Refrigerators in the heat
We are camping in extreme heat in Arizona. Is it better to use LP gas or electric to keep the refrigeration cold?
Forum Discussion
DownTheAvenue wrote:
You've made yourself perfectly clear - you don't know what the flue is in an RV refrigerator. What you're calling the flue, isn't.
Maybe I did not make myself clear...
So, while the flue does need heat to expedite air flow, it is the air flow that is critical, not the flue temperature!mike-s wrote:
DownTheAvenue wrote:
Absolutely not.
More important is the amount of draft in the flue. It requires a positive airflow to dissipate the heat. The addition of a small computer 12 volt cooling fan will make a significant difference in the cooling in the refrigerator.
You want maximum heat in the flue - they even put a spiral baffle in the flue to slow the airflow and hold the heat in.
Fans are used to increase airflow through the condenser coils.
Maybe I did not make myself clear, but the goal is to remove the heat from the coils and that is done by moving air up and out vis the vent at the top, or side on a few models, mostly refrigerators in slide outs. A fan helps in this regard. Keeping heat inside the refrigerator compartment only serves to minimize the heat transfer from the coils to the surrounding air. Heating the flue creates a draft because the hotter the air, the lighter it is, hence it will go up! Think hot air balloon! However, in extreme ambient temperatures, the hot air in the flue often is not much hotter than the ambient temperature and the air flow stops or slows down, thus minimizing the heat exchange over the coils. You absolutely need a flow of air over the coils, or there will be little or no cooling.
So, while the flue does need heat to expedite air flow, it is the air flow that is critical, not the flue temperature!DownTheAvenue wrote:
Absolutely not.
More important is the amount of draft in the flue. It requires a positive airflow to dissipate the heat. The addition of a small computer 12 volt cooling fan will make a significant difference in the cooling in the refrigerator.
You want maximum heat in the flue - they even put a spiral baffle in the flue to slow the airflow and hold the heat in.
Fans are used to increase airflow through the condenser coils.- Your a/c isn't going to do very well in this either. At least not mine.
downtheroad wrote:
Yeah, at night!
My advice, hitch up and get out of there. - Well, since it was 119 in Phoenix today, I don't think it would matter what you used....propane or electric...
My advice, hitch up and get out of there. DownTheAvenue wrote:
x2. That, and parking in the shade, is way more important than the fuel you're using. I've even seen folks remove the plastic cover to expose the coils and put up any old kind of fan.
More important is the amount of draft in the flue. It requires a positive airflow to dissipate the heat. The addition of a small computer 12 volt cooling fan will make a significant difference in the cooling in the refrigerator.Bill.Satellite wrote:
x2. The sun side can be over 20° hotter than the shade, making the refer work that much harder.
.. turn the RV so the heat of the day does not hit the side of the coach where the fridge is located.- Never gave it much thought. I let my fridge decide as I run it on the auto setting. We camp a lot in the heat and don't notice any ill effects.
- I would use propane as it produces more heat at a lower cost (assuming you are paying for electric). You might also want to turn the RV so the heat of the day does not hit the side of the coach where the fridge is located.
If you want to eliminate all fridge issues, remove the propane fridge and install a household fridge. JMHO. - More important is the amount of draft in the flue. It requires a positive airflow to dissipate the heat. The addition of a small computer 12 volt cooling fan will make a significant difference in the cooling in the refrigerator.
