Has anyone installed an inverter in an fifth wheel or trailer to run the 12v/Propane Refrigerator while moving. On my model the propane line from the tank to the unit is exposed in the event of a tire blowout and to dangerous to keep the tanks open when moving. I am thinking of installing an inverter to run the refer while mving. I think my truck wiring to the trailer has one wire to charge the battery in the unit but don't know if it will be enough to charge the battery (yes only one) to keep the inverter going. Anyone has experience in this area?

I have not tried this but a typical RV fridge in 120V AC mode will draw between 300W-400W depending on size and model. That would be 25A-33A off a 12V battery feeding a 12VDC to 120VAC inverter. A fully charged battery might last you a few hours. I would be surprised if the umbilical cord from the truck provides much more than 8A.Try it and let us know the results

If you have a heavy duty alternator and you put in larger wires on the charging circuit it can work but as someone else suggested, you are drawing a lot of amps. If you are only traveling a 2-3hrs, probably easier to just turn off the unit and turn it on when you arrive. As long as the door stays shut it should stay cold.That said, I think you are worried about nothing. Sure there could be a strange set of circumstances that set it off but very unlikely. The bulk of RV's go down the road with the fridge set to propane and running.

It is baffling as to why a manufacturer would run a propane line right next to the tires. I would run lt tires and try to make a heavy shield over the lines. As they said, maybe just shut off the frig while traveling. If you stop for a break and lunch turn it on.

The propane line is SCH 40 steel black pipe, very unlikely for it to fail from a blowout or any other impact. If it was a problem, the DOT and the NHTSA would stop the manufacture of propane equipped units.

If concerned, move the propane line

Fifth Wheel RV Refrigerator hooked up to inverter

19 Replies

pianotuna
Nomad III
Feb 16, 2015
My fridge draws 325 watts. That translates to about 32 amps from the battery bank. Duty cycle is 2:3 so it consumes 20 amp-hours each hour I run it. A beefed up charging path is a must if you plan to do this.
2oldman
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2015
dons2346 wrote:
A lot of people turn the refer off while going down the road and don't worry about power
yep
dons2346
Explorer
Feb 16, 2015
A lot of people turn the refer off while going down the road and don't worry about power
azrving
Explorer
Feb 16, 2015
Double check the line as I have seen copper in wheel openings. I also thought move the line but with how cheesy the RV builds are they probably boxed themselves into a corner and had to run it out there. Seems crazy to me but again, it is an RV.

But....then again how many times have I looked at rigs and thought why would they do that when they could have done it this way? These are not engineered like our automobiles.
poncho62
Explorer
Feb 16, 2015
If concerned, move the propane line
eHoefler
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2015
The propane line is SCH 40 steel black pipe, very unlikely for it to fail from a blowout or any other impact. If it was a problem, the DOT and the NHTSA would stop the manufacture of propane equipped units.
azrving
Explorer
Feb 16, 2015
It is baffling as to why a manufacturer would run a propane line right next to the tires. I would run lt tires and try to make a heavy shield over the lines. As they said, maybe just shut off the frig while traveling. If you stop for a break and lunch turn it on.
valhalla360
Navigator
Feb 16, 2015
If you have a heavy duty alternator and you put in larger wires on the charging circuit it can work but as someone else suggested, you are drawing a lot of amps.

If you are only traveling a 2-3hrs, probably easier to just turn off the unit and turn it on when you arrive. As long as the door stays shut it should stay cold.

That said, I think you are worried about nothing. Sure there could be a strange set of circumstances that set it off but very unlikely. The bulk of RV's go down the road with the fridge set to propane and running.
2112
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2015
I have not tried this but a typical RV fridge in 120V AC mode will draw between 300W-400W depending on size and model. That would be 25A-33A off a 12V battery feeding a 12VDC to 120VAC inverter. A fully charged battery might last you a few hours.

I would be surprised if the umbilical cord from the truck provides much more than 8A.

Try it and let us know the results

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Fifth Wheel RV Refrigerator hooked up to inverter

19 Replies

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