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Old 05-30-2015, 06:22 PM   #1
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How long will fridge run on dc

How long does the battery last powing the fridge while driving. Was hoping to prepack fridge and run it off the battery for our trips.
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Old 05-30-2015, 06:31 PM   #2
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The fridge will suck the battery dry in short order. just run it off propane when traveling. turn it off when fueling,

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Old 05-30-2015, 06:32 PM   #3
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If the engine is running the battery get charged. If you just have a hourly lunch break you don't have to worry. The Fridge must be 3 way 110-Propane and 12 Volt
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Old 05-30-2015, 06:35 PM   #4
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Just put the deposit down on our 16 xbr today. Pretty sure it has one of those
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Old 05-30-2015, 06:41 PM   #5
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12 volt operation of a 3-way reefer must produce a lot of heat to cool the fridge. Maybe newer ones are more efficient that ones made in years past but the older older ones were known to not only discharge a trailer battery but also the tow vehicle battery as well. The alternator couldn't keep up with the amp draw of the fridge.

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Old 05-30-2015, 06:52 PM   #6
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More likely the 16 xrb would just have the two way Fridge (110 and propane)
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Old 05-31-2015, 02:23 PM   #7
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Ok so propane or frozen water bottles after precooling the fridge over night before the trip. The Wife thinks running propane while driving is kinda scary so I may just use the frozen water bottle trick. Farthest out we have planed is arou d 4 to 5 hours away from the house.
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Old 05-31-2015, 02:49 PM   #8
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O The Wife thinks running propane while driving is kinda scary
More do run on propane while traveling then don't. We've been doing it since 1977.
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Old 06-01-2015, 05:17 AM   #9
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4 to 5 hours on the battery won't kill it I don't think. Also running on propane is done all the time, so I think your pretty safe.
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Old 06-01-2015, 06:00 AM   #10
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I don't bother running the fridge in transit.


Precool the fridge for 2-3 days before your trips. Gas absorption needs more than overnight to settle in fully.


Make sure all of your stuff is already cooled down.


If need be shove a ice pack or two into the refrigerator side just before setting out.


The box is insulated enough where things will be OK for 4-5 hours as long as the door is not opened.


If you are doing an extended stop for lunch, then get the trailer as close to level as possible and run it on propane while stopped.


I'm rather paranoid about open propane cans while driving.
The battery charge feature of tow vehicles is small and only meant to keep the breakaway battery topped up.
As everyone else has mentioned, trying to run a fridge on 12V is a loosing proposition.
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Old 06-01-2015, 06:28 AM   #11
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You might find this to be helpful:
http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...des-12201.html
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Old 06-01-2015, 06:32 AM   #12
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More do run on propane while traveling then don't. We've been doing it since 1977.
Ditto since 1979. That's what propane reefer is made for.
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Old 06-01-2015, 06:38 AM   #13
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Ditto since 1979. That's what propane reefer is made for.
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Old 06-01-2015, 06:41 AM   #14
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Ditto since 1979. That's what propane reefer is made for.
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More do run on propane while traveling then don't. We've been doing it since 1977.
This is one of those topics where there are many differing opinions on refrigerator operation and traveling. Many opinions are based on what they have heard somewhere rather than based on facts and understanding.

Myself, I always travel with the refrigerator running on propane. Even while refueling there is not an issue. If you understand that gasoline fumes are heavier than air and settle toward the ground. Additionally, the flame in the refrigerator is 4 feet above the ground and 20 feet away.
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Old 06-01-2015, 08:07 AM   #15
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What about the need to keep the fridge level during operation?


All that sloshing from acceleration, braking and turns; up and down hills can't be good for distilling ammonia out of the water and having it condense and fall back down through the correct tubes...


Give me the science behind operating a gas fridge out of level and I just might start running it during transit.


I'm still not comfortable with leaving the propane tanks open while on the road, though.
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Old 06-01-2015, 09:13 AM   #16
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What about the need to keep the fridge level during operation?


All that sloshing from acceleration, braking and turns; up and down hills can't be good for distilling ammonia out of the water and having it condense and fall back down through the correct tubes...


Give me the science behind operating a gas fridge out of level and I just might start running it during transit.

That actually helps it operate. The need to have it level, when stationary, is so the ammonia/water mixture does not settle into a low spot in the tubes where it can not circulate back to the boiler.
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Old 06-01-2015, 10:14 AM   #17
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Neat!


I can't trust just one person's opinion (my problem, not yours) so I did some more digging in teh intarwebs and found this on another RV site: The RV Doctor: RV Absorption Refrigeration - Cooling Unit Facts, Faults and Fixes


"Let’s take a detailed look at the boiler section and what can happen if the refrigerator is run off-level while the coach is parked. Keep in mind, the problems associated with off-level operation pertain to either forms of heat applied to the boiler, burning propane or electricity; and only when the RV is not moving. Running the refrigerator while driving eliminates the leveling issue altogether; in most cases, there is enough rocking motion while traveling down the highway to keep the contents flowing through the system without the fear of overheating."


So, as people have mentioned, it is perfectly OK to operate a gas absorption fridge while underway.


So much for my preconceptions and prejudices!


Now to get over my fear of having the propane system on. Or just connect a 1500W inverter (my fridge is 2-way).
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Old 06-01-2015, 10:42 AM   #18
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Neat!


I can't trust just one person's opinion (my problem, not yours) so I did some more digging
No problem with that. I am basically the same way with many things and that is how you learn.
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Old 06-02-2015, 04:13 AM   #19
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More likely the 16 xrb would just have the two way Fridge (110 and propane)
My 2015 is this way (propane and AC only). I like the fact that I can run the fridge on propane, as I do not have the luxury of plugging in the fridge into AC a few hours before the trip; I live in a community where the homeowners do not allow overnight parking of a camper or RV. Besides, my driveway is on a slant, so it would not be level enough to do that anyway.

I just have to remember the procedure to "bleed" the propane so that the refridge will start on propane! The first couple of times I would try to get the water heater to start when we arrived at the campsite, it took forever for me to get its pilot light to ignite. Then I read here that you need to turn the propane tanks valve open slowly, wait a few minutes, then ignite the inside stove burner to verify the propane is flowing, turn that off, and then you should be good to go in getting the regrigerators propane to work up at its panel, or the hot water heaters pilot light to ignite.

Paitience and procedure!
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