Running the fridge on 12 Volts?

I thought all propane bottles (cylinders) were required to have that feature now. Am I wrong?

Nvr2loud wrote:

MOST PROPANE TANKS have that feature, but not all of them, so I didn't want to discuss it.

For others who wish to know if their tanks have the shut-off feature, disconnect the hoses from the tank and open the valve, if nothing comes out you're good :)

I think Norcold, Atwood and Dometic all make 3 way fridges in the bigger sizes but I seldom see them in anything but the smaller ones…


Norcold Model N841 3-Way Uses 3 amps on 120-volt AC; 14.8 amps on 12-volt DC.


Atwood 12007 Helium 3-Way Refrigerator


Dometic Waeco RMD 8551 2 Door Gas/LPG 3 Way Fridge Freezer …

I spoke to the folks at Dometic when I was replacting the refrigerator in my 1969 Avion. They indicated that they haven't had great success with the 3 way refrigerators and the 2 ways are going to be the way most of them are built in the future. If it is a 3 way, the amount of 12 volt power required to run it will wipe out a battery real quick. You still need limited 12 volt power to run the controls on the modern units, but that doesn't take much power at all. I run my refrigerator on LP while traveling and have never had an issue.

Your refrigerator needs 12v to operate the ignition and controls, it does not operate on 12v only.

You could use an inverter to convert 12v dc to 120v ac but it would use a battery per day. My little 1.8 cubic feet refrigerator uses 26 amps dc per day. Yours will use more.

Edit: Math was off resulting in lower than accurate amps used.

BobsYourUncle wrote:

Nvr2loud wrote:

Some people fear a cut / damaged line during an accident, and therefore keep their propane valves closed on the tanks. It is highly unlikely that during a crash the propane leaking from a damaged line will ignite. If there is already a vehicle fire, the propane becomes an issue if it is leaking, I agree... but a crash that is so severe as to cause a vehicle fire is likely a fatal crash already.

In 2003, I was towing my 19 foot 69 Prowler, single axle, when I did not notice a steel belted radial come apart. Towing with a dually I never felt a thing.

On a mirror check I saw smoke pouring out the back and saw my TT on an angle. I quickly pulled off the road and found the steel belts of the tire came apart so severely that it totally destroyed everything in it's path including the fridge, which was on and running at the time. The smoke was not from fire, but from the rubber of the tire being shredded.

As I sat on the ground staring at the damage in dismay, I noticed a copper line dangling, severed and shredded. I reached out and examined it, realizing it was the feed line for my fridge, which was running at the time of the mishap. The propane was still on, but there was nothing coming out of the line. I quickly shut the valve on the tank.

The propane bottle has a safety feature in it that will stop the flow in the event of a sudden pressure change. When the line severed, the flow stopped.

So I really wouldn't worry about any issues driving with the fridge running. As mentioned, most of us run with the fridge on. I always do.

MOST PROPANE TANKS have that feature, but not all of them, so I didn't want to discuss it.

For others who wish to know if their tanks have the shut-off feature, disconnect the hoses from the tank and open the valve, if nothing comes out you're good :)

Yes, forgot to mention I run mine on gas while traveling also.

Atwood makes a 6 and an 8 cu ft model, according to the owner's manual. The words "Gas and Electric" would indicate a 2-way fridge that doesn't operate on 12v on it's own. If you don't ant to run gas while underway, an inverter would be your only choice.

Nvr2loud wrote:

Some people fear a cut / damaged line during an accident, and therefore keep their propane valves closed on the tanks. It is highly unlikely that during a crash the propane leaking from a damaged line will ignite. If there is already a vehicle fire, the propane becomes an issue if it is leaking, I agree... but a crash that is so severe as to cause a vehicle fire is likely a fatal crash already.

In 2003, I was towing my 19 foot 69 Prowler, single axle, when I did not notice a steel belted radial come apart. Towing with a dually I never felt a thing.

On a mirror check I saw smoke pouring out the back and saw my TT on an angle. I quickly pulled off the road and found the steel belts of the tire came apart so severely that it totally destroyed everything in it's path including the fridge, which was on and running at the time. The smoke was not from fire, but from the rubber of the tire being shredded.

As I sat on the ground staring at the damage in dismay, I noticed a copper line dangling, severed and shredded. I reached out and examined it, realizing it was the feed line for my fridge, which was running at the time of the mishap. The propane was still on, but there was nothing coming out of the line. I quickly shut the valve on the tank.

The propane bottle has a safety feature in it that will stop the flow in the event of a sudden pressure change. When the line severed, the flow stopped.

So I really wouldn't worry about any issues driving with the fridge running. As mentioned, most of us run with the fridge on. I always do.

The flame a fridge uses in propane mode is more like a candle than a blowtorch. It's not like a house gas furnace or your stove ;)

That being said, NEVER store gasoline or such in the living space of your camper or near the fridge outside and pressure test your lines regularly.

Nvr2loud wrote:
I am a gas fitter, licensed for any input without maximum for Natural Gas and Propane appliances.

The propane fridge can safely run while moving, there are no safety issues at all with using the propane while moving.

Some people fear a cut / damaged line during an accident, and therefore keep their propane valves closed on the tanks. It is highly unlikely that during a crash the propane leaking from a damaged line will ignite. If there is already a vehicle fire, the propane becomes an issue if it is leaking, I agree... but a crash that is so severe as to cause a vehicle fire is likely a fatal crash already.

But in the Movies,EVERY car wreck causes an explosion .
You must be wrong :)

I am a gas fitter, licensed for any input without maximum for Natural Gas and Propane appliances.

The propane fridge can safely run while moving, there are no safety issues at all with using the propane while moving.

Some people fear a cut / damaged line during an accident, and therefore keep their propane valves closed on the tanks. It is highly unlikely that during a crash the propane leaking from a damaged line will ignite. If there is already a vehicle fire, the propane becomes an issue if it is leaking, I agree... but a crash that is so severe as to cause a vehicle fire is likely a fatal crash already.