2023 Salem Cruise Lite 240BHXL Ever Chill BGC-46

[Coonhound Hauler]

Just received delivery of our first RV. The small outdoor kitchen refrigerator Ever Chill GBC-46 appears to be a 120V appliance and there is no power to the outlet while on battery. Assuming this is a "shore power" only circuit and will correct itself when connected to 120 30A service. Good assumption? and if so, what other things may be limited. I would guess the AC as well as perhaps some lighting on the slide.

Newbie, but willing to apply myself.

[wmtire]

Howdy and welcome aboard. here is a thread (link below) aimed at the new rv owner like yourself.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ts-157524.html

If you will first read the link there called "converter or inverter-they are different" it will give you a basic understanding of the electric systems and what is 120 volt AC vs 12 volt DC.

[markb5900]

Congratulations on the new trailer!
Basically, your lights, awning, and water pump work off of 12v, which comes from your house battery.
Your fridge works off propane when not plugged into shore power and 120v when you’re plugged in.
Anything that plugs into a normal outlet will only work when you’re plugged into shore power, along with your ac.
Hope that helps some.
VERY basic information above

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Coonhound Hauler

what other things may be limited. I would guess the AC as well as perhaps some lighting on the slide.
.

There's really only one way to tell what operates on battery and that's to test it yourself.
For example, our friend's televisions operate on battery, but ours operates only when plugged in. Air conditioning is the one thing you can depend on to operate only when you're plugged in.

Congratulations on your new rig and welcome to the forum!

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by markb5900

Your fridge works off propane when not plugged into shore power and 120v when you’re plugged in.

Bad assumption, Mark! Everyone's trailer is not like your trailer.

The OP's trailer is a 2023 Salem Cruise Kite 240BHXL. The refrigerator is an EverChill BGC-46. That refrigerator happens to be (as the OP surmised) 120Vac only. It DOES NOT work off propane. The OP could run it from an inverter--not sure whether his trailer comes with one or not.

That refrigerator draws 0.8 amps at 120 Vac. If it were run from an inverter, it would draw 8 amps (or a little more) from the 12Vdc battery.

A typical trailer flooded Lead-acid battery has 60 amp-hours usable. So let's say that the refrigerator runs only 1/3 of the time. That means that in a day, the refrigerator would consume 8 amps x 1/3 x 24 hours = 64 amp-hours. That means that the refrigerator will drain a full battery down to the safe point (50 % charge) in a day. If the OP is planning to dry-camp, he can:

• Not use the outside refrigerator
• Add another lead-acid battery to extend the trips to two days
• Invest in Lithium batteries which have about double the usable charge.
• Invest in enough solar to recharge the battery(s) and hope for sunny days.
• Bring a generator to recharge the battery each day

[Coonhound Hauler]

Thanks! Great information and I will do a 120V check with my EU2200i generator later this week. Will isolate the A/C at breaker for some checks, specifically on the little fridge. Then perhaps isolate that and bring up the A/C to see if the little Honda can Go!. Ahh song reference there.

I appreicate your help and will look around for some threads on wiring in a Go Power Overlander into my FR "Solar Ready" bunkhouse.

All this is in prep for a Virginia to Wyoming trip this fall. I am retiring and my wife and I are going to be boondocking at Walmarts with our dogs. The Bumpus's on the road. Pretty ambitious (or crazy) for a newbie.