I have what may be a really stupid question On a Norcold fridge

screamineagle

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Messages
162
Location
Macedon, New York
I feel dumb for asking this but we have a 2020 GD Momentum 395 toyhauler It has a Norcold polarmax 2118 Fridge in it. The fridge runs off propane or shore power. When traveling it is recommended to shut propane off, which we never do. Can this model fridge run from batteries when traveling. I know it will power the control panel but I do not know if it will cool. I know, I should know this after 4 years of ownership, but I have never been concerned with traveling with propane on.
 
No, it is propane and 120 V only. Some of the older propane fridges were 3 way: propane, 12V, and 120 V. But the 12V was basically worthless, and a huge energy draw, so a moot point.
 
I feel dumb for asking this but we have a 2020 GD Momentum 395 toyhauler It has a Norcold polarmax 2118 Fridge in it. The fridge runs off propane or shore power. When traveling it is recommended to shut propane off, which we never do. Can this model fridge run from batteries when traveling. I know it will power the control panel but I do not know if it will cool. I know, I should know this after 4 years of ownership, but I have never been concerned with traveling with propane on.

In factory configuration it will not cool from the batteries. I have hooked up an inverter to run my bar fridge so we can keep food cold while we travel and not have to open the slides to stop and eat. The Norcold is on the same 120V circuit as the bar fridge so the inverter will run both fridges without the use of propane. Never tried this for a long trip and always switch to propane manually so I am not sure if the truck will keep the 2 lead acid batteries I have fully charge with this much draw or not. Probably not is my guess which is why I always switch manually to propane.

It can be done just never tested to see how well it will work for a longer trip.

Rob
 
I feel dumb for asking this but we have a 2020 GD Momentum 395 toyhauler It has a Norcold polarmax 2118 Fridge in it. The fridge runs off propane or shore power. When traveling it is recommended to shut propane off, which we never do. Can this model fridge run from batteries when traveling. I know it will power the control panel but I do not know if it will cool. I know, I should know this after 4 years of ownership, but I have never been concerned with traveling with propane on.

It will run with the propane on, as long as you have a sufficient battery and charge on the battery. The battery, 12VDC is required for the control circuit to work in order to run on propane while traveling. If the battery gets down too low, it will shut the refrigerator down. During our trip out west in 2021, I ran ours every single travel day on propane/battery as the source of power. We had several days in the 9 to 10 hours from the time we disconnected from shore power, then traveled, then hooked back up to shore power. At the time, I was running two 6V Golf Cart batteries, the Trojan T105s which were around 225AH if I remember correctly.
 
If there is an inverter installed, it will run as long as the batteries supply the inverter with power.

AND if the 120VAC outlet the fridge is plugged into is running from the inverter. In many RV’s the inverter only runs select outlets.
 
Book says a 2000 watt inverter if installed. The build sheet says a WF9855 55 amp inverter, So now I have to find out if it has 120 volts with shore power unplugged? Digging closer the WF9855 is a converter for charging. Inverter not installed. I guess I stick to propane when traveling long distance
 
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Interesting that this topic came up now. I just finished a video of an inverter install I did on my brother in-law’s Reflection 280RS. The goal was to power the outside 120VAC refrigerator while traveling. In the end, he was able to power not only the outside refrigerator but also the Dometic absorption refrigerator inside. Having both refrigerators running from the inverter does draw about 36 amps DC, but he can keep them both powered via his 200 amp hours of LiFePo4 batteries and the charge from his tow vehicle. Below is a link to the video I put together for him.


https://youtu.be/A0hYQjV3TAQ?si=NMC2pgxCBEKU9_K_
 
Interesting that this topic came up now. I just finished a video of an inverter install I did on my brother in-law’s Reflection 280RS. The goal was to power the outside 120VAC refrigerator while traveling. In the end, he was able to power not only the outside refrigerator but also the Dometic absorption refrigerator inside. Having both refrigerators running from the inverter does draw about 36 amps DC, but he can keep them both powered via his 200 amp hours of LiFePo4 batteries and the charge from his tow vehicle. Below is a link to the video I put together for him.


https://youtu.be/A0hYQjV3TAQ?si=NMC2pgxCBEKU9_K_

This is exactly what I have done. Once on my Reflection 297RSTS and on my 378MBS. I have been debating about rewiring so that the Norcold does not run off of the inverter but it seems like your brothers tow vehicle keeps the batteries charged. I may have to rethink.

Rob
 
I feel dumb for asking this but we have a 2020 GD Momentum 395 toyhauler It has a Norcold polarmax 2118 Fridge in it. The fridge runs off propane or shore power. When traveling it is recommended to shut propane off, which we never do. Can this model fridge run from batteries when traveling. I know it will power the control panel but I do not know if it will cool. I know, I should know this after 4 years of ownership, but I have never been concerned with traveling with propane on.

I have been RVing for over fifty years and run down the road with my frig on propane all the time. My truck maintains the battery that will provide the limited voltage needed for the frig running on propane. It is illegal to go thru a tunnel with the frig on propane.
 
Book says a 2000 watt inverter if installed. The build sheet says a WF9855 55 amp inverter, So now I have to find out if it has 120 volts with shore power unplugged? Digging closer the WF9855 is a converter for charging. Inverter not installed. I guess I stick to propane when traveling long distance
On mine, the inverter was not wired to run the fridge. I changed that so it will now.
It results in a 59 amp draw. My solar can keep up, so it works for me.
 

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