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SharynB's avatar
SharynB
Explorer
Feb 17, 2018

Help with keeping Refrigerator running

I will be traveling from TX. to CA. in my Pleasureway motorhome. It will take 3.5 days, as I am traveling with senior pets. One of whom is on insulin and it has to be refrigerated. My question is how do I set my Dometic refrigerator to keep going all night when I am in the motel (not camping this trip). Does the DC battery have to be left on all night to keep it going, as I will not be hooked up to electricity? I can use my propane, but will the tank last that many days? Can I drive with the propane turned on, or just turn it on a night after I have stopped for the day? Does the DC have to be turned on if I am using propane?
Thanks for any advice!
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  • Tiger4x4RV's avatar
    Tiger4x4RV
    Nomad
    Feb 17, 2018
    Don't overlook the option of just using the refrigerator as an icebox. Buy ice or get a bunch of refreezable blue ice blocks and refreeze half of them in the hotel refrigerator while the other half keep your RV refrigerator cold overnight. No more worries about propane or batteries or keeping the unit level.
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Feb 17, 2018
    gbopp wrote:
    GordonThree wrote:
    One of the pets needs to be refrigerated?

    Penguin? :)


    Very cool! ;)
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Feb 17, 2018
    GordonThree wrote:
    One of the pets needs to be refrigerated?

    Penguin? :)
  • bob213's avatar
    bob213
    Explorer
    Feb 17, 2018
    Turn on the DC and propane. Run refrigerator on propane for entire trip. Try to park as level as possible for overnight stay. Should be no problem.
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer
    Feb 17, 2018
    If you have a true 3 way ref. that runs on 12v directly you can use that while traveling if you want. Most people just use propane while traveling. Some refigerators are only 2 way and don't have a 12v only option. Either way, you will need to leave your battery turned on, the refrigerator needs 12v to run the control board even when being fueled by propane. Your propane tank will last a long, long time running just the refrigerator, likely several months.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Feb 17, 2018
    Yes.
    RV refers require either 120VAC and 12VDC OR propane and 12VDC. On propane your refer draws minimal 12VDC current and it should last parked for a week or more just running the refer. Same for propane. The gas required to run a refer is very little. Your house batteries should recharge during the day driving. Leaving propane on going down the road is commonly done by lots of us.

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