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Old 08-07-2019, 12:18 AM   #1
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Update on Nova Kool RFU 8320 Refrigerator installation

Well, it has now been 7 years since I removed my original Dometic refrigerator and installed the Nova Kool RFU 8320 Refrigerator in my Escape 19 and I wanted to let everyone know that is is still running strong and giving me cold, reliable, adjustable freezer and refer temps when needed. It has a Danfoss 12volt DC refrigeration compressor which has been very responsive and reliable. My three solar panels and four 6 volt batteries have been keeping it and all the other electrical goodies going for all this time. I can go anywhere boon-docking and not worry about power.

Of course I power the refrigerator 24 hours per day at about 50% duty cycle. I have all LED lighting, a killer stereo system that gets used all the time, I run my electric coffee grinder and Mr. Coffee machine on my 2,500 watt inverter every morning before I put on my shoes, and run a CPAP machine with humidifier each night. Sometimes I run an 1,800 watt griddle for breakfast on the inverter. Evenings are often spent using electronic devices to read or browse. I am generally up to full charge by 9:30AM unless it is overcast that will delay it a few hours. If the sun doesn't come up I have a Honda 2200 propane generator that automatically shuts off when the batteries are fully charged, never more than 90 minutes but it has been used less than a dozen times.

If I had to do it again I wouldn't hesitate installing the same refrigerator and electrical upgrades in my 19. We really love our trailer!!

Steve
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Old 08-07-2019, 12:25 AM   #2
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Thanks, Steve that is really good information. Does that Nova model fit the standard refrigerator opening on the 19 or does it have to be modified??
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Old 08-07-2019, 12:32 AM   #3
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Thanks, Steve that is really good information. Does that Nova model fit the standard refrigerator opening on the 19 or does it have to be modified??
It required significant modification to the opening and barely fit. I felt like a surgeon opening a much larger opening that ran up against everything...but it did fit.
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Old 08-07-2019, 07:13 AM   #4
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Steve,

Congratulations on your great experiment and sharing your results.

With our two original 6 volt batteries now being 5 years old, I'd like to know what brand of 6 volt batteries you have used, and are currently using. Where you've bought them, which type (lead acid, etc), and how long they last.

What are the signs that the batteries are nearing the end of their service life?

How often to you add water?

Bill
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Old 08-07-2019, 08:18 AM   #5
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Thanks for the update Steve. Having adequate solar and a bigger inverter helps too!

On a side note, hasn't it been just short of 5 years since the install, not 7? Unless I was asleep for 2 years without knowing it.....[emoji1787]
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Old 08-07-2019, 09:32 AM   #6
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Very interested. The NovaKool RFU 8300 7.3 cu ft is 23¼" wide and the RFU 6800 6.8 cu ft is 20¼" wide. Are these powered strictly 2 way... dc and ac... no propane ?
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Old 08-07-2019, 09:41 AM   #7
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Very interested. The NovaKool RFU 8300 7.3 cu ft is 23¼" wide and the FRF6800 6.8 cu ft is 20¼" wide. Are these powered strictly 2 way... dc and ac... no propane ?
Many models are available in DC only or DC and 120V AC. They are a compressor based design, not absorption, so no propane.
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Old 08-07-2019, 09:49 AM   #8
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So I couldn't do one without I added 200 watts of solar to my roof and upgraded my inverter from 600 to 1200?
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Old 08-07-2019, 09:54 AM   #9
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So I couldn't do one without I added 200 watts of solar to my roof and upgraded my inverter from 600 to 1200?
Steve ordered his fridge to run on 12VDC only. You wouldn't need the inverter. You would need more solar and a larger battery bank. There are smarter people than me that could tell you how much more you would need.

I believe he is only referencing the inverter to give an indication of his demands on the batteries and how quickly his solar allows them to recover under normal circumstances.
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Old 08-07-2019, 10:07 AM   #10
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I believe he is only referencing the inverter to give an indication of his demands on the batteries and how quickly his solar allows them to recover under normal circumstances.
Yes, that's my assumption too. In any case, in order to run a NovaKool compressor based fridge and be able to boondock, you need more solar, and more battery.
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Old 08-07-2019, 10:21 AM   #11
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On a side note, hasn't it been just short of 5 years since the install, not 7? Unless I was asleep for 2 years without knowing it.....[emoji1787]
At least someone is awake
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Old 08-07-2019, 10:57 AM   #12
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Steve,
Do you know what your 24hr power consumption is for the Nova Kool unit?
The manufacturer’s specification states 5.2 amperage running, do you find this to be correct?
I was thinking of the going with a RFU6200, however since you were able to fit in the RFU8220 I’ll upsize.
As a side note, in our current camper we run two 12v compressor fridge/freezers
( ARB and Truck Fridge) on a single battery (Lifeline GPL-31XT) with 385 watts of solar panels on our roof (mounted flat).
Cheers!
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Old 08-07-2019, 11:12 AM   #13
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Steve,
Do you know what your 24hr power consumption is for the Nova Kool unit?
The manufacturer’s specification states 5.2 amperage running, do you find this to be correct?
I was thinking of the going with a RFU6200, however since you were able to fit in the RFU8220 I’ll upsize.
As a side note, in our current camper we run two 12v compressor fridge/freezers
( ARB and Truck Fridge) on a single battery (Lifeline GPL-31XT) with 385 watts of solar panels on our roof (mounted flat).
Cheers!
The op mentions 50% duty time for his use so 5.2 x 12 hours or about 66 amps used in 24 hours.
Escape offers a dual 165 watt solar set up...
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Old 08-07-2019, 01:07 PM   #14
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The op mentions 50% duty time for his use so 5.2 x 12 hours or about 66 amps used in 24 hours.
Escape offers a dual 165 watt solar set up...
Well, I did see where the OP stated,"Of course I power the refrigerator 24 hours per day at about 50% duty cycle." and your calculation, "5.2 x 12 hours or about 66 amps used in 24 hours." and does not answer my questions.
Which were, "Do you know what your 24hr power consumption is for the Nova Kool unit?
The manufacturer’s specification states 5.2 amperage running, do you find this to be correct?".
I am looking for real world data the OP may have.
I'm not a fan of the solar products ETI uses, but that's just me.
Cheers!
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Old 08-07-2019, 08:06 PM   #15
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This is very good news. I ordered my Escape 19 a couple of weeks ago and did the fridge delete. I am going with the Novakool RFU8220, 7.3 cu ft. The big difference between the RFU8220 AND the RFU8320 is the RFU8220 vents from the front, so you don't need the air space on the top and bottom. They do recommend a vent at the rear near the top, but the standard vent supplied with the normal propane fridge does the trick.

I got Escape to modify the cabinet opening to accept the fridge, but the measurements for the opening are very close to the larger fridge option from Escape. The Novakool RFU8220 requires a cut out of 52 7/8" H, 23 1/4" w and a depth of 19 1/2".

I am going to be installing 4x100A Lithium batteries from Battle Born, so that gives me 400A of usable power. With the optional solar panel I am hoping to be OK boondocking. We shall see but the results from your install sound encouraging
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Old 08-08-2019, 08:26 AM   #16
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This is very good news. I ordered my Escape 19 a couple of weeks ago and did the fridge delete. I am going with the Novakool RFU8220, 7.3 cu ft. The big difference between the RFU8220 AND the RFU8320 is the RFU8220 vents from the front, so you don't need the air space on the top and bottom. They do recommend a vent at the rear near the top, but the standard vent supplied with the normal propane fridge does the trick.

I got Escape to modify the cabinet opening to accept the fridge, but the measurements for the opening are very close to the larger fridge option from Escape. The Novakool RFU8220 requires a cut out of 52 7/8" H, 23 1/4" w and a depth of 19 1/2".

I am going to be installing 4x100A Lithium batteries from Battle Born, so that gives me 400A of usable power. With the optional solar panel I am hoping to be OK boondocking. We shall see but the results from your install sound encouraging


The fridge you’re getting vents heat from the front, as in, into the trailer interior? That doesn’t sound right at all.

Nice battery setup. Presumably you’re also replacing the charger with something appropriate for lithium?

And you’re going with just one solar panel to keep this all charged up and running? You might consider two. Or two plus a portable as I see you reside in the Great White North. But perhaps you plan to do your boondocking in the southern latitudes. In summer. Say, the deserts of the southwest US. That could explain your need for a compressor fridge.

Do let us know how it works out in practice. It’s always fascinating to hear how pushing of the envelope works out, and the rest of us learn a lot too, both from the successes and the failures. Sadly, I think the failures are underreported, and such learning opportunities lost to the masses.
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Old 08-08-2019, 05:37 PM   #17
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All of the compressor fridges are designed to vent the heat to the front. Most require an air vent at the bottom and top of the fridge allowing convection to do the venting. The model I am getting simply puts the venting all in the front, so you don't have to allow for the extra venting at the bottom and the top.

Compressor fridges don't generate heat anything like an absorption fridge, and speaking with the manufacturer and several people who have these fridges in their boats or RV's say heat venting to the inside of the cabin is a non issue. They are designed not to require outside venting such as is required with an absorption fridge.

As for the charger, I am going to swap out the charger portion of the WECO with a Progressive Dynamics PD4655LIV which has a setting for Lithium.

I did consider adding a second solar panel on the roof, but have decided to go with a portable instead. That way if I am parked under trees, I can use the portable to chase the sun. I am having ETI install the ZAMP port for that purpose. The fridge itself though is very energy efficient. While running it uses 5.2A It is expected to run between 1/4 to 1/2 time depending on the ambient temperature. So it should use between 1.3 - 2.6A per hour.

I also had ETI pre-wire for a battery monitor, which I will install. That way I can keep good track of incoming and outgoing amps.

Hopefully with 400A of useable battery, roof solar, portable solar, I won't run out of juice. If I find it is not enough I can always resort to a portable generator, but that would be a last resort.

I just see so many positive reasons to go with a compressor fridge, that I thought I would give it a shot. I will keep you posted as to how it works or any issues I come up with.
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Old 08-08-2019, 05:42 PM   #18
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Sclifrickson, I noticed you called your new trailer Lilly. That was the name we chose for our trailer except spelled Lily. I call my truck Herman, and if you recall the old TV Show "The Munsters" Herman Munster was married to Lily. Hence the trailer will be called Lily.
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Old 08-08-2019, 05:48 PM   #19
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I always confused the Adams Family with the Munsters.......both were cute.
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Old 08-08-2019, 05:56 PM   #20
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Steve,

Congratulations on your great experiment and sharing your results.

With our two original 6 volt batteries now being 5 years old, I'd like to know what brand of 6 volt batteries you have used, and are currently using. Where you've bought them, which type (lead acid, etc), and how long they last.

What are the signs that the batteries are nearing the end of their service life?

How often to you add water?

Bill
Hi Bill! Mine are Interstate 6 Volt Wet Cell Deep Cycle batteries but Trojan makes a comparable battery. I damaged 2 shortly after I purchased the trailer in 2012 but all 4 now have been going strong since then. They are widely available. I will bet these batteries will last for several more years. I fill them when the water gets below the "filled ring" and generally check them every two weeks while camping and once per month when the trailer is stored. I would buy the same batteries again.
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