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mamasnap · 10-04-2010, 09:29 PM

hi all....i am a complete novice to rv'ing. just brought our rig home last nite. a 1978 dodge delta with a fabulous green interior. just needs a disco ball.

i was told by the PO that they never really bothered with the fridge so i'm not sure if he just didn't KNOW, but he said that the fridge needs the pilot light cuz it runs off the propane tank. you don't want the pilot lite on when you are driving so you can't use the fridge while driving. this was kind of a bummer as i'd like to keep things cold enroute! then my friend with a 1985 rv saw dials at the bottom of the fridge when you open the door and the switch said "ELECTRIC" or "GAS" so does this mean that if you switch it to electric, it will just run off the battery? or does it mean that it will run off regular electricity when you plug the rig in at the campsite?

thanks!

steph

leadman · 10-04-2010, 09:43 PM

Some refigerators are capable of running on propane, 110v AC, and 12v DC. Since it is only marked gas and electric it is probably propane and 110v AC.
Put it on electric and plug in the MH and see if it gets cold. If it works you can run it off an inverter, just have to determine how much the fridge draws to get the right inverter.

mamasnap · 10-04-2010, 09:54 PM

so 110v AC meaning when the rig is plugged in at the campsite...

the rig has a second battery which needs to be charged. is that what an inverter is?

i was hoping it would run off the battery so we could use it while driving!

how much is an inverter?

leadman · 10-06-2010, 03:58 AM

Yes, the fridge is probably only 110v AC for when you are plugged in or propane when not plugged in.

The second battery is normally charged from a convertor when plugged in. The convertor is part of your fuse and circuit breaker panel normally. There is normally a solenoid or an isolator to charge the second battery off the engine alternator when you are driving.
An invertor converter 12v DC battery power to 110vAC house type current. A fridge will draw a large amount of power so you will have to determine from the specification sticker on the fridge how much and buy an inverter of the correct size.
I run my fridge on propane when driving. It has an electronic igniter, yours might have a pilot light depending on age. Be sure to shut it down when fueling the rig.

goreds2 · 10-10-2010, 08:05 AM

I had a 1976 Dodge motorhome. My Fridge had the instructions right on it to run on propane. Mine, you had to pull out a knop then keep pushing/pumping another until the pilot light would turn on. There was a glass window to look through to see it lit. I loved running on propane and drove with it on. I have read where you can run your fridge on a 20 gallon propane tank up to 30 days. Very economical. I thought it kept the fridge more cold than electric.

If you have trouble lighting the fridge pilot, light a stove top burner for about 5 minutes then turn off. This helps open up the propane gas lines.

I never ran mine on electric or 12 volt (living quarters battery). I mostly dry camped. (No water or electricity)

Make sure you fill your gasoline tank first so you do not have to worry about turning off the propane when filling up.

Note: Everyone has their own opinion concerning driving with propane on. Do your research. (Yes, I am covering my butt -

)