DEAD REFRIGERATOR!!!

[Jack and Liz Pearce]

Howdy.

Our Dometic New Dimensions refrigerator is DEAD. Ammonia smell, yuk! Jack is cogitating on an electric house frig. What factors need to be taken into consideration to make an electric frig work in our 1993 Wanderlodge? More batteries and another inverter? Pros and cons?


Sighhh,
Liz

[Ernie Ekberg]

Liz, I have a house type refer in my coach. I can travel around 4 hours withoput running the generator. We never dry camp so we don't have to worry about killing the batteries. Bring that here to weatherford and we can put a new one in for ya. We might have to make some modifications for fit. Lot cheaper then an new rv refer- in my opinion Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair --- On Tue, 3/31/09, Jack and Liz Pearce wrote: From: Jack and Liz Pearce Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] DEAD REFRIGERATOR!!! To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 8:06 AM Howdy. Our Dometic New Dimensions refrigerator is DEAD. Ammonia smell, yuk! Jack is cogitating on an electric house frig. What factors need to be taken into consideration to make an electric frig work in our 1993 Wanderlodge? More batteries and another inverter? Pros and cons? Sighhh, Liz

[jvredden@...]

Liz,
I had my Dometic rebuilt for
$700.00

John Redden
91 PT 40. In NC

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone with SprintSpeed

---

From: "Jack and Liz Pearce"
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:06:20 -0000
To:
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] DEAD REFRIGERATOR!!!

Howdy.

Our Dometic New Dimensions refrigerator is DEAD. Ammonia smell, yuk! Jack is cogitating on an electric house frig. What factors need to be taken into consideration to make an electric frig work in our 1993 Wanderlodge? More batteries and another inverter? Pros and cons?


Sighhh,
Liz

[bbwlwb88]

Hi Liz: One thing to consider in replacing your old refrigerator is whether or
not the new unit will fit without having to modify your coach. Another option
that I saw mentioned was to repair the old cooling unit. You might want to
check with World Class RV Refrigeration (http://www.rvfridge.com)to get a repair
estimate.

Royal Washburn
97 BBWL43'

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jack and Liz Pearce"
wrote:
>
> Howdy.
>
> Our Dometic New Dimensions refrigerator is DEAD. Ammonia smell, yuk!
> Jack is cogitating on an electric house frig. What factors need to be
> taken into consideration to make an electric frig work in our 1993
> Wanderlodge? More batteries and another inverter? Pros and cons?
>
>
> Sighhh,
> Liz
>

[Pete Masterson]

Look for the most energy efficient model you can find. Read consumer's reports. Due to a loophole, some refrigerators are evaluated for the "energy star" and EPA energy guidelines (yellow tag) without the ice maker being turned on. This can have a considerable impact on the energy use. (Consumer's Reports rates refrigerators and lists more realistic estimates of electricity use.) I also note that refrigerators used to be built to last a very long time. This is no longer the case and a refrigerator may die after 10 years or so... (just something to keep in mind).

My coach was OEM with an Amana 22 cu ft home-style two door refrigerator with ice maker and through the door ice and chilled water. To accommodate this, I have dual 2800 watt inverters along with six type 4-D house batteries.

In practice, the electrical draw of the refrigerator is sufficient to seriously bring down the batteries overnight, even with minimal use of other lights or appliances. So, I keep several "blue ice" gel packs in the freezer (while on generator or shore power) which I move into the main compartment just before bedtime. I then turn off the refrigerator for the night. In the morning, in moderate weather (I've never tried this in the desert -- besides, I'd need shore power for the AC in any event in those conditions) the refrigerator is rarely more than 5 to 7 degrees warmer. I keep a couple of refrigerator thermometers in the main storage compartment and one in the freezer to ensure that we keep a safe temperature.

This may only be "our" refrigerator, but I've found that in moving the coach from here to there, it requires somewhat frequent minor adjustments to the internal controller thermostat to keep the inside temperature in the (desirable) 34 to 40 degree range. (Too cold and the veggies freeze, to hot and we all get food poisoning and die (or wish we'd die)...)

Since my coach is "all electric" we have to turn on the generator to cook -- so the refrigerator goes back on with breakfast preparations. I have found the all-electric nature to be somewhat limiting for boondocking -- while I'm relatively satisfied with staying in more civilized campgrounds (I find it hard to be without AC in warm/humid weather), I have found boondocking rather less enchanting due to the need to deal with close monitoring of the energy management.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Mar 31, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Jack and Liz Pearce wrote:

Howdy.

Our Dometic New Dimensions refrigerator is DEAD. Ammonia smell, yuk! Jack is cogitating on anelectrichouse frig. What factors need to be taken into consideration to make an electric frig work in our 1993 Wanderlodge? More batteries and another inverter? Pros and cons?


Sighhh,
Liz

[Al Scudder]

Yea Pete! Civlized fellow...AC never leave home with out it!!!! some enchanting evening for sure.

Scooter 2000LX Ocqueoc,MI

---

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: aeonix1@...
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:23:21 -0700
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] DEAD REFRIGERATOR!!!

Look for the most energy efficient model you can find. Read consumer's reports. Due to a loophole, some refrigerators are evaluated for the "energy star" and EPA energy guidelines (yellow tag) without the ice maker being turned on. This can have a considerable impact on the energy use. (Consumer's Reports rates refrigerators and lists more realistic estimates of electricity use.) I also note that refrigerators used to be built to last a very long time. This is no longer the case and a refrigerator may die after 10 years or so... (just something to keep in mind).

My coach was OEM with an Amana 22 cu ft home-style two door refrigerator with ice maker and through the door ice and chilled water. To accommodate this, I have dual 2800 watt inverters along with six type 4-D house batteries.

In practice, the electrical draw of the refrigerator is sufficient to seriously bring down the batteries overnight, even with minimal use of other lights or appliances. So, I keep several "blue ice" gel packs in the freezer (while on generator or shore power) which I move into the main compartment just before bedtime. I then turn off the refrigerator for the night. In the morning, in moderate weather (I've never tried this in the desert -- besides, I'd need shore power for the AC in any event in those conditions) the refrigerator is rarely more than 5 to 7 degrees warmer. I keep a couple of refrigerator thermometers in the main storage compartment and one in the freezer to ensure that we keep a safe temperature.

This may only be "our" refrigerator, but I've found that in moving the coach from here to there, it requires somewhat frequent minor adjustments to the internal controller thermostat to keep the inside temperature in the (desirable) 34 to 40 degree range. (Too cold and the veggies freeze, to hot and we all get food poisoning and die (or wish we'd die)...)

Since my coach is "all electric" we have to turn on the generator to cook -- so the refrigerator goes back on with breakfast preparations. I have found the all-electric nature to be somewhat limiting for boondocking -- while I'm relatively satisfied with staying in more civilized campgrounds (I find it hard to be without AC in warm/humid weather), I have found boondocking rather less enchanting due to the need to deal with close monitoring of the energy management.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Mar 31, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Jack and Liz Pearce wrote:

Howdy.

Our Dometic New Dimensions refrigerator is DEAD. Ammonia smell, yuk! Jack is cogitating on anelectrichouse frig. What factors need to be taken into consideration to make an electric frig work in our 1993 Wanderlodge? More batteries and another inverter? Pros and cons?


Sighhh,
Liz

[Pete Masterson]

Born and raised in the S.F. Bay Area. Worked most of my career in San Francisco. I had NO IDEA just how hot and unpleasant the weather is in the much of the rest of the country. The bus has 3 AC units. I figure I'm not carrying them around just 'cause it needs the extra weight!

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Mar 31, 2009, at 2:01 PM, Al Scudder wrote:

Yea Pete! Civlized fellow...AC never leave home with out it!!!! some enchanting evening for sure.

Scooter 2000LX Ocqueoc,MI

---

To:"WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
From:"aeonix1@mac.com"
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:23:21 -0700
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] DEAD REFRIGERATOR!!!

Look for the most energy efficient model you can find. Read consumer's reports. Due to a loophole, some refrigerators are evaluated for the "energy star" and EPA energy guidelines (yellow tag) without the ice maker being turned on. This can have a considerable impact on the energy use. (Consumer's Reports rates refrigerators and lists more realistic estimates of electricity use.) I also note that refrigerators used to be built to last a very long time. This is no longer the case and a refrigerator may die after 10 years or so... (just something to keep in mind).

My coach was OEM with an Amana 22 cu ft home-style two door refrigerator with ice maker and through the door ice and chilled water. To accommodate this, I have dual 2800 watt inverters along with six type 4-D house batteries.

In practice, the electrical draw of the refrigerator is sufficient to seriously bring down the batteries overnight, even with minimal use of other lights or appliances. So, I keep several "blue ice" gel packs in the freezer (while on generator or shore power) which I move into the main compartment just before bedtime. I then turn off the refrigerator for the night. In the morning, in moderate weather (I've never tried this in the desert -- besides, I'd need shore power for the AC in any event in those conditions) the refrigerator is rarely more than 5 to 7 degrees warmer. I keep a couple of refrigerator thermometers in the main storage compartment and one in the freezer to ensure that we keep a safe temperature.

This may only be "our" refrigerator, but I've found that in moving the coach from here to there, it requires somewhat frequent minor adjustments to the internal controller thermostat to keep the inside temperature in the (desirable) 34 to 40 degree range. (Too cold and the veggies freeze, to hot and we all get food poisoning and die (or wish we'd die)...)

Since my coach is "all electric" we have to turn on the generator to cook -- so the refrigerator goes back on with breakfast preparations. I have found the all-electric nature to be somewhat limiting for boondocking -- while I'm relatively satisfied with staying in more civilized campgrounds (I find it hard to be without AC in warm/humid weather), I have found boondocking rather less enchanting due to the need to deal with close monitoring of the energy management.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Mar 31, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Jack and Liz Pearce wrote:

Howdy.

Our Dometic New Dimensions refrigerator is DEAD. Ammonia smell, yuk! Jack is cogitating on anelectrichouse frig. What factors need to be taken into consideration to make an electric frig work in our 1993 Wanderlodge? More batteries and another inverter? Pros and cons?


Sighhh,
Liz

[Ryan Wright]

Liz,

I just replaced my fridge. Literally started the new one up last night.

My opinion: Just replace it. pplmotorhomes.com has the best deals
going for just about any fridge. My new Norcold N841 was only $1035
plus shipping. It cools real nice, too. I'm very pleased with it.

I understand not wanting to buy another one of these. Trust me, I
agonized over the decision for months, to the point of considering
buying a newer, all-electric Bird with the full size house fridge,
etc. In the end, I'm glad I bought the Norcold. Maybe I'll be singing
a different tune in a few years but for now, it's working real nice
and looks great. I couldn't find a house fridge that looked nice, fit
in the same spot and provided a similar amount of interior space, and
I've heard fun stories about folks having to use bungee cords to hold
the doors closed on some of these. Hey, to each his own, but bungee
cords holding my fridge shut just doesn't appeal to me.

Even if I had found one, I'd be into it for more money by the time I
bought several new batteries with which to keep it powered while
boondocking - and sure, I might have to replace the stupid fridge
after several years, but I'd have to replace the batteries on about
the same schedule, so am I really ahead? I figured not.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 6:06 AM, Jack and Liz Pearce
wrote:
> Howdy.
>
> Our Dometic New Dimensions refrigerator is DEAD. Ammonia smell, yuk! Jack is
> cogitating on an electric house  frig. What factors need to be taken into
> consideration to make an electric frig work in our 1993 Wanderlodge? More
> batteries and another inverter? Pros and cons?
>
> Sighhh,
> Liz
>

[Ryan Wright]

Pete,

LOL on wishing we'd die!! I've had food poisoning 3 times in the past
decade that I can recall and prayed for death to take me on at least
two of them. Both of those two put me in the ER; the last one put the
whole household in there at the same time, myself, wife and both of
our kids, IVs in all four of us, a full week off work, literally
unable to do a darn thing to take care of ourselves and then right
when I thought things were looking up I got the hospital bill!

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92


On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 12:23 PM, Pete Masterson wrote:
> (Too cold and the veggies freeze, to hot
> and we all get food poisoning and die (or wish we'd die)...)