Refrigerator Not Cooling

Originally posted by StephenH BUT a lead-acid charger will not fully charge a LiFePO4 battery. The charging profile is different. Charge voltage is 14.2-14.6V according to my manual. Also, there is no float charge with LiFePO4 batteries because they have a very slow self-discharge rate. Disconnected, one could expect it to hold the charge over a year. The Bulk/Absorption/Float modes of the stock lead-acid charger are not correct.

This is why I was careful to say "best practice" was to install a DC/DC converter for alternator charging.

That being said, if I were converting to Li right now I think I would get two of the cheapest 100AH batteries I could (there are some for under $300 each on Amazon), install a new ac converter (an excuse to go to Progressive Dynamics because I've had a very poor experience with WFCO), get or reset my solar charge controller for Li charging, and try the alternator charging as is.

That would give me two solid charge sources set up for Li, and one marginal one as backup while driving. Most automotive alternators regulate voltage to around 14V, so if there isn't a large load causing high voltage drop on the house batteries (like the absorption fridge on 12V) the charging should be at least fair, although they won't reach full charge.

I would also relocate the batteries to the interior of the trailer rather than spend the extra money and waste energy with the self heating type sitting on the tongue. But I'm a cheapskate so I'm not necessarily recommending this approach for everyone.

I've been looking online at Dometic 110E fridges and found a couple of sources on Ebay for less than $900. Which naturally makes me wonder why so cheap? I've made a couple of inquiries to find out why they're such a bargain. Last year's model? 

Also note that many (though certainly not all) LFP batteries have built-in voltage regulators such that you can connect them to a plain vanilla lead acid charger without harming them.

Hogone, any progress with your fridge issue?

Originally posted by mikeyg2347 This all sounds like more fun than I deserve.

+1. There's something to be said for just renting an RV, house, cabin, or hotel room while vacationing. Maintenance and repair are Somebody Else's Problem. But owning and RV, like owning a home, comes with plenty of maintenance/repair burdens. If you don't enjoy that or at least get enough benefit from ownership to justify the cost, work and hassle then better to just rent.

For myself, I'm going to think long and hard about all that before I buy another RV, if I ever do.