Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > RV SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES FORUMS > RV Systems & Appliances
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-14-2024, 08:53 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 21
3 way fridge more consistent temp on 110v vs propane?

So I have a 3 way fridge and I usually use propane but in the night the fridge gets down to 30 degrees which id say is too cold and when I wake up I have to manually turn up the temp dial. Is running it on 110v any better in keeping the fridge within acceptable cooling temps?
brianka is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 12-14-2024, 09:07 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28,351
Propane and electric use the same thermistor/same thermostat

Propane can be better heat source (transfer of heat to boiler) then Electric
But both should control temp based on temp setting

What setting are you using when it get down to ~30*F?
What setting are you changing it to?

Brand/Model of Fridge?????
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Old-Biscuit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2024, 09:11 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 21
It’s the norcold fridge in my trailmanor. I usually put the dial right in the middle and it stays around 38-39 during the day (60-70degrees outside) but during the night it gets way too cold.
brianka is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2024, 09:33 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Old-Biscuit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28,351
Move the setting up before going to bed........

Or try 120V Setting and see how temps react
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
Old-Biscuit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2024, 09:55 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2024
Location: Grand Mesa, Colorado
Posts: 1,021
From the owners manual...

Dometic: “Always operate the refrigerator on electric power at altitudes higher than 5,500 feet.”

Norcold: “Norcold recommends that you operate the refrigerator on AC when at altitudes higher than 5,500 feet above sea level.”

We live above 5,500 feet in elevation and use 110V electric power when it's available, not based on the above recommendations, but due to it's cheaper than propane and we don't have to drive over 60 miles round trip from our home for refills as often. Boondocking and towing we exceed the manufacturer recommendation of 5,500 feet in elevation about 99% of the time. Sometimes while boondocking by double their maximum elevation propane usage limit. We run on propane, unless we start up the generator, then it automatically switches over to 110V. Warm startup of the refrigerators we run on propane due to it cools down faster from what I've been told.
MooseCountry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2024, 10:05 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Rexlion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 927
It's just the way this type of fridge works. X degrees cooler than ambient, more or less. So when ambient temp rises or falls quite a bit, so does the fridge temp. I have never noticed an appreciable difference in this behavior between LP and electric on my Norcold.
__________________
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

19' ETI Escape trailer
Rexlion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2024, 10:14 AM   #7
US1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,240
Could it be that during the day you are opening the fridge often, where as at nite it’s always closed? The gas fridges in our last 2 RVs were very finicky keeping the temps consistent from normal use. The less they were opened, the colder they stayed
__________________
2017 Fleetwood Bounder 36Y
2024 Chevy Equinox RS AWD
Roadmaster tow gear
US1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2024, 10:56 AM   #8
Senior Member


 
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Bohemia NY
Posts: 1,984
Quote:
Originally Posted by brianka View Post
So I have a 3 way fridge and I usually use propane but in the night the fridge gets down to 30 degrees which id say is too cold and when I wake up I have to manually turn up the temp dial. Is running it on 110v any better in keeping the fridge within acceptable cooling temps?
Absorption refrigerators respond much differently to the thermostat as compared to compressor types. To begin with the temperature sensor i typically attached to the cooling fins of the refrigerator. It is not sensing the actual interior or food temperature, just the fins. As such the box and food temperature is drastically affected by door openings and food packing and placement. That also effects freezer temp.

Then there is the physics of how it works. Refrigeration is performed by a heat source heating, boiling a chemical mix. When the thermostat turns off, cooling will continue until the heat source and boiler reservoir cooldown. Then the thermostat turns back on there is a time lag for the system to heat up and for cooling cycle to start again. As this turn on is often associated with door opening there can be a significant rise in temp before the cooling system recovers.

Usually the sensor is simply clipped onto the cooling fins. If so you can try relocating it maybe onto the rear of a rack and then see if that helps the swing.
__________________
Dennis
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
d23haynes57 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2024, 11:28 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
SteveJ.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: America's Seaplane City.
Posts: 1,295
I used an Inkbird 12 volt digital thermostat to control 12 volt power into the fridge. This maintained a nicely tight temperature hysterias as compared to the factory setup.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mounted inside the fridge utilizing the water drain to run the wiring.
__________________
1998 Safari Trek 2480, 7.4 Vortec, 132k miles
'15 Kawasaki Versys650LT, well farkled, 111k miles
Mid Flowriduh
SteveJ. is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fridge, propane



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
At least Newmar is consistent PanJH Newmar Owner's Forum 22 09-07-2020 11:21 PM
Air from dash A/C vents not consistent for Adventurer 35U TigeDuner Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 11 09-25-2019 08:18 AM
Norcold was consistent 37* but now it's consistent 45* KimoJames RV Systems & Appliances 7 07-21-2018 07:42 PM
No 110v from shore .... Generator 110v OK Fred420 Monaco Owner's Forum 18 03-23-2012 06:39 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:42 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.