Refridgerator

[Wilson123]

When driving should the Fridge be set on DC or LP?

[Wilson123]

Thanks everyone. I made the trip and it all went well. I had a couple of flats on my car dolley but other than that it was a nice trip. Going to buy a shed for the lot down here in Wellton. Contemplating if buying a double walled rubber one will stand up in the AZ sun or if I should just go steel.

[2gypsies1]

We always leave ours on 'automatic' and it just picks its use from whatever is available at the time.

If we're going down the road cooking our dinner in the crockpot then the inverter is on so the refrigerator is on electric.

If we're having cold sandwiches then it will be on propane because we won't have the inverter on. 🙂

[dougrainer]

Wilson123 wrote:
I turned it to DC and it appeared to be cooling though. At least the controls said it was. It's a Royale Model.

There is NO WAY you could tell if it is cooling. The controls do not tell if it is cooling, just what Heat source the refer is ON. As I stated, use LP IF you want the refer to continue cooling at its best in transit. 12 volt will only attempt to maintain the existing refer temp. Doug

[Old-Biscuit]

The Dometic Royale RM3663 and RM3863 are 3-way fridges. They are 8 cu. ft. fridges.

DC mode is good for 'maintaining' fridge temps while in transit. DC heater is only 215W element but pulls 18A (AC element is 325W and only 3A)

Use AC or LP Modes while stationary and DC or LP modes while in transit.

[BigBlockTank]

I was a coach tech after retiring from the USAF in 95. By 2001, I'm not sure if a DC model was still available, I don't remember.
I owned a 39' 5er, and now a motorhome. I run the fridge on LP, unless I'm pluggged in. It is not that effecient on DC, but will maintain temp, as long as nothing warm goes in that's too warm, or too big. There should be no worries going down the road on LP. Turn it off when filling the LP tank, obviously. You can while fueling, but I don't, my fuel tank is at the back of the coach.

[John___Angela]

Wilson123 wrote:
I turned it to DC and it appeared to be cooling though. At least the controls said it was. It's a Royale Model.

Kevin I'm now concerned that I'm giving you duff info here. Do you actually have a setting on the front panel that says DC? Ours certainly didn't but I'm not familiar with every model out there.

[Wilson123]

I turned it to DC and it appeared to be cooling though. At least the controls said it was. It's a Royale Model.

[2oldman]

yes

[Wilson123]

Thanks. So I should use the LP?

[dougrainer]

3 way refers, the 12 volt heater section is ONLY for maintaining the existing temp. So, unless you have a phobia of running the refer on LP, it would be best to run on LP instead of the 12 volts if you do indeed have a true 3 way. The 12 volt element pulls a lot of dc current and that is why you only operate on the 12 volt side when the engine is ON. Doug

[John___Angela]

Wilson123 wrote:
It is a full size with freezer.

Ok. So I'll give you my opinion on what's happening here. I think you have a 2 way Norcold Fridge that operates on AC 120 volts or Propane. The fridge DOES use 12 volts but only for the control board and gas valve operation. It has no DC mode as it has no DC element. As far as I know there were no 3 way fridges put in your unit.

Love that year of Southwind by the way. We had a Southwind 32VS before we went full time. Nice coach.

Hope this helps.

John.

[Wilson123]

It is a full size with freezer.

[Wilson123]

Yes, a Class A. It's a 2001 Fleetwood Southwind.

[John___Angela]

Wilson123 wrote:
And then it runs off the coach batteries?

Yes. It will run off the coach batteries if set to DC.

Quicky question. You used the word "coach" so I am guessing you have a motorhome. I'm curious which coach manufacturer is putting in DC fridges. Quite rare nowadays unless they are the smaller 5 cubic foot or under.

Thanks in advance.

Happy trails.