Furrion Artic 12V french door refrigerator, FCR20DCAFA, Can't turn off power to frig during storage

[eurekaclowns]

I traded in my 2021 340Rl for a new 2025 310RL.
The dealer informed me of a problem with my 340RL, the bedroom slide wall coming apart and suggested I could take it to the Alliance factory for repair or take the low trade in he was offering. Didn't want to travel 16 hours to the factory to drop off and then back to pickup so I took the trade.
When I got home I started transferring my equipment to the new 310RL.
In the process, I tried to turn off the refrigerator because it would be a couple months before we took it out.
Couldn't locate a breaker or fuse or any instructions on how to remove power to the refrigerator.
On my 340RL I had to turn off the inverter and breaker #1 to remove power to the residential refrigerator.
Reached out to Alliance and I was told to look for a yellow fuse box in the battery compartment, but without taking down a black partition I can't see if there is one located deeper in the battery compartment.
Still don't know where to turn off the refrigerator.
I am concerned that Alliance doesn't provide a way (convenient and accessible) to turn off the refrigerator when not in use.
I checked the manufacturers specs and the operating range is from 50 degrees to 110 degrees.
We live in an area that goes to zero degrees in the winter and this is outside the
manufacturers specified range for leaving the refrigerator on 24/7.
I checked the Alliance Forum and saw several refrigerator failures posted.
You have to wonder if the refrigerator was stressed due to operation outside the
manufacturer specified range while sitting on the dealers lot.
Southwest dealers could easily go over 110 degrees in the RV during the summer months.
I think Alliance should verify the operating range listed and provide RV owners a
convenient way to turn off the power to the refrigerator when the RV is not in use and to
notify RV owners not to operate the refrigerator outside the manufacturer specs.
Granted if you are using the RV in the winter, then the inside temperature should be
within specs.
This would most likely apply to winter storage.
This is my 5th RV and I have never had any issue with turning the refrigerator off when
the RV was put in storage.

I have had very good response from Alliance in the past and hope they will take action on this issue.

 

[RoadJunkie]

I am new to the 12 Vdc refrigerator and potential issues. However, my research has led me to a hypothesis: 12 Vdc Refrigerator failures are largely due to power fluctuations and repeated cycling of power to the refrigerator. They will require diligence regarding the monitoring of available power source(s); Advantage to LiPo batteries with BlueTooth monitoring capabilities. Install a manual cutoff switch to fully separate your refrigerator from any power source, solar or otherwise. When not planning to use your refrigerator, use the disconnect to assure you don't have these power stresses to the refrigerator. I can't blame the OP for being concerned about the unknown care of the refrigerator during the sales period. I only have instinct and professional experience, not data, to support these ideas.

 

[Flyer32RLS]

RoadJunkie, I don't believe that the battery cutoff switch cuts the power to the fridge. It is the one thing that is a parasitic draw on the battery. I don't worry about it as I am always plugged in. When I am not, the solar charges the battery. I was just looking my in my battery compartment yesterday measuring the size of the holding box and I saw that yellow fuze holder that was mentioned in an above post. It was inside the protective box for the battery.

 

[RoadJunkie]

RoadJunkie, I don't believe that the battery cutoff switch cuts the power to the fridge. It is the one thing that is a parasitic draw on the battery. I don't worry about it as I am always plugged in. When I am not, the solar charges the battery. I was just looking my in my battery compartment yesterday measuring the size of the holding box and I saw that yellow fuze holder that was mentioned in an above post. It was inside the protective box for the battery.

You're correct, the battery cutoff switch does not remove power to the fridge. I, and others, have added a cutoff switch that sources power directly to the refrigerator. The refrigerator power is fed through a micro relay and that is where the cutoff switch is added. I am thinking that the best reliability for the 12 Vdc refrigerator is with full timers, or those that either leave power on all the time, or add the cutoff switch. Again, it is not proven.