Residential Fridge and Inverters

Retiredfire

I have a 2015 38RS with residential fridge. I typically stop at full hook-up parks sometimes for a month or two at a time. What is the proper procedure on the use of the inverter. Do I leave it on and let it do its thing or do I turn it off? Thanks for any information or opinions.

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Posted: 6:14 AM – Jun 06, 2017

JohnD222

It depends upon the inverter, but generally you leave it on. When there is shore power it does nothing and is under no load. If you have a power blip, it will take over, and keep whatever circuits it supports “alive” until power is restored.

Generally, there is a transfer switch that senses shore power. When no shore power is present, it let’s power from the inverter (batteries) into the circuit breaker box(es). The default is shore power. When present, the transfer switch disconnects the inverter (batterirs) from the circuit breaker box(es) and connects the incoming shore power.

Sometimes the inverter is an integrated inverter and battery charget/power converter. Those integrated units do not need an external transfer switch – that function is controlled internally. Some of those integrated units actually use inverter (batyery) power to boost incoming shore power when voltage is low (brown).

Unless the solar runs through the integrated inverter/converter/battery charger, and you turn off your frig and leave it open to prevent mold buildup during storage, you should turn off the inverter during storage, even if you have a solar charger. While plugged into shore power for long periods it is not necessary – unless power goes out long enough for things in the frig to spoil OR you might forget to turn it back on before you hook up and travel down the road.

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Posted: 9:53 AM – Jun 06, 2017

Retiredfire

Thanks Johnd222 for your reply. Your information is somewhat what I assumed but having you explain the process and connections helps me make better sense of it.

B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX

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