Norcold on Inverter

BigDaddy1951 wrote:
I was taking the NRVTA home study course and they recommended leaving the propane off for safety.

Took the same course and yes they do. HOWEVER imagine this.

I took the course at an FMCA rally where the rigs were packed in like sardines as they say.. So I'm sitting there and the fridge decides to FLAME on. My 100,000 dollar rig is destroyed but by the time the FD gets there the half million rig beside me is burning and the million dollar rig on the other side...

Or I drive down the road and it flames on and other drivers see the smoke and fire and stay clear.

I think the Insurance companies are ...ing themselves on this one.

Norcold has a nice little overheat detector that causes folks headaches (you need a strong magnet in your tool kit)

Dometic has one as well but it's push to reset.

Have not heard of many Fridge fires in the last decade adn the one I did hear about recently was a 2004.. I ask if the recall (installing the over heat detectors) had been done...... No reply.

BigDaddy1951 wrote:
I was taking the NRVTA home study course and they recommended leaving the propane off for safety.

If there was any real safety issue the propane would be disabled when the MH was put in gear.

If anything I worry more for sleeping than driving.

BigDaddy1951 wrote:
Yeah, I have used it and left the propane on many times. I was taking the NRVTA home study course and they recommended leaving the propane off for safety. That was right after the part on converters and inverters. It got me thinking, which may or may not be a good thing, LOL. Thanks for the response!

In my opinion, they HAVE to say that since they are offering "training".

In a previous life I had hauled the stuff for several years, and I travel with mine on.

My backyard experiment suggested 20 minutes on followed by 40 minutes off. I'm still on the oem alternator.

My concern is this Can the engine alternator keep up with about a 40 amp draw on your batteries?

Mine could not.

I installed a 1000 watt inverter to run my refer off my 2 6v GC batteries years ago. It will work but the only problem it puts a lot of strain on your alternator as Wolf said. After several trips running the refer on battery power I burned out my alternator. Think about stopping for gas or lunch or being stuck in traffic and the alternator working overtime to replenish the battery bank. To me it is not worth it for the small amount of propane saved.

I have run my fridge on my 300 watt inverter a couple times in a pinch when the propane burner would not light.
No issues.

Lwiddis wrote:
Why not just run the fridge on propane? As you have apparently been doing without issue.

YUP.

I sure would not work my engine/alternator harder to provide electricity vs just leaving it on propane (as designed).

Is propane operation safe-- yes. Certainly more risk of vehicle accident than fire while driving due to propane use in refrigerator. But, YOU weigh the risks for yourself.

Yes, the refrigerator operating on propane needs to be turned off when refueling and tunnels where its use is restricted.

Why not just run the fridge on propane? As you have apparently been doing without issue.

I’d be more concerned about that POS catching fire