Refrigerator operation while driving

Topic: Refrigerator operation while driving (Read 823 times) previous topic - next topic

Refrigerator operation while driving

July 07, 2021, 07:16:14 am

INot being the super technical type of guy...and the instructions don't really state, can you run the refrigerator on electric rather than gas while driving? If everything is operating normally your house batteries should be charging while moving anyway right? A few of my friends motorhomes require operation on propane while driving which,in my opinion, is dangerous

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #1 – July 07, 2021, 07:53:33 am

Are you running your generator while driving? If so and the fridge is set on auto it should automatically switch to electric rather than gas. Other than that you'd have to have your electric element hooked up to the inverter for it to supply power to the fridge. Then change it back when stopped so you don't run your house batteries down.
I just leave my fridge in auto and let it do its thing.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #2 – July 07, 2021, 07:55:10 am

Quote from: dicksop – July 07, 2021, 07:16:14 am

...can you run the refrigerator on electric rather than gas while driving?

Peter,

Short answer is Yes, as long as your inverter is turned on, and the fridge is plugged into a inverter powered outlet.

Alternator charges house (coach) batteries through the battery isolator. Coach batteries power the inverter. Inverter powers the fridge.

Of course, if you are running the generator while driving (to power roof air conditioners) then the fridge can be powered directly off the generator.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #3 – July 07, 2021, 08:15:33 am

I run mine off an inverted plug. I have a device on the ignition key to remind me to turn off the inverter before I turn off the engine.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #4 – July 07, 2021, 08:27:10 am

Quote from: folivier – July 07, 2021, 07:53:33 am

...you'd have to have your electric element hooked up to the inverter for it to supply power to the fridge. Then change it back when stopped so you don't run your house batteries down.

On our '93 U280, and probably on Twig's '94 coach, there were two factory installed 110V outlets in the fridge compartment. One was on a "non-inverter" circuit and the other was on a "inverter" circuit. To switch the electric power source for the fridge you could simply move the plug. I was able to do this by reaching through the (open) vent hatch (behind the fridge compartment) while standing outside the coach.

Newer coaches might not have this feature - I don't know.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #5 – July 07, 2021, 08:43:16 am

I am not sure how to check if the fridge is hooked up to the inverter. Perhaps by looking at the power draw on my Magnum 2812 when I turn on the fridge.
I am not in the habit of running the generator while driving as we do not use the AC while driving.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #6 – July 07, 2021, 08:50:03 am

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – July 07, 2021, 08:27:10 am

On our '93 U280, and probably on Twig's '94 coach, there were two factory installed 110V outlets in the fridge compartment. One was on a "non-inverter" circuit and the other was on a "inverter" circuit. To switch the electric power source for the fridge you simply moved the plug. I was able to do this by reaching through the (open) vent hatch (behind the fridge compartment) while standing outside the coach.

Newer coaches might not have this feature - I don't know.

I actually never gave any thought to the dual outlets. Been looking at them for weeks it seems like. I'll verify today . Great side note of information.
Thanks Scott

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #7 – July 07, 2021, 08:53:39 am

Quote from: dicksop – July 07, 2021, 08:43:16 am

1. I am not sure how to check if the fridge is hooked up to the inverter.

2. I am not in the habit of running the generator while driving as we do not use the AC while driving.

1. Disconnect shore power. Generator off. Inverter turned on. Will fridge run in electric mode? If it does, it's on inverter circuit.

2. Come visit the balmy Desert SouthWest during the summer (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada). You WILL use your air conditioner(s) while driving.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #8 – July 07, 2021, 09:10:04 am

Chuck
Would love to visit you guys and those states.....Now, if they open the border to us Canadians that would be great!

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #9 – July 07, 2021, 09:11:40 am

With an LP gas refrigerator the inverter outlet powers the ice maker in the refrig. The other outlet is powered by shore line or generator and if power is available there the refrig will switch to 120 v operation, if not it runs on LP. If you are not using the ice maker you can plug the LP refrig into the inverter socket and with the inverter on it will run on inverter power while driving.

If you switch to a residential refrig is should be on the inverter circuit and the inverter should be on for it to operate while driving.

Running either on the inverter uses more power, watch your batteries. Original inverters used about 5-6 amps per hour just to be on. A new Victron Multiplus uses less than 1 amp per hour to be on. Or you can add a smaller dedicated inverter for the refrig that uses even less power to be on. An LP refrig uses 120v for a heating element so size for that load. A residential refrig will state the max amp load in its specs. This is usually for a warm startup, not what it normally uses but occasionally. Our Samsung says 6 amps or 720 watts. Buy a small inverter for that load.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #10 – July 07, 2021, 11:58:03 am

So went out and verified upper white duplex is threw inverter. It is mounted ground lug up on mine. Also noted the inverter load showed 20 amp indicated draw and zero with the fridge. I put a amp meter on the fridge and it showed 3.7 amps during run. Who knows, not worried about that ball with all the others in the air. Great info though. Would consider running inverter over generator going down the road.
Scott

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #11 – July 07, 2021, 12:21:45 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – July 07, 2021, 08:27:10 am

On our '93 U280, and probably on Twig's '94 coach, there were two factory installed 110V outlets in the fridge compartment. One was on a "non-inverter" circuit and the other was on a "inverter" circuit. To switch the electric power source for the fridge you could simply move the plug. I was able to do this by reaching through the (open) vent hatch (behind the fridge compartment) while standing outside the coach.

Newer coaches might not have this feature - I don't know.

This is the best way to do it but it will only work if your ice maker is the one with it's own compressor. Unfortunately mine is not so I ran an extension cord from the microwave socket.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #12 – July 07, 2021, 12:37:12 pm

Our Norcold has a display with all the info plus it tells if on AC or gas. While on the road, I use it on gas. I will switch to AC when our inverter is on with the solar working while at a campsite but we don't leave the coach for any length of time without turning the inverter off. The fridge then automatically switches to gas. The propane usage is so small that running for a week does not move the gauge on the tank more than a needle width.

The engine heats the water heater so no need to keep it on while underway. Because of the water heater noise, we only have it on when we are going to need it.

Pierce

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #13 – July 07, 2021, 02:22:43 pm

Quote from: Twig – July 07, 2021, 12:21:45 pm

This is the best way to do it but it will only work if your ice maker is the one with it's own compressor. Unfortunately mine is not so I ran an extension cord from the microwave socket.

Funny how all the coaches can differ. Our coach had the stand-alone ice maker in the hutch across the hall from the fridge. Our Dometic gas/electric fridge did not have a built-in ice maker. The two outlets behind our fridge were both duplex outlets, so I had 2 inverter outlets and 2 non-inverter outlets to play with.

All that electric stuff was completely overhauled when we installed the residential fridge (which always runs on inverter).

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #14 – July 07, 2021, 04:20:36 pm

I normally run the inverter while on the road. I do so because I run my old Ipod classic through a 110V Klipsch MP3 player on the dash. So the fridge auto switches to AC. My fridge also switches to AC when on shore power and the inverter is off. So I guess it swings both ways on the same plug.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #15 – July 07, 2021, 04:31:25 pm

Quote from: bigdog – July 07, 2021, 04:20:36 pm

I normally run the inverter while on the road. I do so because I run my old Ipod classic through a 110V Klipsch MP3 player on the dash. So the fridge auto switches to AC. My fridge also switches to AC when on shore power and the inverter is off. So I guess it swings both ways on the same plug.

Yes mine was powered up on external then when it was shut down powered up on inverter. Upper duplex plug white that is upside down.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #16 – July 07, 2021, 04:40:06 pm

Quote from: dicksop – July 07, 2021, 07:16:14 am

A few of my friends motorhomes require operation on propane while driving which,in my opinion, is dangerous

I understand the concern, we all should make informed decisions and do what we are comfortable with. This is a topic that we will not all agree with here on the forum. I have always run our fridge on propane, traveling or parked, with few exceptions. If kept properly cleaned and serviced, it has been my experience that it cools better on propane than electric. Mostly so in the hotter climates, where the gas produces more btu's than the electric element. I know the risk and because we boondock without solar, it works for us.

The choice to travel with electric on using the inverter is a good one, or if you have the 3 way fridge, operation on 12 volt works too.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #17 – July 07, 2021, 04:43:52 pm

No issues 20 yrs. knock on wood, Snowbirding/boondocking 3 month stretch each year... turn fridge on gas when we leave home turn it off when back home.

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #18 – July 07, 2021, 04:54:38 pm

Quote from: Doug W. – July 07, 2021, 04:43:52 pm

No issues 20 yrs. knock on wood, Snowbirding/boondocking 3 month stretch each year... turn fridge on gas when we leave home turn it off when back home.

Every coach I have had in 40+ years,I leave it on gas manual, unless we are parked for a long period.Then it goes to auto mode. I don't like the gen set, making the board switch back and forth.
One also needs to ck that the flame has not gone out. Not very often, but trucks and wind can suck the flame out, even after the board tries 3 times..
Chris

Re: Refrigerator operation while driving

Reply #19 – July 07, 2021, 05:17:15 pm

Left mine on propane for 45 years. No issues

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