Question about refrigerator cooling during preparation for a trip. Does it cool faster when plugged into electric (in my driveway) or just leaving the propane on and cooling that way?Thanks for any input.

Whenever we get ready, we use the electric in the driveway, save the LP for the road and put a 10# bag of ice in the freezer to get it colder faster. Just our thing.

Uses almost no propane to operate.Ice or dry ice will help it cool down faster.

I am not concerned about use of propane. Just want to cool the refrigerator as quickly as possible. Which will do it? electric or propane? Or, will they both cool at the same rate?

Turn it on 48 hours before departure. Fill with food 24 hours before. Done it this way for years, works just fine.

I find that 'solid' ice lasts longer when we transfer food to the ice chest. I fill a zip-lock bag with water, zip it closed and put it in the house freezer. It does not melt as fast as loose ice and then I can put it back in the freezer to refreeze for the next 'transfer of food from the house to the coach'.I also have the small ice packs to keep in the freezer so that the freezer doesn't change temp too much during defrosting.MM.

Refrigerator Cooling, Propane vs. Electric | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

JC2
Explorer
May 02, 2016
k9dad wrote:
Question about refrigerator cooling during preparation for a trip. Does it cool faster when plugged into electric (in my driveway) or just leaving the propane on and cooling that way?
Thanks for any input.

The rv fridges that we have used over the years usually took about the same time to cool down to acceptable operating temps whether on ac or lp. The fins inside the fridge started to feel noticeably cool at 8-12 hrs and after 24 +- hrs, the freezer and fridge were at 0/mid 30's respectively.
Last spring(2015), we did replace our Dometic NDR1062 rv fridge with a Haier 10.2 cu ft residential as the cooling reliability became less than acceptable. We had the install checked for correct specs, installed the Amish exterior coils and finally crossed the line when they developed a leak after 18 months.
dougrainer
Nomad
May 02, 2016
smkettner wrote:
Propane is faster for me. Gets started before I pull out of storage. No need to plug in when packing.

Not faster. MORE convenient. Doug
time2roll
Nomad
May 02, 2016
Propane is faster for me. Gets started before I pull out of storage. No need to plug in when packing.
koda55
Explorer
May 02, 2016
We keep a couple of milk gallon bottles in the freezer and when we are ready to cool the fridge we take them out and put them in the fridge freezer. Helps to cool it faster whether on gas or electric.
prstlk
Explorer
May 02, 2016
If you take a can of hair spray (don't use it myself as I don't have hair and my barber uses a 1 guard to keep me presentable) if you hold the nozzle down the can will become cold. The refrigeration principal uses a compressor to duh compress a a gas (freon). When that compressed gas goes through the system it releases cold air, and carries off warm air to the coils, and then it starts again. The 2 way rv fridge instead of delivering a cold source removes the heat through absorbing the heat and carrying the heat away from the unit (fridge) again through a coil. The rv fridge uses absorption of heat vs. Refrigeration in the conventional sense. If your not confused by now, I am.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
May 01, 2016
mrsportys wrote:
The real question is...do you run propane while your driving ( vs having the generator on) ?
mrsportys
Explorer
May 01, 2016
The real question is...do you run propane while your driving ( vs having the generator on) ?
TNGW1500SE
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
I would use the electric and make sure RV is level. Freeze all meat at home in house freezer, then transfer to the RV refrigerator even if not putting that meat in the freezer part. It will help the refrigerator get cold as it thaws out in RV. Make sense?
dougrainer
Nomad
Apr 25, 2016
prstlk wrote:
What's important to note is these units are not refrigerators in the conventional sense. They don't cool but rather absorb heat. The best thing to remember is what ever you put in the fridge, pre cool it. As you travel introduce warm items gradually. Don't put 2 12 packs in and expect cool in 12 hours.

Pre cool your fridge 2 days before your leaving and gradually add the stuff.
Jmho

ALL refers and Air conditioners operate under the same principle----They remove HEAT from an item and the result is COLD. Doug

PS, what is your idea on how a refer operates?
prstlk
Explorer
Apr 24, 2016
What's important to note is these units are not refrigerators in the conventional sense. They don't cool but rather absorb heat. The best thing to remember is what ever you put in the fridge, pre cool it. As you travel introduce warm items gradually. Don't put 2 12 packs in and expect cool in 12 hours.

Pre cool your fridge 2 days before your leaving and gradually add the stuff.
Jmho