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Fred2 · 09-30-2015, 11:21 AM

Has anyone rewired the refrigerator to electric via the inverter while traveling. We have gone up to 10 hours on the road and all gets hot without cooling. The LP or electric option works fine when still, but not while traveling.
We have ordered a 2016 30' Classic for the spring and want to modify it before delivery.
thanks

AWCHIEF · 09-30-2015, 11:26 AM

Still under warrenty? Your fridge should work fine using gas underway.

runnersg · 09-30-2015, 11:40 AM

Mine always gets hot on LP while traveling. Very frustrating

paiceman · 09-30-2015, 11:52 AM

We have run every RV for years and this new one is no exception on LP while moving.

HowieE · 09-30-2015, 11:57 AM

Unless there has been a change in the law your frig should work on gas while o the road.

Are you seeing a "check" light when you stop indicating the gas has failed?

jdalrymple · 09-30-2015, 12:20 PM

Ours gets warm while traveling and running on propane.

I have about decided it simply doesn't stay lit.

I have come to believe it lights, runs until it blows out, re-lights, and then repeats.

Just enough not to give an error on the display.

Regards,

JD

HowieE · 09-30-2015, 12:36 PM

I guess the first question that needs to be answered is how well does the frig working on gas, while parked, compare to it working on electric, while parked.

If they are similar then we have to figure a way to record the run time ratio while on gas and traveling.

The first thing that comes to mind would be a 12 volt LED light visible from the TV that is wired across the gas valve. That light should not go out unless the proof of flame circuit detected a blown out flame.

AtomicNo13 · 09-30-2015, 12:37 PM

Maybe check your regulator pressure. If it is low, your fridge will not cool well!
It should be cold, even while in transit.

**GCinSC2** · 09-30-2015, 01:57 PM

JD

Not sure what your rig is, but is it one that needed the baffle shroud recall work done on it?

Mine stays lit on the highway.

Gary

HowieE · 09-30-2015, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

JD

Not sure what your rig is, but is it one that needed the baffle shroud recall work done on it?

Mine stays lit on the highway.

Gary

Interesting point. While the recall shroud did not address flame blow out it would be interesting to know if the original flame cover is in fact in place. Without that you would have blow out problems.

jdalrymple · 09-30-2015, 02:15 PM

Our refer cools fine on both fuels when parked.

It has all the baffles in place and is unmodified.

Just a contrary pain the butt.

Regards,

JD

AnnArborBob · 09-30-2015, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred2

Has anyone rewired the refrigerator to electric via the inverter while traveling. We have gone up to 10 hours on the road and all gets hot without cooling. The LP or electric option works fine when still, but not while traveling.
We have ordered a 2016 30' Classic for the spring and want to modify it before delivery.
thanks

This would require getting an electrical circuit from your inverter to the area behind the fridge. Some people (including us) who have changed out the Airstream provided inverter and charger/converter have hooked up all of the trailer outlets to the inverter giving us the ability to power all the outlets in the coach off of the inverter when not plugged in to shore power. The problem with running the Dometic fridge off of the inverter is that it draws well over 50 amps when operating which will deplete your battery very quickly. In short, it's not practical or desirable to run the Dometic dual fridge off the battery, plan on using the propane.

HowieE · 09-30-2015, 04:23 PM

Think you are off by a factor of 10. The heating element in the frig is between 300 and 500 watts depending on the size. Thus the current draw is closer to 4 amps.

CRH · 09-30-2015, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomicNo13

Maybe check your regulator pressure. If it is low, your fridge will not cool well!

X2....I had to adjust mine recently.

Wanderer2604 · 09-30-2015, 04:35 PM

I think the 50A estimate was for the 12v supply from the battery. If the fridge really is 500w, 50A is in the ballpark, considering inverter and wiring losses.

HowieE · 09-30-2015, 04:55 PM

Touche'

SamIam427 · 09-30-2015, 05:49 PM

Hello, before my Airstream we had a new 2000 Lance 1010 truck camper with a Dometic 3 way fridge. We took it all over the East coast and a 43 day cross country trip from NY to CA with the unit on LP. In all that time the fridge shut off once or twice when it was very windy out. If yours keeps shutting down, I would have it checked out by an RV service place.
Good luck.

Sam.

Ps. we are having problems with the fridge in our '67 AS Safari the thermostat is leaking LP. Im going to get it repaired or I'll replace it.

BAB · 09-30-2015, 06:08 PM

I installed a Magnum MSH inverter/charger in my new Classic. With the 4 6V Lifeline's and the 30 amp Magnum I can (and have) run my Dometic on 120V while on the road. If it's a sunny day and the 6 100W solar panels are working hard, it really is no problem to run the Dometic on electric instead of gas. The question is why? It cools equally well on either gas or electric....and since it is designed to cool with propane, I made the call to just run it on gas. I do have a separate 120V circuit that's wired to my ice maker, which I leave turned on if I need ice cubes. My intent in designing the electrical set-up was to have flexibility, and it works to that end. Let's not get into the cost of the Magnum, the batteries, the sub-panel, all that copper wire, solar panels, controller, etc. If I'd done a cost-benefit analysis I probably wouldn't have taken on this project. Or even bought an Airstream in the first place!

Phoenix · 09-30-2015, 06:47 PM

See tips in similar refrigerator thread: Air conditioner filter prevents flame blowout

AnnArborBob · 09-30-2015, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowieE

Think you are off by a factor of 10. The heating element in the frig is between 300 and 500 watts depending on the size. Thus the current draw is closer to 4 amps.

Perhaps 4 AH on AC, but on DC it's over 50 AH. Since he will be getting his AC from an inverter running off his 12 volt DC batteries, the draw on his 12 volt DC batteries will be in the range of 50 AH.