Do you keep fridge running on LPG while driving?

[mel s]

erator

Originally Posted by CountryFit

you are correct, mel. 120v for fridge on main panel is on, but the power outlet at the back of fridge reads 3v. not sure why no power there as microwave works so inverter is working....

CountryFit
Your inverter may not have anything to do with the operation of your refriferator.
In many (most?) coaches the refrigerator receptacle is not powered by the inverter, (only when there is shore or generator 120VAC power).
While driving on the road the only way to operate the refrigerator in my coach is with LPG, (unless I run the genset)....but I can run my microwave on inverter power.

If you have shore power and the refrigerator receptacle reads only 3V that needs to be corrected.

BTW, if the fridge receptacle is dead you can test the 120V operation of the fridge, and it's automatic switching, by plugging it into an extension cord that's plugged into shore power while it is running on LP.

Good luck.

Mel
'96 Safari

[TdogKing]

We've been RVing over 30 years and have always run ours on propane on the road.

[DonDee]

Yes.

[CampDaven]

Yep. They were made for it.


Dave and Nola - RVM1

[CountryFit]

Originally Posted by mel s

erator

CountryFit
Your inverter may not have anything to do with the operation of your refriferator.
In many (most?) coaches the refrigerator receptacle is not powered by the inverter, (only when there is shore or generator 120VAC power).
While driving on the road the only way to operate the refrigerator in my coach is with LPG, (unless I run the genset)....but I can run my microwave on inverter power.

If you have shore power and the refrigerator receptacle reads only 3V that needs to be corrected.

BTW, if the fridge receptacle is dead you can test the 120V operation of the fridge, and it's automatic switching, by plugging it into an extension cord that's plugged into shore power while it is running on LP.

Good luck.

Mel
'96 Safari

mel, i plugged in 110v at the back access door to fridge, the indicator on front panel stayed at ac, which was good. but, somehow the compressor didn't kick off, looks like i need to dig in more on this.

another thought is to run on solar-inverter. i am thinking the compressor might consume just a little power, maybe 50-100 watts? if so, with a small mod, the inverter 120v power can be provided to the fridge, then the fridge will be full time on ac.

thoughts?

[TBS-POPS]

Originally Posted by TdogKing

We've been RVing over 30 years and have always run ours on propane on the road.

Ditto here..... Since about 1968 propane always on while traveling.

[Gordon Dewald]

Did a quick check on the web. Ontario allows travel with propane on but all propane appliances are required to be turned off while refueling the vehicle.

In Ontario anyway it appears to be your choice.

We travel with it off as we feel we do not need it on. Beer is cold and steaks are frozen at end of day.

[Possum]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

Did a quick check on the web. Ontario allows travel with propane on but all propane appliances are required to be turned off while refueling the vehicle.

In Ontario anyway it appears to be your choice.

We travel with it off as we feel we do not need it on. Beer is cold and steaks are frozen at end of day.

OK now fess up. In Ontario beers and steaks left outside 65% of the year are cold and frozen. I know I usta live there about 600 miles northwest of Trauna. Twenty or so years ago I moved to Bring Cash.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by CountryFit

mel, i plugged in 110v at the back access door to fridge, the indicator on front panel stayed at ac, which was good. but, somehow the compressor didn't kick off, looks like i need to dig in more on this.

another thought is to run on solar-inverter. i am thinking the compressor might consume just a little power, maybe 50-100 watts? if so, with a small mod, the inverter 120v power can be provided to the fridge, then the fridge will be full time on ac.

thoughts?

CountryFit
You could do that.
However, there's a reason that most RV refrigerators aren't wired to operate on power from the inverter....(they draw quite a lot from the house batteries).
An "absorption refrigerator", (like your Dometic RM1272), running on LPG 24/7 uses very little battery and not much propane.

May I ask why don't want to simply run the fridge on LP when you don't have shore or genset 120V power?
That's what I do, (and I expect most other boondockers do as well).

BTW, absorption refrigerators have no compressor, (nothing kicks off, or on, or makes a noise when they are operating on 120VAC).

Mel
'96 Safari, 132k miles, (mine since '01)

[Tony Lee]

Arch, even one fire was too many for me to take the risk!

What about one crash too many. Do you leave the RV in the driveway so as not to take that far bigger risk.


Yes, I travel with the fridge running on propane, and the inverter running, and the furnace running if it is cold, and the generator powering the AC if it is stinking hot and the dash AC can't cope.

And I wear my seat belt at all times and the rig is fully insured.

[CountryFit]

Originally Posted by mel s

May I ask why don't want to simply run the fridge on LP when you don't have shore or genset 120V power?
That's what I do, (and I expect most other boondockers do as well).

BTW, absorption refrigerators have no compressor, (nothing kicks off, or on, or makes a noise when they are operating on 120VAC).

Mel
'96 Safari, 132k miles, (mine since '01)

hi mel, cost of lp is minimum, not my concern. my major concern is the fire from lp/fridge after seeing so many fire incidents. maybe i am overreacting... the fact that quite a number of users are opting resi fridge, which has no propane, and overwhelmingly happy about the swaps, could explain. since my fridge rm1272 is relatively new, if i am just using the ac function (shut off lpg supply), it should be as safe as resi fridge... i could be wrong, and my mind could change as well

[mel s]

Originally Posted by CountryFit

hi mel, cost of lp is minimum, not my concern. my major concern is the fire from lp/fridge after seeing so many fire incidents. maybe i am overreacting... the fact that quite a number of users are opting resi fridge, which has no propane, and overwhelmingly happy about the swaps, could explain. since my fridge rm1272 is relatively new, if i am just using the ac function (shut off lpg supply), it should be as safe as resi fridge... i could be wrong, and my mind could change as well

CountryFit
Far more houses catch fire every day than RVs.
Nothing or no place is safe.
A % of people that go into the hospital don't get out alive.
I know that a lot of people die in bed, (but I don't sleep on the floor).
If everyone worried about everything that might happen nobody could enjoy anything.
Mel
'96 Safari

[alpha99]

Yes, we ran the fridge on LP the entire time during our month long 5,000 mile trip last summer and we'll do it again this summer. After all that and many more trips and running the heater some during the winter I'm still at 1/4 tank. Time for the annual propane fill, lasts at least a year for us.

[RTegarini]

I like living life on the edge, so yes, over the years of owning four RV's with both Dometic and Norcold brands, I've always ran the refrigerators on LP while traveling. I do try to remember to turn it off while refueling and in California, I'm required to turn it off going through tunnels.

Knock on wood, I've never had any kind of failure with any of them.