&Terri

Thanks. We currently have a residential with inverter and one standard battery which won’t last the night. With your config, how long will the fridg run?

How long 2 LiIon will last has a lot of verbals. How many and what size panels you have for example. Then the amount of sun you panels are getting each day. With good sun the refrigerator could go a very long time. You should be able to use most everything you need in your 5er , as long as you monitor your batteries.

[Bill&Terri]

Thanks. That helps

[Tom0329]

Check the GFI on your inverter. if your's is anything like mine the invertor is crumbed up in the floor joists in the compartment by the water closet you'll see a plug up there with a button. make sure the inverter is turned on.
hope it works

[Bill&Terri]

Thanks

[RMcNeal]

I just recently added a small LED light to the front of my rig that plugs into the second outlet on my inverter. It lets me know that the inverter is running. I can see it in my mirrors. I got the idea from another MOC member, I think it was Bob Rohrman?
Here's the light I bought off Amazon. Installed it on the edge of the battery vent underneath the overhang of the front of the rig.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It was small enough to fit on the edge of the square black vent for the battery box without needing to drill another hole in the outside wall of the rig.