|
09-22-2019, 01:44 AM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challanger
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 13
THOR #16793
|
refrigerator power
I just picked up a 2020 Thor Challenger and can not figure out how to shut down the refrigerator while my unit is not in use
__________________
|
|
|
09-22-2019, 02:59 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 KC's Big Box
State: Kansas
Posts: 2,171
THOR #3510
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dice
I just picked up a 2020 Thor Challenger and can not figure out how to shut down the refrigerator while my unit is not in use
|
I have no idea if your refrig is like ours in our 2016 Axis. However, on the front of fridge is a little panel...with a slider...on .. off .. temp control ..
when it is on...with shore power it glows green
when it is on while driving down the road it is green with an amber light under the green light...that means you are running on propane.
So...when you arrive home...if you are shutting down completely..nothing in fridge...turn to the off position...open the doors, after wiping down interior..again if like ours..there is a little slider on both doors which hold doors open when not in use to prevent mold from forming in fridge.
Hope this is helpful ! and if not...someone on this Forum will reply who has the same unit as you !
Have fun !
__________________
Ron & Kay n KC too !
2001 Scamp 13'
'KC's Little Box'
Jeep Wrangler TJ
|
|
|
09-22-2019, 01:09 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31D
State: Virginia
Posts: 137
THOR #5638
|
I'm going to guess you're looking at a SS Whirlpool residential model since as VKB posted the absorption type normally has the controls on the exterior front and can be completely shut down via the controls.
This isn't so much an RV thing but how residential models are being designed with the only way to shut down is to unplug. When you think about it how often does the average homeowner actually turn off a frost free fridge? Once a year to clean it? Moving day? Never?
Anyway, you probably can't unplug without removing the fridge so your only option might be is to trip the power breaker. Which brings you to the next step in confusion as the breaker for the fridge is probably not part of the house breaker panel and more likely on the inverter or a sub breaker panel the inverter powers. You'll need to dig a bit deeper to determine how your coach is built or another Challenger owner will post exactly where the breaker is.
And don't forget to keep the doors slightly open otherwise, only need an inch or so, or you could have a mildew problem next time you use the coach.
__________________
2006 Hurricane 31D built on a 2006 Ford F53
|
|
|
09-22-2019, 02:21 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 35SF
State: Missouri
Posts: 738
THOR #2020
|
If, in fact, you are referring to a residential refrigerator, we turn ours off by turning off the inverter. In reality, the only thing that does is to turn off the light because we do have an on/off switch in the cooling area that turns off all cooling/freezing functions.
__________________
|
|
|
09-22-2019, 07:52 PM
|
#5
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
Welcome to our campfire!
It might help to list your brand and type of refrigerator...
__________________
|
|
|
09-23-2019, 01:00 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 31W
State: Minnesota
Posts: 209
THOR #14057
|
Residential Fridge
Seeing as you have a Class A, I’m assuming you have a residential refer like we do in our 31W. To turn ‘off’ the refer to NOT cool, there is a control knob inside of unit to turn OFF cooling while on shore power during resting for next journey. No need to unplug the fridge from inverter. We turn ON inverter when driving to run/cool our fridge. When plugged into shore power in our driveway, we turn on fridge the day before departure (turn on the dial inside the refer)to get it ready for our provisions.
Hope this helps
__________________
Jay ‘JJ’ and Patti ‘PJ’
Both Retired
Chloe - fur baby
FMCA F496287
|
|
|
09-23-2019, 02:02 AM
|
#7
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 35MQ
State: Florida
Posts: 45
THOR #12430
|
Just picked up a 2020 Challenger myself and had the same issue. The fridge is powered by the inverter at all times and is not disconnected by the use/store switch. To kill the fridge you have to turn off the inverter. However, from the factory the inverter is set to always on. To change this and control the inverter on/off from the remote panel below the touch screen, you have to turn off the power button on the physical inverter screen inside the storage bay (button up for off).
__________________
|
|
|
09-23-2019, 02:44 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 31W
State: Minnesota
Posts: 209
THOR #14057
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wdconnors
Just picked up a 2020 Challenger myself and had the same issue. The fridge is powered by the inverter at all times and is not disconnected by the use/store switch. To kill the fridge you have to turn off the inverter. However, from the factory the inverter is set to always on. To change this and control the inverter on/off from the remote panel below the touch screen, you have to turn off the power button on the physical inverter screen inside the storage bay (button up for off).
|
That is insane that they would do that. We have a Whirlpool Residential fridge. It is powered by shore power and cooling when the dial INSIDE the fridge is set to ON, no inverter needed, which is handled by the atf. When we are driving or boondocking THEN we turn ON the inverter to power the refer.
Inverter converts 12vdc to 120vac from your house/coach batteries , to run refrigerator (in residential case, microwave, and maybe outlets for tv etc) while not connected to shore power. Converter takes 120vac to 12vdc to power interior lights and any other 12volt systems in the coach while connected to shore power.
__________________
Jay ‘JJ’ and Patti ‘PJ’
Both Retired
Chloe - fur baby
FMCA F496287
|
|
|
09-23-2019, 02:56 AM
|
#9
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 35MQ
State: Florida
Posts: 45
THOR #12430
|
The inverter is actually always in play and passes through 120 when on shore power. You are correct you can turn off the dial inside the fridge but the power is still there and will kill the batteries after a period of time. I believe the factory is setting these newer coach inverters as always on by default because most walkthroughs are spending time on setting up and using auto gen start.
__________________
|
|
|
09-23-2019, 03:25 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 31W
State: Minnesota
Posts: 209
THOR #14057
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wdconnors
The inverter is actually always in play and passes through 120 when on shore power. You are correct you can turn off the dial inside the fridge but the power is still there and will kill the batteries after a period of time. I believe the factory is setting these newer coach inverters as always on by default because most walkthroughs are spending time on setting up and using auto gen start.
|
Yes the power is still there to inverter and fridge dial is off. How is this gonna drain batteries? I have my rig parked in driveway for 30 days on shore power with battery use on , fridge dial off between trips. No battery drain. 13.4vdc
__________________
Jay ‘JJ’ and Patti ‘PJ’
Both Retired
Chloe - fur baby
FMCA F496287
|
|
|
09-23-2019, 04:01 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31S
State: Texas
Posts: 4,153
THOR #6411
|
With most Xantrex and Magnum inverters, you cannot turn off the inverter if there is 120 volt power to the inverter. If you are only using battery power, the inverter can be turned off. When you start the generator or plug in the coach, the inverter will come on automatically. My Xantrex can be programed to turn off automatically when the 120 volt power is removed from the power center.
__________________
Jim & Roy Davis
2016 Hurricane 31S
1961 Rampside in tow
|
|
|
09-23-2019, 12:21 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 32A
State: Florida
Posts: 1,873
THOR #2829
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJMON
Yes the power is still there to inverter and fridge dial is off. How is this gonna drain batteries? I have my rig parked in driveway for 30 days on shore power with battery use on , fridge dial off between trips. No battery drain. 13.4vdc
|
Battery won’t drain when connected to shore power and use switch on... the converter is charging/maintaining the batteries.
The issue would be battery drain without shore power... If frig is turned off by the dial, then door should be propped open - and interior light would be on draining the battery...
__________________
Greg
Not yet retired...
Florida (Michigan transplant)
2014 Hurricane 32A
2000 Infinity (previous)
|
|
|
09-24-2019, 05:52 PM
|
#13
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challenger 35MQ
State: Florida
Posts: 45
THOR #12430
|
That's correct - inverter on, fridge dial off, door propped - light still on.
__________________
|
|
|
09-24-2019, 06:31 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31S
State: Texas
Posts: 4,153
THOR #6411
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wdconnors
That's correct - inverter on, fridge dial off, door propped - light still on.
|
In my Whirlpool 21 ft residential fridge, the light in the fridge goes out after about 75 seconds. By the way, Fridge is 3 years old and has a 3.6 watt LED bulb.
__________________
Jim & Roy Davis
2016 Hurricane 31S
1961 Rampside in tow
|
|
|
09-24-2019, 07:18 PM
|
#15
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
So I guess that this isn't how you fix the problem?
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
|
|
|
09-28-2019, 09:01 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2011 FW Hurricane 33T
State: England
Posts: 1,263
THOR #16471
|
Guess it is just a statement...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dice
I just picked up a 2020 Thor Challenger and can not figure out how to shut down the refrigerator while my unit is not in use
|
One post statement, must not have been a question, eh?
Stay cool
__________________
|
|
|
09-29-2019, 03:00 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Thor four winds SF 35
State: Texas
Posts: 179
THOR #13025
|
Our residential refrigerator has the controls inside. Or you can turn the inverter off.
__________________
|
|
|
09-29-2019, 10:47 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1 KC's Big Box
State: Kansas
Posts: 2,171
THOR #3510
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beau388
In my Whirlpool 21 ft residential fridge, the light in the fridge goes out after about 75 seconds. By the way, Fridge is 3 years old and has a 3.6 watt LED bulb.
|
that is by design...our light in refrig of the Axis does the same..
__________________
Ron & Kay n KC too !
2001 Scamp 13'
'KC's Little Box'
Jeep Wrangler TJ
|
|
|
10-06-2019, 06:04 PM
|
#19
|
Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Challanger
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 13
THOR #16793
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dice
I just picked up a 2020 Thor Challenger and can not figure out how to shut down the refrigerator while my unit is not in use
|
Thank you all it seems the inverter is the answer
__________________
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|