Community Forums

Rich_in_Tampa · 06-28-2009, 07:40 PM

Kind of a naive question here from a new MH owner, but just checking...

New MH is stored in a lot with no power but batteries should be in a decent state of charge from the generator about an hour a week.

The Goal: depart for a trip with a cold fridge.

The plan: set the fridge on propane the night before and turn it on to start cooling down. I understand that the propane will do the heavy lifting (cooling) but the coach batteries will be needed intermittently to ignite the compressor, whatever. There will be no external power to the MH. Fridge will run for less than 24 hours before we hit the road.

My Paranoia: I will run the batteries down by doing this.

My Reality Check: this is exactly what you do when boondocking. No problem.

Just looking for some reassurance that my reasoning is sound and I am not overlooking anything. Thanks for any suggestions.

gene409 · 06-28-2009, 08:19 PM

Hi Rich and welcome (like i have been here awhile). I have been doing what your talking about for years with no problems ever. My coach uses the ignitor to start the fridge and once the propane fires and i can hear the pilot on its good to go. Your batteries shouldn't even know it happened so to speak. The fridge will run for a looooong time on very little propane.

Go for it!

REWahoo · 06-28-2009, 08:35 PM

Rich, gene is correct. Only a tiny amount of battery drain to run the fridge on propane.

Have a great trip!

Rich_in_Tampa · 06-29-2009, 07:08 AM

Thanks.

Got this short trip for July 4, than a 10-dayer later in July to the Smokeys and we're getting our routine down better and better with each outing.

wa8yxm · 06-29-2009, 12:46 PM

If you have a decent set of batteries.. You will be good to go

The fridge, running on propane, should draw less than one amp per hour. if you have a group 24 battery, at one amp per hour it would last over 24 hours. if you have a pair of U-2200's (or T-105's or other golf car designation) you have over 100 hours at 1 amp draw.

Brigadoon · 06-29-2009, 06:15 PM

We do the same thing before we head out on a trip except we start the frig 2 nights before leaving. I like the freezer to be making ice before we leave. It has no apparent impact on our battery charge.

Rich_in_Tampa · 06-29-2009, 07:24 PM

Good to hear we are on the right track. We'll turn her on Wednesday eve for a Thurs mid-afternoon departure. I installed my TST sensors already, so we are good to go.

REWahoo · 06-29-2009, 08:31 PM

Rich, let me know how the TST system works out for you. That's about the only semi-big ticket aftermarket purchase left on my wish list. You aren't towing are you?

Rich_in_Tampa · 06-29-2009, 08:37 PM

Not towing yet. It's inevitable once we have more time to tour - setting up a rental car at some of these out-of-the-way destinations is a nuisance. My commute is a Prius which I can't tow 4 down, and I don't feel like trading it in.

Are you towing?

REWahoo · 06-30-2009, 06:31 AM

Yep. I already owned a "bankruptcy special", a 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx - my commuter car before retiring. By chance it happens to be towable 4-down and has worked out great.

Well, there was the one time I took off with it still in park, but I didn't go far...

Rich_in_Tampa · 06-30-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo

Yep. I already owned a "bankruptcy special", a 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx - my commuter car before retiring. By chance it happens to be towable 4-down and has worked out great.

Well, there was the one time I took off with it still in park, but I didn't go far...

Yeah, I'd get a junker if it weren't for the cost of liability insurance here in paradise. Of course, with 4 vehicles in this 2-person household I might qualify for the fleet discount.

kenyonman · 06-30-2009, 07:13 AM

Rich, have you thought about a small solar pannel. I have one that pluggs into the cig lighter, and with the minimal useage from the fridge it should keep everything charged. Mine cost $40. at the RV parts store, and I believe it was an excellent investment. K-man

Rich_in_Tampa · 06-30-2009, 08:42 AM

My Itasca came with a single small solar panel. I question whether it does anything other than slow the battery drainage a tiny bit but I guess it won't hurt.

Unfortunately in this case, most of the needed fridge cooling period will be overnight, so solar may not add too much.

Blue Ribbon · 06-30-2009, 12:32 PM

Note: Frig runs off house batteries and if you plug a solar panel into cigarette lighter, it charges the chassis battery, so won't do any good when running the frig.