Propane while traveling ?

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by RogerDat

I'm puzzled. Everything I have ever heard about the older propane, or propane/electric fridges says they are really touchy about needing to be level when run, both for effective operation and to prevent damage. Pretty sure not going to stay level being towed.

The issue with not being level while parked is that the fluid might separate and gather in one spot, then the liquid would boil off and the now un-suspended solids would plug the piping and the fridge won't function at all after that happens.

While driving the agitation of the trailer going down the road prevents this effect, so it is feasible to run on propane in motion without fearing separation/boil-off/clogging.

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Darrell O

Why not flip the switch to 12v and let the battery (and alternator) run the fridge?

When you stop for any length of time the fridge needs to be turned off or you risk dead batteries. Also I have found that the high current demand of the fridge doesn't allow the trailer battery to charge as well. While there are cures for both these issues, we bring the ice chest anyway, might as well use it. Raz

[john warren]

No. i plug in the day befor i leave and bring the fridge to temp with 120 volt. when i travel i put it on 12 volt, it will hold the temp till i get where i am going. boon docking i use gas, otherwise 120volt.
if you travel with it in gas mode your tank valve is on. in case of any accident you have a potential gas leak with the dangers that involves.
if the pilot light blows out the thermocoupler will shut the pilot off anyway so thats not an issue.

[Kenny Strong]

Traveling thru Canada and Alaska, we found that our new battery would not be charged enough, to run the heater at night (cold nights). The fan would come on but the furnace would not ignite because the power was below 12volts. We shifted to running gas while traveling and had no problem again, (2 months, went above the arctic circle). We now have a 50 watt solar panel on the roof and run electrical while traveling all the time.

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by RogerDat

Not saying it don't work just wondering how well and what long term effect running while driving would have on the fridge.

This article explains it in the very last line, following a lot of information on how these fridges work.
Frederick is right on the money.

[Kenny Strong]

thanks Roy; read the article, very informative

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Darrell O

Why not flip the switch to 12v and let the battery (and alternator) run the fridge?

One of the reasons people do not like to use the 12V option on 3 way fridges is due to the *BIG* battery draw that many of the older fridges use up.

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by john warren

if you travel with it in gas mode your tank valve is on. in case of any accident you have a potential gas leak with the dangers that involves.

I thought the newer valves on the tanks automatically shut off with leaks. I know my BBQ at home would not light some times if we cranked the valve open too quickly.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

I thought the newer valves on the tanks automatically shut off with leaks. I know my BBQ at home would not light some times if we cranked the valve open too quickly.

LOL dont count on that working for you. One of my neighbors lost his home last week due to a faulty propane tank and yes it was a new one. I was sitting the border line up heading out of town when a breaking news story came on that there was a house fire up on the hill and the gave the name of the street & that it was so big it could be seen from all over Vancouver - had to phone another neighbor to make sure it wasnt my house. Good news is that no one was hurt but the house is gone.

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by Carol H

One of the reasons people do not like to use the 12V option on 3 way fridges is due to the *BIG* battery draw that many of the older fridges use up.

I wired the 12v option to my 3-way fridge for the Yellowstone trip wondering why the PO hadn't done it. Now I know! You can't have it on
For more than an hour without draining your battery and the alternator has to work to hard to use it while traveling.

Are there better 3-way fridges now?

I am using ice now because the propane flame is still in the wrong place. And I don't like having propane on all the time as a general thing.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Mouse

I wired the 12v option to my 3-way fridge for the Yellowstone trip wondering why the PO hadn't done it. Now I know! You can't have it on
For more than an hour without draining your battery and the alternator has to work to hard to use it while traveling.

Are there better 3-way fridges now?

I am using ice now because the propane flame is still in the wrong place. And I don't like having propane on all the time as a general thing.

Brooke, what gauge of wire do you have running from the tow vehicle battery to the trailer battery? If it is too small, your trailer battery won't charge due to the voltage drop, especially with the refrigerator on 12 volt option.

[Mouse]

10 gage.

Charges my battery to 13+ quickly as long as the 12v fridge is not draining the battery.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Mouse

10 gage.

Charges my battery to 13+ quickly as long as the 12v fridge is not draining the battery.

Right. The fridge draw amperage causes a voltage drop in the 10 gauge wire severe enough so that the charging voltage at the trailer battery is inadequate. It might be worth your while to add a second and/or heavier wire to allow you to run the fridge while the tow vehicle is running. You really can't run a 3 way fridge off the battery alone.

You could measure the voltage at the battery with the tow vehicle running with and without the fridge turned on (12 volts) to prove this to yourself.

Voltage Drop Calculator, Amperage Tables, Wire and Cable Technical information

[Mouse]

The fridge is connected to the battery with the recommended 14 gauge wire and it draws down the battery very quickly.

The DC option doesn't keep the fridge very cool anyway. Ice works better and it is easy. I have dedicated the middle shelf to an ice holder and it works for 2-3 days depending on the weather.

AC is best but I haven't gotten any hookup sites this trip.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Mouse

The fridge is connected to the battery with the recommended 14 gauge wire and it draws down the battery very quickly.

The DC option doesn't keep the fridge very cool anyway. Ice works better and it is easy. I have dedicated the middle shelf to an ice holder and it works for 2-3 days depending on the weather.

AC is best but I haven't gotten any hookup sites this trip.

Sounds like you have a solution that works for you.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Mouse

I wired the 12v option to my 3-way fridge for the Yellowstone trip wondering why the PO hadn't done it. Now I know! You can't have it on
For more than an hour without draining your battery and the alternator has to work to hard to use it while traveling.

Are there better 3-way fridges now?

I am using ice now because the propane flame is still in the wrong place. And I don't like having propane on all the time as a general thing.

Keeping small ice packs in the freezer while running the fridge at the campground and then just transfer then into the fridge beside dairy products & meet to keep them cold while on the road and dont open the fridge!!!

Yes some of the much newer fridges are a lot better on battery power.

[sfoss]

We leave the camper plugged in all the time, that way all the ketchup and mustard etc can stay in there. Then, although the longest trip we have made is 3 hours we just load it up and unplug right before we leave, everything stays cold and we have never had a problem. I am just not comfortable with the propane on while driving.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by sfoss

We leave the camper plugged in all the time, that way all the ketchup and mustard etc can stay in there. Then, although the longest trip we have made is 3 hours we just load it up and unplug right before we leave, everything stays cold and we have never had a problem. I am just not comfortable with the propane on while driving.

We do the same thing. The fridge is running 120 at the moment. The difference is our longest trip can be 2 days. Even then I don't worry too much about it. The fridge stays cool enough for that long, except in 90°+ temperatures.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by sfoss

We leave the camper plugged in all the time, that way all the ketchup and mustard etc can stay in there.

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

We do the same thing. The fridge is running 120 at the moment.

I also keep the trailer plugged in and the Fridge running on AC since I replaced the old original converter with one that has a smart charger. It seems to be easier to keep it cold than it is to make it cold.

[Cathi]

Carol, as you say, you can blow the place up. And a few people including yourself with it. We have no desire to take such a chance when we can use ice packs for travelling. By the way, Good Sam gets lots of calls for refrigerator fires.