Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-10-2012, 05:26 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
larrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oregon Ciry Oregon
Posts: 2,843
12v or 12/120v fridge?

I am getting ready to replace my Igloo thermoelectric cooler with a TruckFridge TF65 and am trying to decide between getting the 12v unit or the 12/120v unit. I can see plusses and minuses to both so I though I would come and lay the question at the feet of the knowledgable ones. My SMB already has 120V on board.

__________________
Larrie
Read detailed trip reports, see photos and videos on my travel blog, luinil.com.
Current van: 2002 Ford E350 extended body camper with Colorado Camper Van pop top and Agile Offroad 4WD conversion.
larrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 06:27 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: 12v or 12/120v fridge?

Check into the dual voltage unit. I seem to remember they always default to the voltage you don't want when both are available. For example, you have the inverter on to watch TV, the fridge will run off the inverter instead of the 12V.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 08:53 PM   #3
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: 12v or 12/120v fridge?

According to Dometic, their 120/12 volt units run off AC voltage and have a inverter to operate on DC, so it runs more efficient off AC. But I have been told by SMB to shut off the dedicated AC breaker that runs the refrigerator when using the vans inverter because of what Mike posted.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-10-2012, 10:17 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
larrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oregon Ciry Oregon
Posts: 2,843
12v or 12/120v fridge?

The TruckFridge has he same setup that Mike described. Am not sure that having a dual power unit is worth the extra money.


Larrie
89 Ford 2WD penthouse
__________________
Larrie
Read detailed trip reports, see photos and videos on my travel blog, luinil.com.
Current van: 2002 Ford E350 extended body camper with Colorado Camper Van pop top and Agile Offroad 4WD conversion.
larrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2012, 03:23 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Angel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Posts: 482
Re: 12v or 12/120v fridge?

I added a converter to my 12V only Isotherm frig. When I plug the SMB int AC, I plug the frig into an AC outlet in the SMB. That is supposed to save my battery by using it less, in theory, anyway. I will never really know.

Angel
__________________
2008 SMB E350 EB V10 White with Cruiser Top; EB-17 modified floor plan; Salem Kroger 4X4;
285/75/17E tires; Named: "The Lighthouse"
2000 Isuzu Rodeo V6 4WD
2006 Chalet LTW 15ft. Folding Travel Trailer 14 in. tires
Angel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2012, 04:31 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: 12v or 12/120v fridge?

Angel, when you plug in, don't you charge the house batteries? And then all the 12V stuff is running off the charger. I know it works that way in my van, but maybe because the built-in battery charger is the only AC equipment in my van.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2012, 02:13 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Angel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Posts: 482
Re: 12v or 12/120v fridge?

When I plug in at home, I do not always turn on the battery charger. I just plug in to use the 110 for the frig. My batteries are usually up because they are charged with the solar.

I think, (there I go thinking and not knowing) when I have the charger on, my batteries are being charged, but the frig is using some of the 12V, so I am going in a circle. Seems to me that the more the battery is being used and charged, that it will wear out sooner, than if I just run the frig off the 110. My first house battery only lasted 2 years and no one knows why. I now have 2 house batteries and use them less. I have never turned off the frig since I got the SMB. Love my Isotherm frig.!!!!!

Angel
__________________
2008 SMB E350 EB V10 White with Cruiser Top; EB-17 modified floor plan; Salem Kroger 4X4;
285/75/17E tires; Named: "The Lighthouse"
2000 Isuzu Rodeo V6 4WD
2006 Chalet LTW 15ft. Folding Travel Trailer 14 in. tires
Angel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2012, 08:47 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,837
Re: 12v or 12/120v fridge?

I have a truck fridge 12/110

great fridge, no problems, it is my second
(first in my Westy)

IMHO, get the dual

and MAKE SURE you put a switch on the 110 v side
as stated it will switch when inverter on

bw out
billwilson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2012, 12:22 PM   #9
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: 12v or 12/120v fridge?

I do the same as Angel...no reason to charge if the refrigerator isn't using DC and the solar is keeping the batteries up.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2012, 02:05 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
coyotearms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 188
Re: 12v or 12/120v fridge?

If your frig electronics is fundamentally a 12 VDC device as my Dometic CR-110 (110 VAC capability is an accessory option) then why run it on 110 VAC if the frig just converts that to 12 VAC before doing its job? I agree therefore that you really don't want it to switch to AC when you turn your inverter on 'cause then you are going from 12 VDC (bats) -> 110 VAC (invert) -> 110 VAC (frig input) -> 12 VDC (frig internals)! I have the AC option on my frig, but never plugged it the 110 VAC outlet in two years. Alternatively, you could just turn off the breaker if the frig is on a circuit of its own (I did that too). Of course, this assumes when on shore power, you are charging your batteries, or in reality, all 12 VDC stuff is being run off the charger section of your inverter.
__________________
2008 E-350 6.0L diesel: Bought new in 2010, 4x2, 4.10 LSD, HD spring-lift all 'round,
Cruiser II Top, 6'7" inside, full-time upper bed w/ kind'a EB50 layout, cozy 4-season rig
Solar: 540 W of Kyrocera w/ Blue Sky 3024iL, 3x100 AmpHr AGM's
Electrical: 4 cf fridge, nuker, water heater, compressor
Propane: stove top, furnace Travel: https://www.lugnutlife.wordpress.com
coyotearms is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.