Karebru wrote:The first thing I need to do before I start cutting holes in the sided of my trailer is pick out an air conditioner and a refrigerator.
I've settled on using a window unit on heavy duty drawer slides that deploys out a hatch when operating. And like others are doing, I want to mount it on top of a (110v) refrigerator enclosure.
We've looked at a few compact fridges and she likes the ones with a separate freezer on top. I'd rather use a home unit instead of a fancy RV one with outside venting. Being enclosed, it will need to be a front vent.
Here's my worry...
A front vent would be the simplest, but will it put out so much heat that it conflicts with the air conditioning?
Thanks!
Karebru, if you go with a 110VAC dorm fridge, unless you are just going to run off shore power, I'd recommend a pure sinewave inverter and
not the modified sinewave. The pure sinewave inverters run cleaner than shore power and you will have no troubles. Same for the generator. An inverter generator is the way to go also. Most appliances are damaged when the older non-inverter type hiccup or run out of gas... worst surging brown out event ever for your appliances. Use clean power and they will last a very long time just as they do in your house. Inverter generators will just cleanly disconnect if the gas engine starts to do funny stuff.
12VDC appliances specially made for RV's applications of course work great too, albeit at a premium because of the supply/demand aspect.. I think in general there are less issues with them because 12VDC is very clean power by definition and they will just shut off when it gets too low. Some of the 12VDC/110VAC RV items just have a sine-wave inverter built in and really just run off 110VAC inverted from the 12VDC, some do just have DC motors also and use a power supply when running off 110VAC.. all similar circuitry and components. All, very good stuff. At the end of the day, people kill their stuff with bad power and really do not understand why and blame the appliance maker. It is especially bad with TV's and sensitive electronics. Clean power is key.
The modified sine waves, which are less expensive and okay for some applications, are hard on the compressor motors due to the waveform and will reduce the lifespan.
Lastly, the venting of the typical 3 way RV Fridges is primarily because they burn propane and it will kill you otherwise. Secondary, and just as important, is they are boiling the refrigerant (use to be ammonia, but not sure these days) to create the expansion and subsequent evaporation, and if that ever leaked inside, it could harm/kill you also. They have to vent outside for safety... not efficiency.
In any case, just make sure there is good airflow/convection around the fridge as they do shed heat through the "skin" and have a good clean power source and it will work fine and last a long time.
Can't wait to see your pics when done.