Author Topic: Replacing our fridge. Absorption vs Residential  (Read 7361 times)

Bill Lampkin

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Re: Replacing our fridge. Absorption vs Residential
« Reply #30 on: May 17, 2020, 03:26:19 PM »
In the two or three years  I spent thinking about replacing our Norcold with a residential fridge, I went thru all the possible scenarios many times in my head. In the end, two guys from the appliance store carried out the 4-door fridge thru the front door; the new fridge came in the same way. I unscrewed the door stay so the door would swing wide, and I removed the co-pilot seat from the mounting bolts so I could move it a bit. I couldn't figure out how to disconnect the wiring connectors at the base of the seat, so I just moved the seat a bit as needed as the fridge passed by. No scratches, no torn upholstery. The appliance guys did a great job.  Of course, the doors came off the old and new fridge, but no issue to re-install them on the new fridge.  Our coach has the front tv fold up into the ceiling, so no head banger to worry about. The new fridge just purrs, since we're not going anywhere now!
2005 Patriot Thunder Lexington, 3 slides
40' tag axle (short wheelbase)
525 hp C13

"Goin where the weather suits my clothes..."

Joel Ashley

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  • OSU Class of '73, Oregon Native. RVing 39 years
Re: Replacing our fridge. Absorption vs Residential
« Reply #31 on: May 18, 2020, 12:29:41 AM »
The fan I installed on the old Pace Arrow was neat.  It’s 4”X 6” solar panel screwed to the top of the fridge’s aluminum roof vent, so when the sun was at its worst on the fridge’s side of the rig, the fan got maximum power.  It had a 3-way toggle switch I mounted to the cabinet just under the fridge door;  I could choose Off in the middle, and 12v Battery power or Solar to either side of Off. 

The fan as I recall was plastic wire-tied to the lowest “coil” loop (absorber tube), just above the vented access door, so it drew cooler air in and up over the evaporator loops and condenser fins to the roof vent.  It worked great and the difference was noticeable immediately.  Some companies offer a two-fan configuration, one at the bottom and an exhaust one at the top vent. 

An interesting install video of a solar unit that replaces the roof vent altogether and is considerably larger and more involved than what I did is here (there are plenty of others):  https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=2ahUKEwi--MK-gLzpAhVGJTQIHZXxDJ8QwqsBMAF6BAgJEAk&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAmr9vbe4WNU&usg=AOvVaw1TcZysOEVI9iS8N3kwX3fQ

And check this site out:  https://rvcoolingunit.com/-Cooling-Performance-Fans-items-C320215.aspx

Joel
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat