Community Forums

abe low · 11-26-2006, 07:05 AM

Does anyone have figures for propane consumption while running the refrigator? Assuming average outside temp of 70, 10 cu ft size, not on the sunny side of the rv, and door not opened. Assume the unit is stored full of food while gone for a week with no electric hookup.
Thanks.

abe low · 11-26-2006, 07:05 AM

Does anyone have figures for propane consumption while running the refrigator? Assuming average outside temp of 70, 10 cu ft size, not on the sunny side of the rv, and door not opened. Assume the unit is stored full of food while gone for a week with no electric hookup.
Thanks.

dieselclacker · 11-26-2006, 08:54 AM

I do not know the rate of consumption for LP on your refrigerator, but as for the one week run time you are inquiring about, you should have no problem what so ever. Ihave gone 21 days in our motorhome that is equipped with a 10 cu ft, plus some use of the kitchen stove, and water heater. The big consumer of propane is the furnace.

Dieselclacker

Bushman512003 · 11-26-2006, 10:24 AM

7gallons in about 2weeks in Yuma last winter or 30LB tank full and that was some cooking a furnance run for a few cool mornings and hot water for the dishes.And the Fridge ...Bushman

RV Wizard · 11-26-2006, 01:51 PM

We would need more info to calculate the exact amout you will consume but to give you a good estimate if all you ran were the ref. on a 30# tank it would take almost a year to consume all gas.

Paul Heuvelhorst · 11-26-2006, 02:42 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by abelow:
Does anyone have figures for propane consumption while running the refrigator? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
RV Wizard's answer is probably most accurate. Others replying are using far more propane to heat water, cook and heat the RV than the refrigerator would ever consume. The flame on the reefer is like a pilot light and consumes very little propane.

jspande · 11-26-2006, 02:42 PM

RV Wizard, I think you're mistaken about the propane usage. I believe a 10 ft refrigerator will go through a 30# tank in about a month. I determined that a while ago by measuring the power used on electric, which was 5 kw-hr per day in moderate weather. Furthermore, I noticed the specs for a Serval model which was 1/4 gal per day.

Absortion refrigerators are terribly inefficient, and I wish RV manufacturers would consider 12 volt compressor models, like Tundra, coupled with solar panels.

TXiceman · 11-26-2006, 04:55 PM

Just a propane fired refrigerator shoudl be able to run for better than a couple of months on a 30# bottle. Heating water and frig is easily a month on a 30# bottle for us.

Ken

Gary RVRoamer · 11-27-2006, 04:57 PM

Lots of variables here - how good are the door seals, what inside temperature is set in the fridge, any direct sun on the wall containing the fridge, etc. But in my 10 years of RVing experiences, I'd say a month of fridge (only) on a 30 lb (7 gal) bottle would be on the very short end of typical and several months more likely. Stored, with the door closed all the time, should be toward the long end of the range.

gordon23 · 12-11-2006, 04:41 PM

I wondered why I only fill my 20 gal tank once or at the most 1 1/2 times a season.

Specs say I have an 86lb tank. We do use the furnace a fair bit tho.... so maybe it's a good thing.