RE: [VAL] 12 volt refridg

["dtidmore" <dtidmore@xxxxxxx>]

Dan,
3 pair of Rolls golf cart batteries should give you about 1000amphours total
actual capacity (figure on 500amp hours so as to avoid draining the
batteries below 50%). I assume you are putting those somewhere ELSE than in
the trailer as you are talking some very SERIOUS weight.  Even with a huge
battery bank, you still have the issue that assuming you have room on your
roof for 2, 75w panels, they will be able to replace, at most, about 9 amps
/ hour of excellent sunlight.  As the Dometic 12v fridge pulls 15 amps /
hour when the heating coil is on, the only way out of the hole is hoping
that the fridge will cycle at least 50% of the time and in hot weather that
is iffy.  With a huge battery capacity as you are contemplating, you will
have 2-3 days of use even if the fridge ran 100% of the time, but the solar
panels will only be replacing a portion of the power being pulled by the 12v
fridge.  If longer term boondocking factors in, then honestly the best way
is to have a small genset, (again you need at least the Honda eu2000), to
run the fridge and charge the batteries during the day. This would also
allow you to reduce the size of your battery bank to more like a single pair
of the Rolls 6V golf cart batteries (ie about 350 amphour capacity)   

Someone else mentioned using a 12v compressor-type fridge and that is an
option, and they use less power, but they have some associated noise just as
your fridge at home.  

david