2-way fridge questions

mikeandkim
mikeandkim Member Posts: 1
edited February 2023 in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
I'm looking hard at purchasing a 2023 T@B 400 Boondock and have a few questions about the 2-way fridge.....

1) How level does the fridge need to be in comparison with the 3-way?
2a) How long at a time will the fridge run on DC power? (I'm concerned with overnight stays in rest areas)
2b) Also, should I plug in at home if I wish to run it for longer periods?
3) Will a gallon of milk fit or only a half-gallon?
4) How many bags of frozen veggies do you think would fit in that small freezer?

Thanks!

Mike

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Comments

  • bergger
    bergger Moderator Posts: 1,077
    I don't have any specifics on that exact fridge but can give my experience based on the compressor fridge I currently have. 

    1.  Compressor fridges can run when way off camber.  The one I have will run up to at least 30 degrees off camber.  You won't have to worry at all about it not running due to the level of your T@b unless you flip it over.
    2.You should have no problems with overnight stops. However many variables will impact this to include outside temps and humidity and the temps inside the trailer.  However I can confidently say the fridge should run for several days on the single lithium battery in the trailer.  Also with the solar onboard that will help a ton during the daylight hours.  I can run mine off a Jackery 1000 for at least 4 days here in Colorado with no additional charging to the Jackery, which is a smaller battery than what is in the T@b. 
    3.  No clue on that one but what we do in our 3-way is pour milk and juice into Nalgene containers that fit well in the fridge. 
    4. You can't fit any frozen veggies in the freezer.  It only has room for ice cubs used for fireside cocktails!  ;)
    2021 T@b 400 BD  "Vixen Gail" 
    2018 Nissan Titan Pro 4X "Big Bird"
    Leadville Colorado
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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    edited February 2023
    We ran our two-way fridge overnight on battery, no issues, and battery was recharged afterwards by mid day.  The new larger 2-way fridge on the 2022 and 2023 TaB400’s have extra room.  Also, the 2023 TaB400 is fitted with Lithium batters vs the AGM used previously, which will extend the run time.  If you do no opt for,them4-battery factory battery package, add a second Lithium battery to the one battery package option, and a Victron Mart Shunt, both of which can be dealer installed.  Two 100-amp lithium batteries should give plenty of power for occasionally off grid overnight stays.  
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • Jetman
    Jetman Member Posts: 45
    Please I am a novice at this and have read the Norcold manual, no help there!

    I am used to the 3 way fridge in my old 320 that you had to set the master switch to the desired run function manually.

    Does the two way fridge distinguish by itself what power you are using ? And set itself to Ac/DC? The only manual switch I found is for the temp setting inside the refrigerator.

    help, as do not want to mess up!

    Jetman
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  • Binghi
    Binghi Member Posts: 403
    The two-way fridge is a DC appliance, even if you are running on shore power. The only adjustment is done via the manual temperature switch that you mentioned. I turn it all the way to the off position when storing the trailer; on the road, I put the temperature setting at about 2 1/2.
    2021 400 BD / 2016 VW Touareg / Austin, TX
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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    edited February 2023
    The AC/DC fridge is a step above the 3-way.  You only need to pre-cool it on AC, to save battery power, by plugging the trailer into shore power.  After it is cooled down, use it and forget it.  No maintenance, other than to keep it clean.  No power source selection, no having to have it level.  It is a compressor fridge like the one you have at home.

    Edit:  I would get a fridge thermometer to monitor the fridge’s temp, set the fridge thermostat to 2-3, depending on the ambient temperature to keep the fridge at food safe temps.
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • Mickerly
    Mickerly Member Posts: 486
    It's actually wired as 12v DC. So, whatever power source powers the trailer will power the Fridge. We also set 2.5 as the summer setting.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    edited February 2023
    Good point Mickerly, the new mode 2- way fridge, is DC only.  The original 2-way fridge did run either on AC or DC, depending on if shore power was connected.  Not sure if this fridge converted the AC to 12VDC, but it was connected to the AC mains as well as rhe DC circuits.  Still the unit was plug and play, and would auto-detect which power source was connected to the fridge.
     Cheers 
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • Mickerly
    Mickerly Member Posts: 486
    I looked back through 2018 to present. The 2-way refrigerator is wired DC only from the factory. The 3-way has a 120v CB for AC operation and a DC fuse for DC operation. Sources are the diagrams on the forum and current and historical owners manuals on the NuCamp site. Having had my 'frige out (2018), I know it is wired DC only. And there is no AC CB for the refrigerator.

    This is the preferred method of wiring the appliance. When shore power is available, it will supply 12 volt DC. When not connected the battery will supply 12 volt DC. Power is not interrupted when connecting or disconnecting external power. The appliance doesn't need to be off when connecting or disconnecting power like the Alde does.

    In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. The 2-way compressor refrigerator will always be powered when 12 volt DC is available from any source. Therefore, no switch for AC to DC. The 3-way absorption refrigerator will always work better on propane. Propane is a stronger and less expensive source of heat.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
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  • Horigan
    Horigan Member Posts: 864
    Sounds like we should just be calling them DC refrigerators, or DC compressor refrigerators, instead of 2-ways then.
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
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  • Pintoplumber
    Pintoplumber Member Posts: 187
    @Horigan I would agree. The compressor is 12 volt and the only line feeding it is12 volt.
    2016 320 CS-S  1954 Ford F100  2017 Chevy suburban  2023 Chevy Silverado 1500
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  • bergger
    bergger Moderator Posts: 1,077
    I always refer to them as compressor fridges to avoid the 12v/120v  2 way confusion.  To me a 2 way fridge is an absorption fridge that runs on either inefficient 12v or on 120v, like a 3 way fridge without the propane option. 
    2021 T@b 400 BD  "Vixen Gail" 
    2018 Nissan Titan Pro 4X "Big Bird"
    Leadville Colorado
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  • Mickerly
    Mickerly Member Posts: 486
    I agree. The words "compressor" and "absorption" should be used instead of the number of methods or receiving power.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
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  • Marceline
    Marceline Member Posts: 1,748
    Horigan said:
    Sounds like we should just be calling them DC refrigerators, or DC compressor refrigerators, instead of 2-ways then.
    Norcold does sell the AC power supply for the 2way fridge as an option (as least for the older model in my 2013 CSS).
    San Francisco Bay Area
    2013 CS-S us@gi
    2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab
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  • AndreO
    AndreO Member Posts: 80
    @Mickerly
    Interesting, my 2018 400 did come from the factory with both ac and dc connected. The ac cord was pluged into into an ac receptical under the bed. You can see it in the attached picture wich was taken before I reconfigured everything during my lithium install.

    I do however find that the fridge runs cooler on the the same setting when on ac. 



    AndreO
    Ontario, Canada
    2018 Tab 400
    Ford F150 2.7 Lariat
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  • rfuss928
    rfuss928 Member Posts: 1,185
    Pintoplumber said:
    @Horigan I would agree. The compressor is 12 volt and the only line feeding it is12 volt.
    The lower picture shows a common connection socket for a 120VAC cord in the upper right corner.

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  • Pintoplumber
    Pintoplumber Member Posts: 187
    Doesn’t  the optional 120V power supply cord reduce voltage down to 12V? It’s still a 12V compressor.
    2016 320 CS-S  1954 Ford F100  2017 Chevy suburban  2023 Chevy Silverado 1500
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  • Mickerly
    Mickerly Member Posts: 486
    Yes it does. It could have been wired for 110, but it converts to 12dc right there.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
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  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,431
    edited March 2023
    Our our Jan 2018 build TaB400 has both AC and DC connected to the Norcold 2-way fridge.  I assumed it converted the AC feed to DC to run the compressor, so it is still a 2-way power source (AC/ DC), regardless of how the appliance converts the power.  The newer TaB400s have a Isotherm Elegance 65 DC fridge installed and it is connected to the trailer’s DC power source only, so this is a DC (single lower source) fridge, and not a 2-way.  The Isotherm is also a little larger, and uses slightly less power when running, with its newer Danfoss compressor. 
    Cheers
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
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  • dnordahl1
    dnordahl1 Member Posts: 15
    Does the Isotherm require a different cabinet opening, or can it be installed as a drop in replacement for the Norcold?
    2019 Nucamp Tab 400, 2007 Toyota Tundra 4.7L, 4wd SR5

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  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/11273/replacing-norcold-3-way-fridge-with-isotherm-2-way/p1
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • dnordahl1
    dnordahl1 Member Posts: 15
    edited June 2023
    @Sharon_is_SAM Thanks for the helpful link. I believe I have the Norcold Nr751BB. Looking at the dimensions of the Isotherm Cruise Elegance 65, it has similar dimensions which would not require major cabinetry work should I ever need to replace the Norcold. It looks like the design of the Isotherm makes more sense having the heat producing components on top instead of underneath.  From what I've read they use a more efficient compressor as well.

    And I see they make a drawer version with similar dimensions though more expensive. 

    2019 Nucamp Tab 400, 2007 Toyota Tundra 4.7L, 4wd SR5

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  • Mickerly
    Mickerly Member Posts: 486
    The Norcold Nr751 (T@B400) and it's little sister the Nr740 (T@B320) both use the Danfloss compressor, just like the Isothrem.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
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