Refrigerator on propane or electric?

valhalla360 wrote:
Check your fridge, our heater element is only 180w

Also factor in the hassle of replacing the tank every couple weeks if running on propane.

Love the ability to have the fridge run when off the grid but once plugged in, so much easier to just use the electric.

People NEVER factor in the cost of going to get the LP tanks refilled. NOT the cost of the LP, but the cost in gasoline of driving your vehicle to the LP store and back. THAT negates any supposed cost savings on electricity. IF the RV CG offers LP, THAT LP is usually higher in cost than the local LP store, just like Marina Fuel for boats cost more. Doug

Check your fridge, our heater element is only 180w

Also factor in the hassle of replacing the tank every couple weeks if running on propane.

Love the ability to have the fridge run when off the grid but once plugged in, so much easier to just use the electric.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Tom,

It is nearly impossible to use 10 KWH for just the fridge. They commonly draw 325 watts. That would 7.8 KWH per day if it never cycled. Are you running the seal heater? If so turn it off.

I admit that I rounded up with the estimate. I am using about 28 kwh per day with the refr on electric and about 21 kwh per day on propane. All of this is in 95 degree weather.

Thanks for the conversion formulas.

1 Gallon of Propane = 27 kWh (Kilowatt Hours) of electricity - This means that one gallon of propane contains the same amount of usable energy as 27 Kilowatt Hours. Or we can say that 27 kWh equals approximately 91,500 BTU.

A 100 watt light bulb left on for a full day (24 hours) will consume 2.4 kWh. If propane were to power the same light bulb (hypothetically- remember, we're comparing energy content) for 24 hours, it would use .09 gallons of propane.

So to scale that up, multiply by 4 to get approximately the 10 KWH.

i.e. 0.09 x 4 = 0.36 gallons of propane per day.

http://www.propane101.com/propanevselectricity.htm

Hi Tom,

It is nearly impossible to use 10 KWH for just the fridge. They commonly draw 325 watts. That would 7.8 KWH per day if it never cycled. Are you running the seal heater? If so turn it off.

There may be something in here...

gas or electric 1

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