Best Compressor Fridge Recommendations 2005 Roadtrek 190 Versatile

[themexicandoctor]

BOOSTER & ERIC,

Two great answers, Thank You.

Eric, on average, how many amps does your unit use per day & I think you have the R3800 correct?

[eric1514]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

BOOSTER & ERIC,

Two great answers, Thank You.

Eric, on average, how many amps does your unit use per day & I think you have the R3800 correct?

I had a R3100. I used about 40-50/day.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by eric1514

I had a R3100. I used about 40-50/day.

Thank you!

I just pulled the fridge out, requires a 3/8 cap.

Without a fridge for 6 weeks!

[eric1514]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Thank you!

I just pulled the fridge out, requires a 3/8 cap.

Without a fridge for 6 weeks!

My propane fitting for capping off the line was a 3/8 flare plug. Don't confuse it with a 3/8 NPT plug.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by eric1514

My propane fitting for capping off the line was a 3/8 flare plug. Don't confuse it with a 3/8 NPT plug.

Yes they got it right.

I keep on thinking maybe it would have been smarter to go with one of those ARB/IVECO/Dometic/National Luna small units.

Even the small ones are about 7 inches too long for us Roadtrek 190 owners.

If I was doing a rebuild, a Dual Zone Fridge of that design would be my ideal.

[themexicandoctor]

For those of you looking as I was at the Italian companies, ISOTHERM & VITRIFRIGO who have a tremendous track record in the rigorous Marine Industry & are built with all the latest refridgeration technology, know that they are one & the same manufacturer.

Also know that TruckFridge are actually small Isotherm units with a limited selection but at a 20-35% discount over Isotherm noted down here as Indel B.


This is what I got from TRUCKFRIDGE about 2 days late;

Thank you for your recent inquiry for TruckFridge products.

TruckFridge offers fridges designed to fit the most popular models of trucks for Heavy Duty truck use with the highest quality 12vDC compressors to insure long life while out of the road. No invertors or convertors are needed as most trucks are wired ready for fridges.

Please note the Indel B link below to find more information on the products you requested.

We DO NOT stock all products of the Indel B products in the USA . If the product is NOT shown on our website, it is either NOT STOCKED or is OUT OF STOCK.

To see all the TruckFridge models and place your order online, please visit us at www.TruckFridge.com , or call us at 502-863-4536. Our hours are open M-F 8am-5pm EST. We accept VISA, MC, Comcheck, Tcheck and EFS over the phone and ship via FEDEX Ground right to your door.

[themexicandoctor]

For msnomer, this is what I am working with

[themexicandoctor]

My new AC* DC Novakool R3800 has arrived, being installed tomorrow.

*in hindsight, I didn't need the AC Option but I only discovered that through my education here, 5 weeks too late, an extra $200 option.

Total cost $1179, including tax,, with $150 Freight charge, the unit through Graham & Steve at Sure Marine was $1029.

And I wasn't going to wait another 6 weeks of lead time.

That is the dilemma with Novakool, unless your dealer happens to be carrying a unit in stock, lead time is always 4-6 weeks.

Going to run my Generator for an hour just in case my batteries aren't full, upload my solar yields for the past 30 days, etc & tomorrow will be the litmus test of my solar set up - thank you for everyone.

Lodgemobile is the installer I am going to use, he has been resuscitating my Dometic RM2354 for 9 years.

Got rid of the Black Tank emptying & now the Fridge, its alll downhill from here ...

[rowiebowie]

Looks like they are no longer using the Danfoss compressors.

[themexicandoctor]

I believe they only use the Danfoss Secop* technology - they altered the fan position from blowing on the compressor to sucking the air out of the lower compartment.

It's a BD35, the smallest unit Novakool utilises.

When its hot out, the interior Fantastic Fan in the aisle will also help with the Chimney effect.

[themexicandoctor]

Hope these photos are a better description - the R3800 is about 3 inches less in depth but has all the same dimensions as the R4500 which also fits perfectly.

Mark put a one inch piece of ply underneath to have it meet the ceiling of the cabinet.

Cold Water is ice now in 2 big trays less than 2 hours later on #3, in about 90%.

[themexicandoctor]

Not only does the new fridge barely put a dent in my battery bank, just being able to park ANYWHERE* is such a relief.

Had the DC Fridge for a couple of days now but I still find myself, looking for perfectly level parking.

Its like having a Mass Murderer as a Sibling, trying to explain to patients & friends in the past that "Yes I would love to be there but the fridge in my RV needs level parking ..."

I learnt to not get into the explanations of "if I have to park for more than 30 minutes, I either have to turn off my fridge & fill it full of ice inside with fans or leave it turned on & the food goes bad within 3 or 4 events in a week during the summer ..."

Why have an Adventure Vehicle like an RV if your 3 Way Fridge (the Dometic RM2354 for sure), if the fridge operates only in the perfectly level conditions of the factory it was built in.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Not only does the new fridge barely put a dent in my battery bank, just being able to park ANYWHERE* is such a relief.

Had the DC Fridge for a couple of days now but I still find myself, looking for perfectly level parking.

Its like having a Mass Murderer as a Sibling, trying to explain to patients & friends in the past that "Yes I would love to be there but the fridge in my RV needs level parking ..."

I learnt to not get into the explanations of "if I have to park for more than 30 minutes, I either have to turn off my fridge & fill it full of ice inside with fans or leave it turned on & the food goes bad within 3 or 4 events in a week during the summer ..."

Why have an Adventure Vehicle like an RV if your 3 Way Fridge (the Dometic RM2354 for sure), if the fridge operates only in the perfectly level conditions of the factory it was built in.

So . . . . , you're saying you like it.

[booster]

Originally Posted by rowiebowie

So . . . . , you're saying you like it.

Shhhhhhhhh......Someone might hear you and have chastise the Dr for having a lack of intelligence for not preferring an absorption frig, like has happened with the rest of us.

[themexicandoctor]

I am saying when patients temporarily die in ERs & Surgeries*, they momentarily experience visually a warm, white light they equate with Heaven.

Here I am alive & well & yet I experience a feeling of inner warmth & see a similar white light everytime I open the door of my new Novakool ...

*I was in two comas, never experienced a white light but I always associated that phenomenon with the bright lights of operating rooms

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by booster

Shhhhhhhhh......Someone might hear you and have chastise the Dr for having a lack of intelligence for not preferring an absorption frig, like has happened with the rest of us.

I appreciate whatever deal (and extra fans), Gallen has made with the Devil to keep his unit (not a Dometic RM2354), performing flawlessly up until 80% weather.

But finally for all the other Refrigeration Experts I am ready for the wrath of their attack.

In 15 years the RM2354 was replaced twice by the previous owner & once by me. I had double fans inside. I would fill the fridge with ice that took up most of the freezer so whenever I would park over 2.3851% for more than 2 hours fans would blow as I would turn the unit off & then back on again when driving & somewhat level.

But I have no doubt that if I had pulled the unit out & burped it for 24 hours, it would have been good for another year providing every 6 months I had the pressure increased for $60.

The 3 way Fridge (unnecessary torture) & the Black Tank issues (part of daily life but now a 5.5 gallon Porta Potti), are finally gone.

[themexicandoctor]

I just purchased two of these units, one for the fridge & one for the interior of the truck - absolutely invaluable & they were a suggestion of Interblog I think.

https://www.sensorpush.com/

Now I can check the interior temperature of the Fridge & its humidity without opening the door.

And the interior of the truck.

All by Bluetooth.

[RedPanEd]

MexDoc, Been about a year since your Nova Kool install. My original Dometic rm2310 in my 1999 RT 190 Popular (Dodge) is failing and I'm considering the NK R3800 as a replacement. I've read all your posts about start up issues and my question is after almost a year, how do you like it now?

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by RedPanEd

MexDoc, Been about a year since your Nova Kool install. My original Dometic rm2310 in my 1999 RT 190 Popular (Dodge) is failing and I'm considering the NK R3800 as a replacement. I've read all your posts about start up issues and my question is after almost a year, how do you like it now?

According to my search, the Doc has been away for a while and not posted here in over 6 mos.

My past 4 yrs. experience with a Novacool compressor fridge has been good. It was original in my '2012 class b and one of the few components that has run flawlessly. However, it always takes the first few days of a trip to get the thermostat setting dialed in right. After that, it's usually fine the rest of the trip.

One thing that rv manufacturers fail to do is allow adequate interior venting for compressor fridges. For example, my 3.1cf fridge calls for minimum 30 sq. inches venting at top and bottom. Airstream installed mine with virtually zero venting below and a poor vent path around the microwave up top so I added some vents to ensure I wouldn't have problems.

The Doc and others like yourself with existing exterior venting have an opportunity to perhaps utilize this during your compressor conversion, but it is optional so long as you can provide Novacool's suggested interior venting. In which case you could close off the old outside vents.

[themexicandoctor]

I an back & still having a Love Affair with my Novakool R3800 - it has performed flawlessly & when I began the install I needed all the help I could get as I had done dysfunction in my electrical system.

Thanks to the help from the Head Engineer at Novakool & the experts here, once repaired (I modified & simplified the physical layout of my Battery System), we eliminated the "intermittment loose negative wire/connection...", & its been a wonderful experience.

Got the R3800 which is smaller than the R4500 (which would have fitted perfectly), because the draw is an average 2.2ah versus 4.4ah & while in retrospect I could have used a bigger capacity, I could not have managed the amp draw doubling.

Never, ever would I buy another Gas Absorption fridge.

Or a Dometic product that uses technology - too many company issues.

The freedom of being able to park on most surfaces & not be concerned with Leveling the Fridge, especially during the summer months is priceless.

I also have inside the Fridge & Freezer these incredible Bluetooth Temperature & Humidity Sensors by a company called Sensorspush. www.sensorpush.com