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07-26-2017, 06:30 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
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Run my refrig on my current inverter
My coach has a Dometic NDA 1402 refrig powered from shore power/generator or propane. The internal refrig temp rises to unacceptable levels when driving so I'm considering powering it from my currently installed Magnum 2000 watt inverter/charger. I'm not real comfortable running it on propane when driving. Currently I'm running the generator when driving but that seems wasteful.
I have a 400 amp house battery bank, but it probably has a bit less capacity, I don't know how old the 4 AGM batteries are. 2 variables I don't know that I probably need to get is the refrig power consumption (it is on a 15 amp circuit breaker) and the output of the engine alternator - Cummins ISL 400 HP engine.
Anybody have any insight into this? I know in reading some threads here that some folks have installed a dedicated inverter, but I think my current inverter is sufficient.
__________________
Tim
Leesburg, FL '07 American Tradition 40Z Cummins 400 ISL
Towing a '14 Honda CRV Both sold
2021 Vanleigh Beacon 41LKB 5th wheel
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07-26-2017, 07:08 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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I would just run the refrigerator on propane. However, if you want to run it on Inverter your current Magnum should handle it.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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07-26-2017, 08:22 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 191
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I agree your inverter should handle that just fine. Mine has a residential fridge and had a 2000 watt Magnum with 400 amp of batteries and would go all day just fine on that. Currently I have the 3000 watt Magnum hybrid and still have the factory crap batteries with 400 amps, and 24 hours of fridge, internet, and some other drawl takes my batteries to about 50% SOC.
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07-26-2017, 08:32 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 5 miles south of Lakeville, Mn
Posts: 3,046
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Ours will run on any of the three but we use propane on the road. Why not?
__________________
Jim and Carol Cooper with Oreo the Kitty
FAA ATC ret, VFW, AL, VVA, NRA
US Army Aviation, MACV Vietnam 65-66
2012 Journey 36M, Cummings 360hp
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07-26-2017, 08:49 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cooperhawk
Ours will run on any of the three but we use propane on the road. Why not?
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There are concerns about using propane while driving and getting into an accident. There are reported cases of this happening and a fire starting.
__________________
2016 Jayco Alante 31v
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07-26-2017, 08:53 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,881
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__________________
2010 Phaeton 40QTH on a PG Chassis.
2017 Lincoln MKX.
Air Force One brake system and Blue OX Towbar.
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07-26-2017, 10:39 AM
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#7
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
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We have a 2000 watt inverter and have always run the fridge on it when traveling!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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07-26-2017, 12:42 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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Your RV style fridge will draw between 350 and 500 watts. That's 3 to 5 amps, 120 volts AC. Watts ÷ Volts = Amps
Its about 3 times as much as a residental unit, but no problem with a 2000 watt inverter.
The 12 volt input to the inverter will be 10 times as much, so 30 to 50 amps from the batteries. If at idle, your alternator may not cover all of that, and the chassis loads, but while driving, it should.
If running on propane was so dangerous, our overstepping government would have all sorts of warning labels and devices, we would need to override, prohibiting us from using propane on the road.
It's safe.
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08-14-2017, 03:43 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 55
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No! Just NO! I retired from ExxonMobil as a process operator at their Beaumont, Texas refinery so I made propane, gasoline and other flammable, explosive & carsenigenic agents for a living and, please trust me on this because I know what Im talking about here, the propane systems should be turned off and the valves on the bottles should be completely SHUT when traveling. Of all the ways there are to die, I certainly don't want to take a chance of being burned alive. Just because you've committed an unsafe act 1,000 times doesn't mean that you can get away with it 1,001 times.
How about fueling up with that big old pilot light burning away where folks are filling their vehicles? How dangerous is that?! I won't even pull into a gas station if there is another RV in there because of the many people who travel with their refrigerator running on propane.
Thanks for letting me vent here. 'Getting off of my soapbox now.
__________________
Texas State Park volunteer, school volunteer, Boy Scout leader & free range husband, Lifestyle 5th wheel & Ford F-350 dually pick-up
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08-14-2017, 04:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hartwell, GA
Posts: 240
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Make sure that the outlet your fridge is plugged into is powered by the inverter. Sometimes, they are not.
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2005 Monaco Diplomat 40PDQ
Hartwell, GA
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08-14-2017, 04:18 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,323
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It doesn't hurt anything to turn the valve off .. But it is inconvenient. While I don't share your concern over a propane explosion ( I haven't read about one explosion on the road or gas station explosion in a good long time) if it's a concern by all means turn it off. Peace of mind is good! . Here's my perspective .. I drove truck .. Sleeper team for 4 years between portland or and Denver co I saw 15-20 RV/ motorhome wrecks and helped at 4 we were there first at. No propane problems .. Ever!, that I know of but plenty of other things.50% of the ones we stopped at had fatalities RV.s are not safe in a crash. I still drive one .. Just sayin
__________________
2023 Coachmen Encore 325SS
2002 Ford Escape toad
2020 GMC terrain
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08-14-2017, 06:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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On a previous coach with gas/electric RV refrigerator I routinely traveled with the refrigerator operating electric on inverter. Was a 2400w inverter and Norcold 1200 refrigerator. Worked fine. Safer and saved on propane.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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08-14-2017, 06:16 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,807
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Sorry, running your RV fridge will not cause a "propane explosion". To have that explosion happen, the tank has to be ruptured, and there are more spark sources to worry about in that type of accident.
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08-14-2017, 06:28 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 277
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I worked for 31 years at a refinery in Port Arthur, Tx. I always travel with my fridge on propane. Turn it off while fueling.
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