Refrigerator use while driving

[Wylie]

I’ve seen many posts by people leaving the propane on while driving. I’ve done it many times. I want to drive about 5 hours w/o propane on. Will the freezer stay cold enough on this trip? I’m in Arizona traveling from Mesa (over 100 degrees) to the Grand Canyon (85 degrees). Do the house batteries keep the fridge on or does it shut down? 2022 Chateau 22E. Absorption Fridge.
Thanks!

[ghnl]

Why?

Some RV fridges do run on 12V. If you're driving and the engine's alternator also keeps the coach battery charged it should run fine on 12V for 5 hours. Most currently sold RV fridges do need 12V to power the electronic circuitry for propane operation.

If you're insistent on keeping the freezer cold with the fridge 'off', fill it up with blocks of ice and keep the door(s) closed.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Wylie

I’ve seen many posts by people leaving the propane on while driving. I’ve done it many times. I want to drive about 5 hours w/o propane on. Will the freezer stay cold enough on this trip? I’m in Arizona traveling from Mesa (over 100 degrees) to the Grand Canyon (85 degrees). Do the house batteries keep the fridge on or does it shut down? 2022 Chateau 22E. Absorption Fridge.
Thanks!

Cold enough for what? Absorption fridges barely keep ice cream frozen and you want to have it sitting out in 100+ degree heat for over 5 hours?

Your fridge either needs 120 VAC or propane to cool. It does not cool using 12 VDC. So either leave the propane on or see if the generator will run for 5+ hours in that heat.

[Jimbo56]

Originally Posted by Wylie

I’ve seen many posts by people leaving the propane on while driving. I’ve done it many times. I want to drive about 5 hours w/o propane on. Will the freezer stay cold enough on this trip? I’m in Arizona traveling from Mesa (over 100 degrees) to the Grand Canyon (85 degrees). Do the house batteries keep the fridge on or does it shut down? 2022 Chateau 22E. Absorption Fridge.
Thanks!

Why not either leave the propane on. Or run the generator?

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by Wylie

I’ve seen many posts by people leaving the propane on while driving. I’ve done it many times. I want to drive about 5 hours w/o propane on. Will the freezer stay cold enough on this trip? I’m in Arizona traveling from Mesa (over 100 degrees) to the Grand Canyon (85 degrees). Do the house batteries keep the fridge on or does it shut down? 2022 Chateau 22E. Absorption Fridge.
Thanks!

Using propane while driving can result in liquid getting into the vapor line.
I have a 12V fridge anyways, but our last RV had tri-fuel one, LP,12V,120V, and was a fickle beast. I like the 12V only-

So my advice is use the 12V while driving and LP when parked if needed. Typical consumption is 40W/hr, so a lot depends on your battery wattage. I have 7250Wh (600AH), so I can go a long time on battery only.
Generator is ok to run but is very inefficient if your engine is charging the house batteries as you drive, Generator uses same fuel as chassis engine and is 40X more 'dirty' than chassis drive train. Big reason I have large battery pack is no generator to fuss with. Too much maintenance and issues for me.

[ducksface]

Yes,
If you turned the vehicle on its top and waited long enough for the safety valve to rot away due to time it might be a problem with liquid propane in the supply line.

There is no reason other than possibly an arbitrary traffic-tunnel rule back-east somewhere to EVER EVER turn off your fridge other than potentially running out of propane or battery while stored.


There is no reason on the road from the valley to the grand canyon.

If this is due to spousal pressure and you're turning it off no matter what we say;
Treat it like an ice chest.
Do what you would for an ice chest to make the trip.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Technically his absorption fridge uses either 12v DC AND propane... or 120v AC. To run off propane it also needs 12 volts... although VERY little power from 12 volts, just enough for the control board.

Our absorption fridge works great... although we NEVER purposely travel to areas where temperatures are excessive... 60s to 80s fahrenheit is our sweet spot. While traveling our fridge runs on AC powered by the inverter. At night it runs off propane. It's ALWAYS on and fridge stays in mid 30f range, and freezer 0f to 10f.

IMO, larger than dorm size 12 volt refrigerators are still not efficient enough for my needs. Once cooled, our absorption fridge sips propane and uses a trickle of battery power. It uses more power on AC, but that's at night when the door is never opened. ANY compressor fridge will use more power... the only advantage is it initially cools faster.

But the initial question of leaving the fridge on while driving? Before we had an inverter ours was still always on. Some folks may be afraid of using propane while driving... in which case just use the generator. But if you're in Death Valley type temperatures, I'd STRONGLY suggest leaving it on... and on the coldest setting possible.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Mark54

Using propane while driving can result in liquid getting into the vapor line.
I have a 12V fridge anyways, but our last RV had tri-fuel one, LP,12V,120V, and was a fickle beast. I like the 12V only-

So my advice is use the 12V while driving and LP when parked if needed. Typical consumption is 40W/hr, so a lot depends on your battery wattage. I have 7250Wh (600AH), so I can go a long time on battery only.
Generator is ok to run but is very inefficient if your engine is charging the house batteries as you drive, Generator uses same fuel as chassis engine and is 40X more 'dirty' than chassis drive train. Big reason I have large battery pack is no generator to fuss with. Too much maintenance and issues for me.

Running absorption fridges in RVs for 25+ years myself and with my father for another 20+ years and have never experienced any issue with liquid propane in the gas distribution system while traveling - old wives tale.

And the OP's fridge is only a 2 way fridge, it has no 12 VDC cooling capability.

[RV Driver]

Originally Posted by ducksface

…There is no reason other than possibly an arbitrary traffic-tunnel rule back-east somewhere to EVER EVER turn off your fridge other than potentially running out of propane or battery while stored.

AMEN.

I have not turned my propane off for YEARS, other than when refilling the tank. The fridge runs on propane while we drive (150,000 miles so far, in the same coach) and on 120 VAC when we hook up to shore power. Never a moment’s problem.

We turn the fridge on the day before a trip. We turn it off after we empty it when we get home.

[Jimbo56]

Originally Posted by RV Driver

AMEN.

I have not turned my propane off for YEARS, other than when refilling the tank. The fridge runs on propane while we drive (150,000 miles so far, in the same coach) and on 120 VAC when we hook up to shore power. Never a moment’s problem.

We turn the fridge on the day before a trip. We turn it off after we empty it when we get home.

We’ve done, and still do, the same. Never an issue.

[dkoldman]

If you had a blowout tire and a gas canister to aid in the repair, would you delay until you got home?

When I was a newbie, I use to fall for all of the scare tales. There are many I have Norcold Absorption that I just love.

1. When new I always had it on propane when traveling. Then I was falsely spooked worried about driving, turning off for tunnels, and even at gas stations.
2. As I learned more, I made a mod to wire my Norcold to the Inverter Circuit. I chastised WBGO for not doing so as OEM and they cited RIVA as their reason. I did it anyway. It has been great.
3. So for 4 years My Norcold is ALWAYS on GAS/ELECTRIC Mode. When traveling the Inverter is on and it pulls off batteries being charged by alternator
4. Not only would #3 work for you, but if I am driving in Arizona with 100 degree temperatures, my Generator would be ON anyway. My generator is very efficient. It creates the exact same output as Shorepower. I honestly cannot tell the difference in gas usage when it runs or not. It is negligible cost.

With all that said and all those options, I would NOT hesitate to run my fridge on propane while driving. Our fridge is running 24/7 on every trip no matter what or where we are.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by ducksface

Yes,
If you turned the vehicle on its top and waited long enough for the safety valve to rot away due to time it might be a problem with liquid propane in the supply line.

I still have not had any problems. Maybe I didn't wait long enough?

[ducksface]

At .6gph for a generator
And an rv doing 60mph.
Kick your speed up to a realistic 75 in a 75...YOU SAVE A FORTUNE


Figure for fuel mileage on our generator.


Figure whatever the hell part of a gallon of propane a fridge uses in a week....


Either discussion is just words for words sake and has no place in the reality of rv reality.

If someone doesn't run their generator after doing this math....

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by ducksface

At .6gph for a generator
And an rv doing 60mph.
Kick your speed up to a realistic 75 in a 75...YOU SAVE A FORTUNE


Figure for fuel mileage on our generator.


Figure whatever the hell part of a gallon of propane a fridge uses in a week....


Either discussion is just words for words sake and has no place in the reality of rv reality.

If someone doesn't run their generator after doing this math....

Throw into the equation this real world scenario. Yesterday I drove 6 hours in 90ish degree temperatures. My AGS was running to kick in on thermostat calls and my genny may have run a total of 2 hours, so that is well under 1 1/2 gallon of gas when I may have used a total of 100 gallons. That Chump Change even for someone like me that enjoys to save money. I am working hard to hit 500 hours on my genny by the end of the year. I am running out of time as the temperatures are soon to get cool, plus I just added that damn 300ah Lithium battery that is going to take away some precious hours off that genny. Wow... it is good thing I don't have solar as it could be worse

[The Gritz Carlton]

I have the 3-way Norcold. I never shut if off unless to defrost for 3-4 hours every 6 months or so. It stays on 24/7...even in driveway while plugged in to my 50A. Never had any issues in any scenario. It runs on 12V while underway, LP with engine off and coach unplugged and 120V while plugged in. Over 8,000 miles through 29 states in last two years up and down the steepest grades out west. Zero issues.

[taylorbob1]

Our Norcold is a 2-way (120v or Propane)
- While driving, we usually turn-on the inverter so that the fridge can run on 120v
- When plugged into shorepower, it’s on 120v
- When BoonDocking, we switch fridge to Propane (even though we have solar, we save our batteries to use our inverter for powering TV & DISHnet)

[MJC62]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Running absorption fridges in RVs for 25+ years myself and with my father for another 20+ years and have never experienced any issue with liquid propane in the gas distribution system while traveling - old wives tale.

And the OP's fridge is only a 2 way fridge, it has no 12 VDC cooling capability.

ACE gets the cigar. My father ran his absorption fridges in his travel trailers in the 60's and those were the old school ones you had to light manually. We have been running our fridges on propane rolling down the road since we bought our first RV in the 90's.

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

One of the first things we did after the purchase of our THOR ACE was to install a 1000W inverter to run the refrig, while driving. (no inverter installed from the factory on this one) It mounts nicely over the battery and I manually turn it on and off as needed.

I now have the option of propane, inverter AC or the GENSET AC (SHORE) to cool my refrig. while driving. It Keeps the freezer about 10 deg F. As soon as i am plugged into the pwr at our RV site. I switch to SHORE PWR.

For a typical 3 to 4 hr drive to our destination, i switch to INVERTER on my RV. This works great and i think the refrig only requires 300-400 watts to run.

The other line coming out of the inverter supplies a separate plug under the dinette.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Since I upgraded to lithium batteries and a 3k inverter, the fridge propane is a non issue. Driving and boondocking the fridge always runs off AC. The only time on propane is at night. Before the inverter I ran on propane all the time.