2118 frig in georgetown

[Pvannort]

Does anyone know if the large 4 door frig is supposed to shut off. It runs continuously. I have no solar chargers so cant dry camp without using generator

[Pvannort]

Does anyone know if the 1218 frig in my gt5 is supposed to shut off. It runs continuously.

[SeaDog]

It sounds like your frig is a 110V household type so yes like the one in a stick house it is on all the time.

[tomkatb]

There are four types of refrigerators.

One is good for overnight kind of regardless. The other three not so much. You were expected to know that and choose wisely.

Any more specific answers are sort of tough!

Solar is not an easy answer. Might be $5,000 away.

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by Pvannort

Does anyone know if the large 4 door frig is supposed to shut off. It runs continuously. I have no solar chargers so cant dry camp without using generator

You mean it’s running ALL THE TIME? or only when you’re connected to shore power?
Sounds like a residential refrigerator, so it runs on 110 volt power.

[mikel68]

If it's a residential fridge like in our GTown, the front panel has an on/off in the control screen. You could try the breakers or check your battery disconnect.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Pvannort

Does anyone know if the large 4 door frig is supposed to shut off. It runs continuously. I have no solar chargers so cant dry camp without using generator

ALL refrigerators, RV (gas-battery/120AC) or Home Type (120AC only), should only run when the desired temperature inside the fridge is not met.

As such they should be turning on and off as that temperature is satisfied.

In hot weather with the RV evaporative type, it can be a real beast to keep cool since you are blowing hot outside air over the "hotter" cooling fins to make it work.

With a residential type you need to run a compressor to cool the circulation coolant. They draw lots of power. That power when boondocking comes from a dedicated 12 volt deep cycle battery (NOT the same one as the rest of the RV) that is connected to a dedicated inverter/charger.

When you have shore power or a generator, the 120 volt AC passes through the dedicated inverter/charger to run the fridge and charge the dedicated battery.

When you don't, it uses the stored battery power through the dedicated inverter to produce 12 volt AC to run the fridge ONLY. Depending on your battery, it should last about 12 hours doing this before it needs recharging (could take up to 10 hours to fully recharge).

So, to boondock with a residential fridge is much more of a challenge with the other type. It can be done, but you really need to be cognizant of the limitations of a fridge designed to almost never boondock. An overnight at a Walmart or Casino should be no problem, but a week in the woods will not work in your rig without LOTS of generator use.
Herk

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

ALL refrigerators, RV (gas-battery/120AC) or Home Type (120AC only), should only run when the desired temperature inside the fridge is not met.

As such they should be turning on and off as that temperature is satisfied.

In hot weather with the RV evaporative type, it can be a real beast to keep cool since you are blowing hot outside air over the "hotter" cooling fins to make it work.

With a residential type you need to run a compressor to cool the circulation coolant. They draw lots of power. That power when boondocking comes from a dedicated 12 volt deep cycle battery (NOT the same one as the rest of the RV) that is connected to a dedicated inverter/charger.

When you have shore power or a generator, the 120 volt AC passes through the dedicated inverter/charger to run the fridge and charge the dedicated battery.

When you don't, it uses the stored battery power through the dedicated inverter to produce 12 volt AC to run the fridge ONLY. Depending on your battery, it should last about 12 hours doing this before it needs recharging (could take up to 10 hours to fully recharge).

So, to boondock with a residential fridge is much more of a challenge with the other type. It can be done, but you really need to be cognizant of the limitations of a fridge designed to almost never boondock. An overnight at a Walmart or Casino should be no problem, but a week in the woods will not work in your rig without LOTS of generator use.
Herk

Well, not true for my 2015 335DS. Big residential fridge, connected to dedicated inverter which is connected to the standarde house battery bank, not a separate battery. My Frigidaire runs continuously and the only cycle is the defrost cycle, which occurs about every 7 hours. Modern units really "sip" power, mine averages about 8.5 amps...all the time. My 4 deep cycle batteries will run the reefer for at least 24 hours. I run the genney in the morning and evening for about 2 to 3 hours and manually force my PD converter to boost charge with its pendant.

[Pvannort]

Sorry should have been more specific. It is gas electric. The fridge runs continuously on gas or electric. Internal fan runs all the time

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by Pvannort

Sorry should have been more specific. It is gas electric. The fridge runs continuously on gas or electric. Internal fan runs all the time

Thought it might be, never seen a 4 door residential in a MH!

Personally I believe that adsorption manufacturers are stretching things when trying to build very large units. My small adsorption in my old Bounder ran well for years but a really big unit takes a lot of heat and often has trouble dumping it to the environment...hence auxiliary fans and increased fire risk on big units.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Pvannort

Does anyone know if the 1218 frig in my gt5 is supposed to shut off. It runs continuously.

You sure its a Norcold 1218? or a 2118? or a 1210?

Do you have the owners manual?

How do you know it runs all the time?
What do you mean by that?
Is it on AC shore power or on Propane?

What number do you have it set at?Z

Is the door not sealed and letting out the cold?

Is the freezer frosted over or not?

Is it full of stuff with no air movement area?

Is it 90 degrees outside ands the sun is on the side of the Refrigerator?


Please answer a few questions so we can help.

[5picker]

Is 1218 the model number?
I can find no reference to a 1218 gas/electric refrigerator.

Including the make/model of an appliance someone is asking questions about is always helpful. As a result, this thread has gone in several tangents simply because we have no clue.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

My 4 deep cycle batteries will run the reefer for at least 24 hours.

Can you post a photo of how your batteries are wired?

Most I have seen have one battery not wired to the rest and the wires go directly to the dedicated inverter. I would like to add that photo to my library for next time.

Thank you. Herk

Apologies to Pvannort for the hijack. I would like to learn something too.

[Pvannort]

Sorry it's a 2118. Norcold 4 door. The internal fan stays on constantly.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Pvannort

Sorry it's a 2118. Norcold 4 door. The internal fan stays on constantly.

Is the fan in the back of the fridge, inside the cold box, or under the fridge?
Can you see it or just hear it?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Pvannort

Sorry it's a 2118. Norcold 4 door. The internal fan stays on constantly.

OK, thanks.

Now that we know that... you said in the original post the refrigerator runs continually and now say the fan runs constantly.

We still need more clarification...
Does the ONLY the fan run all the time or is the heating source (whether electric or LP) on all the time too?

Does the refrigerator get super cold like the control is never shutting off the heat source? maybe the fans run constantly because the flame or heating element never cycles?

[bobotty]

My fan in the freezer and the fridge run continuously, they are only 12 volt squirrel cage type fan. They keep running to keep the air temp consistent. The evaporator runs on demand depending which number you have it set on. In hot weather I have to run mine on 9, the coldest setting. Still not great at keeping ice cream frozen but dense things such as meat stay rock hard.

[Pvannort]

Thank you. I guess I will have to live with the fan running continuously. Will install solar panels so I dont run the batteries down. And wear and tear on the generator

[bobotty]

Those tiny fan should be able to run a couple days on your batteries, tiny power consumption. You can tell if the evaporator is running by listen outside. Mine runs better on propane than electric.

[Pvannort]

Yes definitely. I plan on doing alot of noon docking across the us.