Refrig on Propane

Anmacc2 wrote:
To be sure I understand correctly: the refrig needs the 12 volt system to run off propane? And five full days on one battery is too long and the battery will go dead and the refrigerator will stop working? If I'm understanding this correctly I learned something new today. I've been camping for forty years but have only boondocked one night at a time and moved on the next day. I've never boondocked two or three days successively. Thank you! You saved me a refrigerator full of food spoiling and the mess it would have created.

Searching_Ut wrote:
The refrigerator controller needs battery power, and you also have a gas detector, possibly CO detector and other items in the trailer that will be drawing battery power, even when you don't think you have anything turned on. My last TT used somewhere around 30 amp hours of power a day just sitting there when I had the battery switch turned on and the fridge running on propane. That will kill a single battery in just a couple days.

Unfortunately the OP hasn't provided any information at all about the make / model of firidge they have but an issue not yet mentioned that many owners overlook when dry camping is the 12 vdc power being drawn from the battery by the fridge climate control system which in effect is a 12 vdc electric heating element. On many fridge models this heating element can be turned off, thereby significantly reducing draw down on the battery, but on other models it can't be turned off. Those who own one of the latter models (as I do) can easily add their own switch to overcome this problem (pics are in my gallery) - well worth it if relying on the battery alone to supply 12 vdc so the fridge can continue running much longer. The OP would be wise to figure out just which fridge they have and whether it's climate control can be switched off.