Fridge help.

[mrmossyone]

Will the refridgerator run while in transit off of electric or does it have to be running on gas???? Also how long can I expect it totake the fridge to get cool once we get set up and plugged in? Thanks in advance.

[Colonial Airstream]

Originally Posted by mrmossyone

Will the refridgerator run while in transit off of electric or does it have to be running on gas???? Also how long can I expect it totake the fridge to get cool once we get set up and plugged in? Thanks in advance.

While in transit the refrigerator will not run on A/C unless it is plugged into an inverter. It may be possible that the refrigerator is a 3-Way which uses A/C, DC, or LP.

Typically the refrigerator takes 6 hours to completely cool down in the summer ( freezer takes much less time). Most will turn their refrigerators on the day before they leave for their trip, wait until it completely cools down, place their items inside, then right before hitting the road, turn it off.

[lewster]

Nice Pat!

I'll just add that he will need at least a 1000 watt inverter to provide sufficent wattage to lite up his fridge on electric, but doing so will almost definitely run down his battery AND probably draw on his TV battery unless he has a fairly large alternator in the TV.

I would just run it on LP and be done with it!

[Zeppelinium]

Originally Posted by mrmossyone

Will the refridgerator run while in transit off of electric or does it have to be running on gas???? Also how long can I expect it totake the fridge to get cool once we get set up and plugged in? Thanks in advance.

The electric element in the fridge is nominally 75 watts (it's printed on the side of the element, which is a pain but not impossible to get to), plus or minus a little depending on the size of the fridge. If you have a 3-way model, you can run it on 12V DC while you're towing, but if you forget to switch to propane when you stop, you'll have a dead battery in less than 1/2 day. And probably a damaged battery. Running on AC with an inverter is the same problem, but with the added losses from the DC to AC conversion.

I think the Lewster is a little pessimistic on this one--if you have no other AC appliance running, you could get away with a 200W inverter.

Running on propane while towing is reasonably safe. If your burner blows out, construct an additional wind shield to enclose the burner area and bottom of the boiler stack. Two out of three of my fridges needed an additional shield, now they run very reliably. I think I've lost the flame once in 50,000+ miles.

I've had a fridge cool down in less than an hour, but typically it takes 6 hours. Something weird about the amonia cycle can take a long time to get perking.

Zep

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinium

The electric element in the fridge is nominally 75 watts (it's printed on the side of the element, which is a pain but not impossible to get to), plus or minus a little depending on the size of the fridge.ing.

Zep

Most larger sized one door refrigerators have at least a 125 to a 225 watt heating element.

All 2 door refrigerators start at 225 watts on up to 275 watts.

Andy

[wagnerda]

My frig (4 cu ft Dometic 2-way) takes about 8 hours to initally get cold. Then once cold it stays that way. The part that actually chills is the freezer section which is in the top of the overall frig unit (there is only 1 door so the freezer and frig are not separate). Cold air then circulates from around the freezer down to the frig area.

I just put my frig on propane and forget it (except I do stop and turn off before gassing up if I will be near any other pumps).

What I have found to be really helpful is the small frig fan cube which is a cube about 4x 4 x 4 inches. They take 2 D cell batts and help to move the air around from the cold freezer thru the frig.

Anyway, they are available from places like Camping World for under $15.

regards, Dave

[Zeppelinium]

Good input, Andy. I am locked in the world of '70s vintage Airstreams!

Two-door fridges and dishwashers in an Airstream just sort of leave me cold. (is there a pun in there somewhere?)

Zep

[n2916s]

Whether to run with the gas on is one of the perrenial arguments on this Forum. Personally, I do it.

You do have to keep in mind that you have an open flame going so there is no pulling in for gas or to buy LP.

Mike

[eubank]

The new one we put in ours (Dometic RM7401) was advertised as a two-way, but has a three-way hookup on the unit and in the instructions: 12V, 115V, or propane. I never did tie in the 12 volt, but only because there were no 12 volt sources in the immediate vicinity of the fridge. We travel with the fridge on propane (except at gas stops).

Lynn

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I don't know how long it takes for my refrigerator to cool down; I never timed it. But I load my refrigerator with already cold or frozen items from my house refrigerator and I'm sure it cuts the time way down. Also I keep my trailer plugged into my house until just before we leave and then it switches to propane automatically and stays that way until I reach my destination.

[mrmossyone]

Thanks for all the replys. I think I will turn it on with electric several hours or the day before we leave, pack it up and put one of those cubes in and then turn off when we leave. Thanks again.

[2airishuman]

for any of the fridge replies to be applicable...

you'll need to include the model info....

is it original or a replacement?

the 70s 3 way units could be cooled down on ac or lp gas..

and then kept cool on the 12 volt setting while in transit...

obviously that's not an option on a 2 way unit.

but many of us with 2 way units use the lp mode while traveling...

my fridge has only been turned OFF twice this past year for defrosting...

again the model/type info is important, as a mid 70s argosy could have lotsa different units now.

cheers
2air'

[mrmossyone]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

for any of the fridge replies to be applicable...

you'll need to include the model info....

is it original or a replacement?

the 70s 3 way units could be cooled down on ac or lp gas..

and then kept cool on the 12 volt setting while in transit...

obviously that's not an option on a 2 way unit.

but many of us with 2 way units use the lp mode while traveling...

my fridge has only been turned OFF twice this past year for defrosting...

again the model/type info is important, as a mid 70s argosy could have lotsa different units now.

cheers
2air'

Thanks, I'll have to check and see what model it is. It appears to be a original unit judging by appearance/wear of the fridge. How can I know if it is a three way vs two way. I have no manuals or info for my Argosy and this is my first camper so I simply don't know. Thanks again.

[2airishuman]

the 70s 3 way units have a switch that indicated the 3 options...

i've forgotten where the switch was on my moho, but somewhere near the door seems right.

i'm not certain this was available on the trailers then...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f425...not-20698.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/sear...earchid=914362

cheers
2air'