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



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-25-2014, 11:18 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 18
Default Running fridge on propane and battery

Folks,
Just looking for some info. Part of trip we are thinking of running our fridge on propane and the 12v battery. If anyone has done this, I am wondering how long a tank of propane lasts and the battery too.
Since we cant shoreline from the apartment complex, thinking of the night before turning on the fridge, then in the morning, fill it and travel three hours to the campsite.
Thank you.
__________________

__________________
Ed and Sue plus the dogs, Scout and Charlie.
2009 Fun Finder 189FBR
TV 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 Extra Cab
Country is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2014, 11:26 AM   #2
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Minden, NV
Posts: 34
Default

I always run the fridge while towing. When connected to TV the battery stays charged and the propane usage is fairly low. I plug in to 120v at home a couple of days before a trip since it takes awhile for the temps to come down. These fridges run a lot better, efficiently, on gas
__________________

jtwcummins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2014, 11:29 AM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 18
Default

Thanks. Since we can not plug in at the apartment, that is why I was thinking of using propane and battery to get it starting to get cold. Then in the morning we can fill it up. Instead of packing the cooler and plugging in onsite waiting the four hours to get cold.
__________________
Ed and Sue plus the dogs, Scout and Charlie.
2009 Fun Finder 189FBR
TV 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 Extra Cab
Country is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2014, 01:00 PM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 21
Default

It will be more efficient to run the propane the night before you leave. I always run mine off the battery while I'm driving because the batteries trickle charge while your truck is running when it's all hooked up. Then when you get to your site, if you don't have hook ups, switch back to the propane.
__________________
2008 Fun Finder X-160
2013 Ram 1500 Big Horn
1972 Dodge D200
aubbenslv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2014, 01:14 PM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 47
Default

The fridge takes very little propane and battery. Mine doesn't work off power (from what I found online likely need to replace a control board), so we've been using strictly propane the last 2 seasons. A 20lbs tank (with very little furnace usage but making morning coffee on the inside stove) will last the good part of a season (30 or so nights for us) - maybe used 1.5 tanks last year total? We went for 8 days in Montana last month with no power and didn't go through a full tank and had 1/3 of a battery left when we got home (the radio was probably the biggest user of power).

I wouldn't be too concerned especially if you have a dual tank setup.
Offspring22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2014, 06:00 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mansfield Ontario
Posts: 15
Default

The fridge will run for days upon days upon days on propane. Battery is really only used for the spark ignition and the interior lights in the fridge when you open the door. ( or is the light always on, no one will ever know)
Start the fridge a day or two before then pack it up and go and have a good time.
__________________
AirZone
187FB Classic Cruiser
AirZone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2014, 02:11 AM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 31
Default

Our Dometic 2652 was a two way Propane / 110V. with 12V just on the control circuits.
We converted it to Propane / fully 12v to get around the legalities of running a 110V appliance in a 240V country...Australia.

On propane we use approx 18lbs every 8 days running the fridge, stove and hot water when Bush Camping....3-4 people ....6-8 very quick showers over a week. Water is the problem here.

On the 12V conversion the lower circuit board has two control wires just like the propane soliniod wires. I used these extra pair of wires to control a 120amp 12V relay to feed a 280watt 12V element in the furnace. This replaced the 110V element....there is two holders for the element on the furnace if you wanted to keep the 110V system.
The downside is it draws about 25 amps so to run off a battery is not really a option, this also means really heavy cables running from your starter motor battery if you want the tugs alternator to feed the fridge when driving.....in this case I would look at a 150watt element just to help hold the temp where it is.

I also replaced the top eyebrow board to a 3 way....so when you press DC the fridge says to itself....I only see 12V DC that's all I will activate.
__________________
Cheers Tony
244RBS Funfinder 2012
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3 ltr CRD
Australia
hotqld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2014, 05:39 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
guybmoto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 253
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by AirZone
The fridge will run for days upon days upon days on propane. Battery is really only used for the spark ignition and the interior lights in the fridge when you open the door. ( or is the light always on, no one will ever know)
Start the fridge a day or two before then pack it up and go and have a good time.
Yep. Using the stove and leaving the water heater on (by accident) will eat up way more propane than the fridge will. That said, I don't use the stove/BBQ often, and only use the water heater occasionally. I'll get a month or better out of almost constant use...but I also drive a lot.
__________________

guybmoto is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

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

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Fun Finder RV, Cruiser RV, or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×