Inverter runs fridge when Rv is shut off

[LolliBus]

2018 Thor ACE 29.3

The Rv is parked for a week. Battery disconnect button at the stairwell is off.
We return a week later and the inverter under the fridge is beeping and flashing and keeping the fridge & freezer running with nothing in it!!
Of course, the house batteries are probably draining at this point.

why does the fridge run when everything is shut off?

There is one mysterious button on theniutaide fridge wall above the stovetop. One Rv tech said it does “nothing” . Another Rv tech from another dealer said I'd the red light is on, the fridge is on.
The red light is not on. Press the button and nothing happens either way. My wife put the note on the wall to remind us.

 

[16ACE27]

why does the fridge run when everything is shut off?

The button is not a mystery - it is the remote ON/OFF switch for your inverter. Press and hold for it to work. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/catsy.549/Manual_GP_SWR-A_Remote.pdf
Inverters are NOT powered through the USE/STORE (Master Power) disconnect.
The fridge is powered by the inverter.

 

[PS89]

Inverters are NOT powered through the USE/STORE (Master Power) disconnect.

Pay attention to this!

You have a 120 volt residential fridge. Thor installed a separate 1000 watt inverter to power it. The remote control switch turns that inverter on and off. If you want the refrigerator to run, you MUST ensure the inverter is switched ON (RED LED).

BTW, Thor did NOT document this variation in any of the schematics packages I've looked at for the ACE and WS/Hurricane product lines. Thor used both 120 volt-only as well as propane capable fridges starting back around '17 or so. You can tell which fridge a coach was built to use by looking at the outside wall behind the fridge. Gas-capable units have vent slots cut into the outside sidewall while models such as yours will have a smooth and intact sidewall.

 

[Jimbo57]

By the look of the screws and the on/off button marks that switch may not work and is maybe wired straight thru. Doesn’t the fridge have a knob to turn off fridge inside fridge.

 

[PS89]

By the look of the screws and the on/off button marks that switch may not work and is maybe wired straight thru. Doesn’t the fridge have a knob to turn off fridge inside fridge.

I have (had) the exact same configuration. I'm pretty familiar with how Thor set it up.

Removed it as part of my overall electrical system upgrade last fall. Need to find something to cover the hole in the wall where the factory mounted the remote switch.

And, yea, the fridge does have its own control inside but it doesn't control the inverter.

 

[Jimbo57]

I’m trying to understand , if the fridge has a separate inverter for fridge and the fridge is turned off wouldn’t the inverter go into standby mode if there is no demand

 

[PS89]

I’m trying to understand , if the fridge has a separate inverter for fridge and the fridge is turned off wouldn’t the inverter go into standby mode if there is no demand

The inverter simply sits there consuming its standby (idle) power draw, which is not insignificant, until the inverter is actually switched off.

 

[Jimbo57]

Thank you for info

 

[16ACE27]

The inverter simply sits there consuming its standby (idle) power draw, which is not insignificant, until the inverter is actually switched off.

Plus it's supplying the outdoor kitchen fridge and the TV's standby power while on.

 

[PS89]

Plus it's supplying the outdoor kitchen fridge and the TV's standby power while on.

That is being done by the other (primary) inverter. On these units that Thor Frankensteined to put in a residential fridge, they added the second inverter just for the fridge.

 

[16ACE27]

That is being done by the other (primary) inverter. On these units that Thor Frankensteined to put in a residential fridge, they added the second inverter just for the fridge.

The only reason Thor ever installed an inverter was to run the residential or outside kitchen fridge. Powering the TVs was just a side benefit of the inverter installation. And they only installed one inverter: 1000 watt or 1800 watt.. Most were Xantrex brand.

 

[PS89]

The only reason Thor ever installed an inverter was to run the residential or outside kitchen fridge. Powering the TVs was just a side benefit of the inverter installation. And they only installed one inverter: 1000 watt or 1800 watt.. Most were Xantrex brand.

Nope. Mine came from the factory with TWO inverters. A Xantrex under the bed and a GoPower under the drawer next to the fridge. All factory.

Went through this rabbit trail a year ago as I was "Discovering" my then recently acquired coach.

'18 29M Inverter Power for Refrigerator

Seems like every time I turn around, I end up down another rabbit trail with the electrical system on this coach. I've got three beagles and I doubt they'd be able to sniff out all the twists and turns. The lack of actual schematics is a big minus as those are what I've always relied on in the...

www.thorforums.com

 

[16ACE27]

Nope. Mine came from the factory with TWO inverters. A Xantrex under the bed and a GoPower under the drawer next to the fridge. All factory.

Went through this rabbit trail a year ago as I was "Discovering" my then recently acquired coach.

'18 29M Inverter Power for Refrigerator

Seems like every time I turn around, I end up down another rabbit trail with the electrical system on this coach. I've got three beagles and I doubt they'd be able to sniff out all the twists and turns. The lack of actual schematics is a big minus as those are what I've always relied on in the...

www.thorforums.com

Yours was the exception that proves the rule. And the only MH from Thor that has been documented here to have two inverters from the factory. Many other 29Ms only have one.

 

[PS89]

Yours was the exception that proves the rule. And the only MH from Thor that has been documented here to have two inverters from the factory. Many other 29Ms only have one.

Again, no. Kindly go read that thread IN ITS ENTIRETY. Two other owners chimed in with the same configuration. And you acknowledged it...

 

[EA37TS]

On last and current rigs there were 2 switches for the inverters. There is a power switch on the inverter itself and another on the remote control panel. For the inverter to be off both power switches must be turned off. Once the switch on the inverter is turned off it does not have to be touched again and all functions can be controlled off the remote control panel. This is not documented and was found through trial and error.

 

[Jimbo57]

This is not documented and was found through trial and error

Seems to be the Thor way

 

[16ACE27]

Seems to be the Thor way

Except Thor does not make the inverters.

 

[16ACE27]

Again, no. Kindly go read that thread IN ITS ENTIRETY. Two other owners chimed in with the same configuration. And you acknowledged it...

No, it was one other owner with the same model year and RV as you. What I said was:

Well, that's two lines of bearing on the same spot. Do your electrical diagrams on the Thor Owners Resource website show two inverters? As I recall the specs/brochure show an absorption fridge for the 18 28Ms but maybe they were transitioning to residential fridges (the large models did show residential fridges) and this was their interim measure to get power to it without an updated wiring harness? Who knows?

So a single model in a single model year with an abnormal two inverter installation does not make a standard. That instance is a deviation from the standard of a single inverter install. In fact, the thread discussed that the electrical diagrams did NOT show two inverters. IF the OP had that RV, then we could go down that rabbit hole again. But the RV of discussion in this thread is an ACE 29.3 and the point of the thread is how the fridge is powered from the batteries, not how many inverters were installed.

 

[PS89]

I don't think it was any sort of "standard". My suspicion is that, back in late '17 through '18 either Thor 1) was experimenting with an alternative to the Norcold boxes and didn't stick with it very long or 2) that they had problems getting the Norcolds and temporarily switched to the PD residential model with the second inverter until they returned to the propane boxes. I found zero '19-on 29M units for sale with this variant.

I dug down this rabbit hole last evening looking at 29M units for sale on rvtrader. I found four 29M units currently for sale that matched my installation (out of 68 '18 29Ms listed for sale). All were 2018 models and coincidentally, perhaps, Hurricanes. The three tells I found are 1) No vents in the outside wall behind fridge, 2) fridge has a stainless front, not a woodgrain finish with switches, and 3) a GoPower inverter remote switch.

So, the conclusion I came up with is that:

These units exist
There aren't many of them
They are factory
They are not documented by Thor

Make of it what you will.

 

[jawzilla]

Interesting thread, I just brought my 2017 ace 29.4 home to load up for a trip and the outdoor fridge appears to have died. On SP and The single 1000w xantrex inverter is on and has been on in storage. I checked it 3 days ago and cold as ever. It sounds like the fan is running but not cooling. Its a contoure model about 18d x 24h x 20w.

Time for a new one it appears. Now to find one that has these measurements or less.