Will Solar save my frig temp?
Class B Pleasure Way. In hot weather, on propane or battery power, the frig won't keep up. It does fine plugged in at a campground but I'm usually in a parking lot during the day. I've been leaving it...
Forum Discussion
MrWizard wrote:
to the OP
You mention battery power, is your fridge a 3 way , lp, 120v , and 12v
Very few of those around anymore
The 12v mode is just a Keeper mode while traveling and engine running
It does not get as cold as l.p. Or 120v
If it works ok with 120v while parked in the sun
You need to fix the lp burner problem
And make sure you are buying propane Not butane ! both are lp
But butane is less energy per gallon and the flame is not as hot as propane
For the same size flame, and will not keep you fridge as cold, that had been my experience
Solar will help the batteries, but not enough to use an inverter or 12v option, you need around 20 amps of solar charge just to stay even with what the inverter needs to power your fridge
You have a 'FLAME' problem, it is not hot enough, to do the job
Additionally, I'd be visually checking to make sure there is enough insulation around the fridge where it fits into the cavity made for it by the builder. Builders tend to skimp on insulation and the more the better with an evaporation fridge because they aren't all that efficient anyway. When I got my new RV, first thing I did was check the amount of insulation and I added almost a full roll of R13 unfaced insulation. Made a huge difference. I also added 2 auxillary 12 volt computer fans on the backside to keep the air moving over the coils in the back. I set them up in the upper vent, blowing out so the air movement was in the lower vent and out the upper.
No problems with cooling now. Freezer stays at -6 and the fridge is just above freezing no matter how hot it is outside or if the sun is beating on the fridge side of the camper.
