Running LP/AC fridge on inverter while traveling?

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by wmiii

I'm a little confused???
I leave my inverter on most all the time and run the refrigerator off it. And what ever else .
Am I not supposed to do that and run off propane?

Wm

Your not " supposed " to do it either way, that's up to you, but if your dry camping, the fridge, running on inverter power, will draw 35 to 45 amps.

That will run down your batteries in a few hours.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Soppy

I run mine off my inverter when the engine is running and the battery is above 13 volts. On my fridge I can select AC , LP or auto. I leave it in the AC mode and the fridge will not switch to propane when power is lost. The main reason for using the inverter while traveling was to automatically turn off the fridge if we parked in an off level situation.

What brand of fridge ?

I'v had a Dometic and now a Novacool. Both only have Off, Auto or Gas. They don't have an AC switch.

[wmiii]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Your not " supposed " to do it either way, that's up to you, but if your dry camping, the fridge, running on inverter power, will draw 35 to 45 amps.

That will run down your batteries in a few hours.

Yep, understand about dry camping. I was talking about traveling.

Wm

[Mark_K5LXP]

I don't like the idea of running on propane while under way so my usual way of working it is at the outset of a trip I'll plug into shore power the night before and let the fridge get to temp. Then load it up full of frozen and cold items and leave it plugged in right until we leave. Then I just unplug and go. These fridges are pretty well insulated and I can go the better part of a day unpowered and it stays plenty cold. Maybe in Arizona during August this isn't a viable option but the more that's in the fridge the slower it will be to warm up. A thermometer monitoring the interior temperature will show just how long you can go unpowered and if you have the room, some ice in the fridge will keep you going for some time. Back in my popup camper days I could easily go a whole weekend on a couple bags of ice and cooler, I don't see that an RV fridge is all that different.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[Soppy]

Originally Posted by twinboat

What brand of fridge ?

I'v had a Dometic and now a Novacool. Both only have Off, Auto or Gas. They don't have an AC switch.

My fridge is a Norcold . Not sure what model . I has Off, Auto , LP & AC .

[Cassy]

I have used my Norcold on propane for almost 3 years continuously and never turned it off.

[THenne1713]

From my experience w/ traveling, we precooled, kept it closed and turned on LPG ONLY when stopped to eat; if we also ran GEN, it auto-switches to GEN; stayed plenty cold in our 1500 mile 1-way trip. I did forget one time to turn LPG OFF and even bought gas (once) w/ LPG ON, before I realized and felt lucky I did not blow up. Personally, IMHO, wud NOT worry w/ Inverter.

Originally Posted by Bullitt6283

I have always run the 2-way fridge on propane while traveling. There have been some observations that this is a bit risky.

So, in my usual mode of overthinking everything, I am wondering if I can run the fridge in AC mode with the 1000 watt inverter while driving. It would require a minor bit of rewiring the rat's nest behind the power center. The AC heating element of the fridge pulls about 300 watts. This would equate to about 25 amps on the DC side of the inverter, so the loads look OK since this is a Class C and the wiring is heavy enough and the alternator should (?) be able to keep up.

The inverter has a transfer switch in it, so if I am hooked to shore power or running the generator the fridge would run on AC power directly.

Am I missing something?

[jcussen]

Originally Posted by THenne1713

From my experience w/ traveling, we precooled, kept it closed and turned on LPG ONLY when stopped to eat; if we also ran GEN, it auto-switches to GEN; stayed plenty cold in our 1500 mile 1-way trip. I did forget one time to turn LPG OFF and even bought gas (once) w/ LPG ON, before I realized and felt lucky I did not blow up. Personally, IMHO, wud NOT worry w/ Inverter.

You got it, but if no shore or gen power, inverter would supply battery to run the fridge. If you find yourself in this position for any time, best to switch to LPG.

[Bullitt6283]

Originally Posted by twinboat

I use a Yandina battery combiner to control a 10 amp 120 volt relay with a 12 volt activation coil. Got it on Amazon.

When the combiner sensed 13.3 volts, it sent power to the relay coil, closing the 120 volt contacts.

I built it in a plastic electrical box with a short extension cord that was cut in half.

I plugged the fridge into one end of the cord and the other end of the cord went into the fridge outlet. Inside the box, the ground and neutral passed thru the box and the hot line was switched by the relay.

I tied in the 12 volt for the combiner to the fridge 12 volt positive connection. Then the combiner and relay ground went to the negative fridge 12 volt connector.

It was built with male and female plugs so it could be easily bypassed. Just pull the plugs and plug the fridge back in like normal.

I ran across the Yandina Combiner before but I had not thought of this interesting use.

Well Done.


Combiner 160 Sheet

http://www.yandina.com/acrobats/C160Data.pdf

.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by Bullitt6283

I ran across the Yandina Combiner before but I had not thought of this interesting use.

Well Done.


Combiner 160 Sheet

http://www.yandina.com/acrobats/C160Data.pdf

.

I tried the Cyrix 100 combiner but it wouldn't combine unless it senses some battery voltage on both sides.