the dog house get's a new refrigerator

[DanielBoondock]

On 8/27/2026 at 12:23 PM, Wayfinder said:

I am just starting my research on a new fridge.  I also have the old Dometic 3-way fridge in Hull #110. It still works, for the most part, but cannot get it to go to level 5, only runs up to level-4.  Have not search on that yet. Works great until cabin gets warm.

I would think the Nova kohl R5810  or similar fridge really should be powered by Lithium batteries.  I'm not yet ready to upgrade to Lithium as my Lifeline AGMs are still quite new and great shape (2024).

Not sure if I could just live with a portable Lithium box for the fridge, when needed on drive days.

Thoughts?

Do you actually use a freezer compartment? The Dometic they're installing now (or the '26's at least) have a removable one, and its much better as now I have room for taller stuff. Annoying that jams, pasta sauce and the like doesn't fit anywhere except on their side otherwise. I also have a Dometic CFX5 75 in the truck for when we need more stuff. The compartments are individually settable via Bluetooth or front panel, to freezer/fridge. Being an EV there's lots of power in the bed, I have a portable battery plugged into that which tops off when we drive, and powers the cooler otherwise. I got this on sale but there's equivalent cheaper ones 

 

Anyhow the other advantage is no more ice buildup since its just a fridge now. On the downside, their design is for moisture to collect on the top area (former freezer) and it drips down which is annoying. This is actually their design ... anyhow easy to 3D print a collection tray and funnel it to the drain hose which I'll do at some point. 

 

I believe (can check if you're interested) a Dometic NRX 130C with dark stainless front. Freezer compartment is removeable as mentioned, it has a latch which props it open when unpowered to keep airflow going through it. Really a nice fridge I like it

 

Edited Sunday at 03:11 PM by DanielBoondock

[jd1923]

On 8/27/2026 at 12:23 PM, Wayfinder said:

I would think the Nova kohl R5810  or similar fridge really should be powered by Lithium batteries.  I'm not yet ready to upgrade to Lithium as my Lifeline AGMs are still quite new and great shape (2024).

Better stay with a 3-way fridge, unless you're plugged in. Running on DC overnight takes too much power for AGM batteries.

3 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

Do you actually use a freezer compartment?

We do, and it must stay below 10F to keep my Qt of ice cream cold! Glampin' right?! 😎

We also make ice! Two of these fit in one corner of the Dometic freezer, taking very little room. I refill one each night so we always have ice available for those adult beverages!

https://www.amazon.com/Molds-Silicone-Trays-Large-Square/dp/B0771YDNCY/

3 hours ago, DanielBoondock said:

I also have a Dometic CFX5 75 in the truck for when we need more stuff.

@Ronbrink was first to have one of these in his TV. Like you, he has the dual-zone CFX which is great!

At first, I didn't want to use the space, but I went with the single compartment CFX5 45L which just fits in this space by the passenger door. It's so nice always having cold water with us, and not only in the cabin.

Often when traveling, we buy a load of meat from a local farm or butcher shop. I'll remove the drinking water, set the CFX5 down to freezer temps to carry the box full of frozen meats, yum!

Some people go to museums. That's not us. We shop the great local food markets. Leaving to SW Colorado this Wednesday! With both fridges half empty, our first stop is always the Delores Market! 😍

[dewdev]

@mossemi

I just tried running my (original 2018) 3-way Dometic Refigerator on DC batteries.

When I did, the charger/inverter ran the entire time. Made for too much noise when trying to sleep.

Do you notice that as a problem in your installation and/or how did you eliminate that issue?

 

Edited Sunday at 07:51 PM by dewdev

[jd1923]

6 hours ago, dewdev said:

@mossemi

I just tried running my (original 2018) 3-way Dometic Refigerator on DC batteries.

When I did, the charger/inverter ran the entire time. Made for too much noise when trying to sleep.

Do you notice that as a problem in your installation and/or how did you eliminate that issue?

Mossey replaced his over a year ago, so these days he could let you know how noisy the new Nova Kool is on DC.

Given you have the 3-way Dometic (we have the same model), if you have it truly set on DC the inverter does not need to run. First push it to AUTO and then sensing 120VAC from the inverter it will automatically switch to AC. Then push the other button to switch from AC to DC. The DC light should then be ON.

I have very good hearing and the Dometic fridge on AC or DC barely makes a sound, most people would not hear it. When running on LP you can hear a slight clicking sound when it's lighting the gas and then it too should run awfully quiet. The absorption fridge should be quiet in all three modes. Low noise is the only benefit of having absorption vs. a compressor fridge (and LP of course).

Running the fridge on inverted AC is such a small load, about 1A on 120VAC (10A on DC), you should not hear the inverter unless your sleeping above it there would be a very light hum. The only time I turn off our inverter because of noise is if our LiFePO4 batteries are very low and the inverter is in full charge mode, producing full out 120A DC. Full out charge should be easy to hear, but when merely running the fridge, not.

Noisy inverter, or a noisy 3-way fridge? It could mean there is an issue creating the noise.

Is the sound coming from the fridge, your inverter, or both? Make sure your fridge is actually on DC, turn your inverter OFF if you have to and see if the noise is still present in DC mode.

Edited Monday at 02:26 AM by jd1923

[DanielBoondock]

5 hours ago, jd1923 said:

We also make ice! Two of these fit in one corner of the Dometic freezer, taking very little room. I refill one each night so we always have ice available for those adult beverages!

https://www.amazon.com/Molds-Silicone-Trays-Large-Square/dp/B0771YDNCY/

Oh that’s a good idea, don’t know why I didn’t think of it. The one thing I miss about the freezer is having ice cubes, I’ll keep ‘em in the cooler. I need a bigger buffer battery, the small Jackery runs out overnight. I can tell the truck to stay on and power it for however long but its overkill

Quote

 

Ronbrink was first to have one of these in his TV. Like you, he has the dual-zone CFX which is great!

At first, I didn't want to use the space, but I went with the single compartment CFX5 45L which just fits in this space by the passenger door. It's so nice always having cold water with us, and not only in the cabin.

 

I got a small dedicated drink cooler behind the drivers seat with soft drinks for the road, but my full sized Montague folding bike has been going there now. 

We eat a lot of veg and good stuff isn’t always available. Four of these store in the fridge part of the cooler, two in the Oliver and eight of the smaller ones also in the Oliver. They have little packets that capture - I think it’s C02, which wilts vegetables. Cut cabbage for example will literally keep for weeks without wilting or browning, its amazing. Anyhow great way to organize the veg

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-GreenSaver-Produce-Keeper/dp/B00TO8X0BA

[jd1923]

42 minutes ago, DanielBoondock said:

Oh that’s a good idea, don’t know why I didn’t think of it. The one thing I miss about the freezer is having ice cubes, I’ll keep ‘em in the cooler.

We need my good friend, our friend @Geronimo John to chime in!

He showed us an ice maker he travels with and I purchased a larger unit which we now use everyday at home (use distilled water to minimize cleaning).

Still planning on the Oliver Rally this year, though I missed registration (have a campsite). 😎

We're bringing the icemaker with us for sure, for campground wanderers that need hydration!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09133YZL4/

Edited Monday at 01:39 AM by jd1923

[DanielBoondock]

9 hours ago, jd1923 said:

He showed us an ice maker he travels with and I purchased a larger unit which we now use everyday at home (use distilled water to minimize cleaning).

Glamping, who said glamping? 😄

My camper is stuffed, explaining the 700 lb tongue, because I want it 'always ready' to go. Partly because if we get a wildfire or other emergency we can leave in 10 minutes. Also so that I don't have to bother packing for each trip, so we've got cold weather, hot, mountains, coastal, desert gear. Anyhow there's definately no room for an icemaker, though when I took my ice trays out I did toy with the idea 😄

The one appliance I did compromise on is this

 

Both a toaster and a small oven, gotta have toast. Fits in the electrical cabinet above the stove, on the side don't have to take it out. Unfortunately not available anymore ..

[Wayfinder]

Yeah, I like having a freezer for ice and a good ice pack for the back & neck. 

Looks like the Nova fridge uses a lot less power at about 4.5A on 12v.  My old 3-way burns at least 10amps on DC, but my 4 good AGMs sustain that all day, with Solar coming in.  I'm estimating that the Nova, without a freezer, might run on a Jackery 1000 for approximately 30 to 35 hours.

I always travel with at least one of my Jackery 1000s portable power units, for among other things, running my 12v Truma Cooler that I either carry in the cab of the truck or in the camper itself. The Truma cooler runs at least two days on that portable power unit, and I seldom charge past 85%, depending how hold I want things and the ambient temps.

I'm estimating that the Nova, without a freezer, might run on a Jackery 1000 for approximately 30 to 35 hours. But that remains to be seen, and weather dependent. 

In theory, and if I put my money where my mouth has been, I'll be retired in 122 days.  (Fine, yes, I'm counting)

[mossemi]

@dewdev

Krunch says that I am deaf, so I’m not a good judge of noise.  The Dometic Penguin AC does not bother my sleeping either!  
I don’t know which inverter you have, but I never ran our OEM Dometic refrigerator on our OEM Xantrex inverter and I have never run the Nova Kool on inverted 12v DC.  I always thought it was a waste of battery power to invert the 12v DC to AC, to power anything that was capable running on 12v DC.  The microwave was one of the few appliances that we run with the inverter.  
jd1923 brought up an very good point, verify that you are actually powering the refrigerator from you 12v batteries without running the inverter.

I am currently working on a Victron MultiPlus II installation and so I can’t test your scenario in 'the dog house'.

Mossey

Edited Monday at 07:08 PM by mossemi
Add additional info

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, mossemi said:

I am currently working on a Victron MultiPlus II installation...

😍 Love it! The Dog House is certainly getting high-tech. Love to see your take on this one with all of your great Mods!

Mike/Mossey, I hope to meet you at The Rally!
(Your hull graphic should be easy to find.)

[DanielBoondock]

8 hours ago, Wayfinder said:

In theory, and if I put my money where my mouth has been, I'll be retired in 122 days.  (Fine, yes, I'm counting)

189 here 😅

If you have an Apple watch there’s an app that puts it up as a widget (complication?) At this point fun to watch it count down, very soothing …

[mossemi]

20 hours ago, jd1923 said:

I hope to meet you at The Rally!
(Your hull graphic should be easy to find.)

I am looking forward to meeting you as well and 'the dog house' graphic may be gone by then.  I need to get a replacement.

Mossey