I've been measuring the electrical usage of our Norcold 8 cu ft 12 volt frig (N8DC) for the last couple of weeks. We're at home and it has been hot. The rig is parked outside in direct sunlight with daytime temperatures well over 100 and nights in the 80s. For the last three days, daytime temps have dropped into the 90s. With the exception of one day, I've run the A/C at 85 degrees. The frig is empty. It has been maintaining a frig temp of right around 40 and a freezer temp around zero. e.g. Right now it is 40.8 and -3.2.
So my experience with this frig is:
* In normal weather it consumes about 1/2 of a 100 amp battery per day;
* When it's real hot (100+) it consumes 1,080 watt hours per day or about 84% of a 100 amp battery;
* When it's moderately hot (90s) it consumes 714 watt hours per or about 56% of a 100 amp battery.
So during this time of very hot and hot temps in direct sunlight the frig consumed an average of 1029 watt hours per day.
jor
Good info. Thanks, Jor!
Jor ,to be clear, how are you measuring the power consumed by the fridge, since both solar and battery ( & converter, etc?) would be contributing sources? I am not really familiar with your installation. Do you have some sort of energy consumption monitor hooked to the fridge?
Steve
Do you have some sort of energy consumption monitor hooked to the fridge?
Yea. I wired a little monitor to measure only the current used by the frig.
I am not really familiar with your installation.
I'm using only solar.
jor
Nice! Very useful info, thanks!
Steve
Clarification to:
I'm using only solar.
The rig is plugged into shore power so I can run the A/C but the converter is not on.
jor