Interesting Tidbit Regarding RV Refrigerators

We've traveled as long as eight hours with the refrigerator off and have never had the temps fall to unsafe levels (I have thermometers in both the freezer and refrigerator). Maybe our refrigerator is extra-efficient but, for us, I see no reason to turn on the propane. It's just one more thing to have to worry about. But, everyone has to do what makes them comfortable.

In case anyone wants to know, here is a portion from the article in The RV Handbook, word-for-word:

"Both Norcold and Dometic models manufactured after 1995 are designed to keep internal temperatures at or less than 40 deg F for 8 hours with the refrigerator off, and ambient interior RV temperatures under 100 deg F. Recently we tested a Norcold two-door refrigerator bringing the unit down to 34 deg F and turning it off. Each hour we recorded the temperature with a temperature probe and after six hours it maintained 40 deg F while ambient temperature inside the coach was 85 deg F."

So, according to this report if your fridge (later than 1995) doesn't keep temps cold after so many hours tuned off then something needs to be checked (door gaskets?).

Let me add: I ALWAYS travel with the fridge running on propane. I just found it interesting that they can hold the cold for so long when turned off...

Most people do not know when food becomes unsafe. If your fridge loses temp and the internal temp of foods sit in the 41-135 degree zone for more than 2 hours, it is really not safe. Some high-acid foods may be OK, but a majority will not be.
This temperature zone is the optimal temp for pathogens to multiply. With our food chain suffering questionable quality issues, it is just a smart practice to be aware of this.

The optimal ambient temp for a fridge is 33-38degrees, while a freezer is 0-28degrees. In a fridge, food tends to be 1-2 degrees higher than that of the ambient air. If you're holding food at 40degrees, you are just asking for trouble. Colder is better.
So, when it comes to keeping the unit on or not? If there is food in it, I keep it on at all costs. I 'forget' to turn it off as well.

Paul

BigDaddyHfx wrote:
.. a 8 hour ferry ride from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. .. (I forgot to turn off the propane on the way back so it really stayed cold - my bad!)

Yeah, I've 'forgot' to turn mine off too on the deck of a ferry with 30mph winds.

Desert Captain wrote:

Have you ever seen an RV'er stopped outside of a gas station to turn off the propane before entering the station to fuel??? Neither have I.

How would you know? First I can turn off every 12 volt operated device, which includes the fridge, water heater, and furnace, with a single switch as I exit the door.

Second, Gasoline vapors are heavier than air, the fuel filler on my RV is lower (And quite some distance) from the nearest flame burning appliance, thus no danger there. Propane however is different. (I always operate that switch when getting propane).

And diesel is not like gasoline,, It won't blow up like gas does if there is a nearby spark, Or if you toss a lit match into a 5 gallon pail of it for that matter.. Seen it done.

The variables on this subject are so vast that there will be temp differences depending on circumstances. IMHO the 'type' of RV you have gets put into the mix also.
The outside and inside temp does play into an RV fridge. The TT's are not air conditioning the inside of their RV while truckin down the road so in summer months in the south the inside of that RV is going to be hot real hot.

These aren't your momma's fridge sitting in the kitchen back home. :B

When I had to replace the control panel on mine which was a 3-way, the new panels came in as a 2-way. The manufacturer stated they stopped making the 3-way because the battery function "could not maintain the temp properly". So has every one that still has a 3-way checked that the fridge on auto 'is' going to propane and not the battery? :W

I don't think anyone is telling anyone what to do. It's a forum and just filled with opinions and different options for members and the lurker to read. IMHO as long as I have been RV'ing like to hear how everyone does certain things while RV'ing. This old dog still keeps learning new tricks from this forum!:C

I get a kick out of you people that keep on insisting on beating this dead horse. My refrigerator is on and it's running on propane-even when I pull into the gas station. I don't care what you think and you can't change what I want to do no matter how you try to insult me. But go ahead and keep trying, I enjoy the laughs. P.S. my gene pool is doing just fine, evidenced by the fact that we don't go around beating dead horses.

While our fridge does a great job of cooling and keeping our contents cool for several hours, I'll continue to set my Dometic to Auto ensuring that anytime our rig does not have 120VAC power it immediately reverts to propane. I don't give it a second thought driving down the road with fridge on propane mode, it's easy enough to just turn the fridge off if you have concerns about this common practice.

I've had my fridge turned on while traveling for the last 10 years. I never turn it off on the road. Do so if you choose, I won't.