I start our two-way fridge in the spring...as I dewinterize. It runs nonstop all summer until we put it away for the season. (Last year, I had to defrost it once, but this year, I did not have to defrost it.)
Most of the time it's running on propane, because we boondock almost exclusively. When I have shore power available, I run it on electricity.
Most of the time, I "force" it to run on "gas"...settings on the fridge control panel. Why? When I run the generator while boondocking, I don't want the fridge to switch to electricity (on auto) and suck up a chunk of the generator's power while we are trying to run the microwave or similar (e.g. espresso machine - we're not uncivilized after all.
) On a small genny, this risks an overload if the fridge attempts ot start while the micro is also trying to start.
So, for 95% or more of the summer, the fridge is running on propane...non-stop. This means at our sites - where we might stay two weeks or more - on the road, and so on. When we grocery shop, I unload groceries straight from the car into the fridge, and if we bring food (in insulated bags) to the rig while in the field, the fridge is always cold and ready.
So turn on the propane and turn on the fridge. Give it at least 24 hours to get cold before loading food. Feel free to leave it running on propane while on the road.
Exceptions:
~ Certain bridges, tunnels, ferrys and so on require you to shut off the propane. No problem. A cold fridge will stay cold for many hours without propane. Just TURN OFF THE FRIDGE and then turn off the propane so your fridge doesn't continue to run and purge the lines of fuel.
~ Gas stations...for obvious reasons. The spark ignition from any propane appliance might ignite gasoline vapors under certain circumstances.
When reigniting the fridge, it's best to turn on the propane and double check that adequate propane is available by lighting a stove burner and/or the hot water heater (assuming you have water in the tank). This ensures that the fridge won't "fault" when you turn it on. Safety interlocks might not be satisfied by a proper "fire" in the fridge burner if the propane line has air in it. Normally this is not a problem, but it's always best to light a stove burner and ensure you have a solid, unfluttering flame before you try to ignite the fridge. Then listen and be sure you hear the spark and then the flame in the fridge burner.
Does this seem reckless? No. Homes run on natural gas or propane. That's the furnace, hot water heater, and other appliances. The propane tank (or natural gas supply) is always on, and the appliances run automatically unless you turn them off manually...but the fuel is always on. Home-based propane is no different than the propane you carry in tanks on your rig. The connections are the same, and so are the regulators. In the case of natural gas, the fuel is piped in from the street, through a meter, and to your appliances. There will be an emergency shut off, but otherwise the fuel is always on.
If you have a serious accident on the road and a propane tank rips loose, safety valves in the tank will shut off the supply moments after the valve detects unrestricted flow. There's far more danger of fire from the gas or diesel in your tow vehicle's fuel tank.
Can you have a bad regulator? Sure. Jayco is in the middle of a massive recall. I replaced my own for $50. It took about 30 minutes.
In short, use your fridge as you would your home fridge. Let it run and stay cold for the entire season.
Enjoy.
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