Refrigerator directly plugged into 110??

[Apilldoctor]

May be a stupid question but have got conflicting advice and I am not an electrician. Does anyone run an extension cord and plug the refrig directly into a 110 power supply? I was hoping to take some of the amp usage from the 30 amps so my A/C unit will get a sufficient supply during the hot summer months. I asked at the C/W dealership and they said itwould void the warranty on the frig if it didnt go through the camper's electrical system. Is the frig not running on 110 volts when you are set-up at the campground? Any advice would be helpful.

[Hunter11]

30 amps will more than cover the fridge and AC running at the same time.

[Dayle1]

The 110V is used only for the heating element and as I recall, it only uses less than 500 watts which is less than 0.5 amp. This is totally insignificant. The frig. controller requires 12v DC, I don't know how much power it takes, but my guess is that the converter wastes more 110V AC power just to supply the needed 12v DC than what the heating element needs to operate. Bottom line, the frig. needs 12v DC even when operating on AC.Edited by: Dayle1

[ewbldavis]

Ditto - we have not had any issues with AC and fridge...you may want to avoid the microwave, though. Control system is 12V - if you loose the 12V power (say from a blown fuse) your fridge is OFF.

[Apilldoctor]

Thanks for the info. I remember last summer, when the temps were around 100, the A/C struggled and even acouple times, it tripped the breaker. I figured we were pulling too many ampsand there wasnt sufficient for the a/c. I was trying to come up with ways to cut back on other electrical items to give the ac all it needed.

[NH Horseman]

I would not worry about the fridge taking power. You need to worry about the water heater if you are running that on electric. I either run mine on LP or shut it off during the day. I turn it back on electric about 3 AM so it's ready when we get up at 6. AC not usually running then.

[ewbldavis]

NH...you triggered a memory. We did have breaker flip with A/C because water heater was on electric. We use gas now most of the time...but definitely when using A/C. Good point!

[Hunter11]

If you have any extra spaces in your breaker box just move the AConto it's own breaker.

[Dayle1]

Originally Posted by Hunter11

If you have any extra spaces in your breaker box just move the AConto it's own breaker.

And even if the A/C has a dedicated breaker already, make sure it is not adjacent to the main breaker. Breakers running near their rating get hot and extra heat from an adjacent breaker will lower the trip point. So, when you are running near the 30 amp limit on the main, it's heat can cause the 20 amp A/C breaker to trip, or vice-versa.

[danskool]

Won't hurt a thing plugging it into its own electric connection.
500 watts is 4.5 amps.. 500/110= 500/120 = 4.1 amps.

I installed a 50 amp gauge into one of the walls. So we can monitor.. When the AC is running 12 amps, Fridge heater 5 and the hot water tank, 8amps and toss on the tv and sat dish reciever and you are just about done. No way can we use the microwave, I was thinking about running a dedicated line to the outside 120v receptacle just for the microwave or AC

[Apilldoctor]

Thanks for all the info. Ive got the 31SB with the outside kitchen, Add another fridge, also use 2 TVs. The outside fridge is an electric only, so I will run a direct line to it. Will consider using gas for Hot Water and see how we come out this year.