02 Refrigerator Compartment

sgt77 · 10-28-2013, 02:20 PM

Hello Wise Ones,

We have had enough and are yanking the NoCold out and putting in a residential fridge in our 02 Adventurer 35U. I was wondering if any of you have the basic dimensions of the fridge space or does that change with whichever fridge was in there. The current Nocold is the N842IM.

skigramp · 10-28-2013, 02:36 PM

Have you researched how you will power the residential fridge when you are not plugged into shore power?

How many house batteries do you have? How big is your inverter? Do you ever dry camp in locations where you can not run your genset?

Just asking

sgt77 · 10-28-2013, 02:41 PM

No dry camping. Genset is often run while traveling. We have two house batteries and not sure about the size of the inverter.

Bumps · 11-17-2013, 02:49 PM

Our 2005 Vectra 40FD's Norcold 1210 "appears" to be working fine. HOWEVER, we had been noticing an odd, growing, bowing/bulge in the paneling on the inside wall opposite where the ice-maker sits. Now we've observed that the bulged area is occasionally warmer(!) than the rest of the paneling on that wall. Time to jettison the Norcold, we are thinking. Seems like the Samsung RF197 is the fridge of choice on these forums. In our research, however, we find a number of negative reviews on the RF197 (frequent odd noises, over-icing, inferior hardware, etc). Have any of you Winnebago RF197 retrofitters experienced these issues? Are they trivial, or material? Do you recommend the RF197 for Winnebagos? Thanks! \ken

PS. Sorry the picture is fuzzy .. it's dark in there!

dunkonu23 · 11-17-2013, 03:40 PM

I think this is the opening dimensions for your Norcold:
59 7/8 in. x 23 1/2 in. x 24 in.

I have a 2003 35U, and frankly without major modifications I do not think we do not have enough battery power for this kind of mod.

Scott

bruceh · 11-17-2013, 04:50 PM

I have 4 golf cart batteries in mine but would not want to do this mod as I dry camp most of the time.

dunkonu23 · 11-17-2013, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunkonu23

I think this is the opening dimensions for your Norcold:
59 7/8 in. x 23 1/2 in. x 24 in.

I have a 2003 35U, and frankly without major modifications I do not think we do not have enough battery power for this kind of mod.

Scott

I meant to write I do not think we have enough battery power. Additionally, my inverter is only 300 watts--chances are yours is the same; that's barely enough to run two TV's. I found a 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter last night for $499.99 that would work, but man, this would be a lot of work!

Sheesh... interruptions!

Scott

NeilV · 11-18-2013, 05:09 AM

The factory inverter only powers the entertainment center up front anyways so that one really does not factor in. To go residential you would probably have to eliminate the pantry slideout and loose the draw underneath.

Here is the link to the manual for the Samsung RF197 and it is a bit large for the 35U.

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/co...-01845A_EN.pdf

I have not had any problems with the Norcold aside from brownouts impacting/damaging the controller board and after installing a Hughs AutoFormer for brownout protection and upgrading the fridge to a Dinosaur controller board have had zero problems with it.

charles tuit · 11-19-2013, 07:42 AM

As far as space is concerned I replaced my No cold 7.5 CF with a Haier 10.5 CF with only minor modifications. However IMHO you don't have the inverter or battery bank to support any residential fridge. I would suggest more study on your behalf before proceeding.

Dr4Film · 11-19-2013, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumps

Have any of you Winnebago RF197 retrofitters experienced these issues? Are they trivial, or material? Do you recommend the RF197 for Winnebagos? Thanks! \ken

PS. Sorry the picture is fuzzy .. it's dark in there!

Ken,

A friend of mine owns a 2004 Winnebago Vectra and he installed the Samsung RF217 which is 2 inches deeper than the RF197. When I was in the Keys back in 2012, I stopped to visit them and to view his installation. He did such an awesome job that I had mine done the following April on our way to Alaska.

His iRV2.com handle is HD4Mark. Here is his write-up on his installation.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f54/new-f...dow-93522.html

You will NOT regret switching to the Samsung fridge. It was the BEST upgrade I have done to R HOME. It has improved our RV lifestyle 1000%.

Good luck with your project!

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Bumps · 11-20-2013, 08:41 AM

Richard: I looked at the RF217(!) last night. It's even less expensive than the RF197. WooHoo! Yea, it's a lot deeper, but also about a half-inch taller. If I can figger out the height issues (fridge goes in a slide), I think I might be able to make the RF217 work!

Charles: I'm running a 3000w PSW inverter, so am OK for power.

Thanks! \ken

brobox · 11-20-2013, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt77

No dry camping. Genset is often run while traveling. We have two house batteries and not sure about the size of the inverter.

I think there lies your problem. You do not have enough battery power to power a residential refrig. If you can be on 110 power a 100% of the time when using the refrig that will work. But what about re-sale, will all buyers use it that way?

dengraham · 11-20-2013, 04:23 PM

If he does not dry camp and runs his geny, then he does not need to worry about his batteries. Do it.