Do you turn off your refrigerator?

[Camper_Sue]

Good Evening All... As long as we have been camping we had not heard that this was something we should do until this evening when a friend mentioned it to us. We keep our hybrid plugged in out in our driveway and use our fridge for extra food storage. He said that this can really affect the life of long term life of the fridge. We had no idea, been doing this for 3 years now from April-early Nov. Anyone have any knowledge of this, appreciate your input! Thanks, Sue

[Airstreamer67]

I always turn off the fridge when not camping. My refrigerator is 15 years old and still gets cold when I want it to.

In a sealed system like refrigerators, I doubt this causes any harm. I bet the harm comes from operating them in a canted position like the manufacturers warn against. I don't remember seeing any instructions to keep them running when not in use.

I bet 90% of camping refrigerators are turned off when not used.

[lfcjasp]

Our motorhome is plugged in at our S&B house, so we can run the A/C and also the fridge/freezer. When we decide we're done camping for the year, we empty the unit, defrost as needed and leave if off, door barely ajar, till we decide to start traveling again.

[dieseltruckdriv]

My local camper shop (a one man shop, before he retired) told me to leave it on whenever possible, they will last longer. My 5er is 17 years old and keeps our beverages nearly ice cold.

This is the same man that told me not to buy a 5er with a gooseneck adapter, "...if it is a camper you want to keep."

He never tried to sell you anything, but would give advice to save you money. There was no reason not to believe him.

[JIMNLIN]

I had a LP fridge go bad (ammonia leak) on a two year old 1984 Aljo 26' 5th wheel trailer I bought new.
My fault....parked it behind the barn out of level side to side with the fridge on and burnt a hole in a tube. LP fridges before the '86-'87 era had to be level.
I bought a new one from Dometic. Their tech guy said Dometic recommended turning the unit off for extended periods such as a 6-8 week period. That was in '87 and maybe they recommend something different now.

My rv sits in the shed now as 100 degree temps is just too hot to enjoy mother nature....and the fridge is turned off with the doors open airing out.

Always go the the mfg and see what they say.

[AJR]

Never during the summer. It is plugged into AC at the house.

[down_home]

Refrigerator/freezers,as stated by another poster last longer if left on.
They have been cutting ours off in storage, but I hadn't thought about it.
I'll tell them to leave it on.
They don't want the propane on in storage inside ut it is always connected to electric.

[tinner12002]

Padlin wrote:
Mine goes on a day or 2 before I leave on a trip, and is turned off when we get home.

This thread makes it look like the majority leave it on, which surprises me.

Yep, that's where I'm at also.

[tinner12002]

Some of us don't have the luxury of having a place to store our RVs so they can be left plugged in. I have one at a campground but at the end of the season we totally disconnect from services well except black hose, and haven't had any issues on a 2006 model with orig frig. The other toy hauler is on storage lot and only get used/frig turned on when we go somewhere...no problems there either. It just depends on what the individuals situation is in my opinion, some are able to leave them on others are not. So with that being said the life of the frig will be what it will be!

[Old-Biscuit]

BBFD wrote:

BobsYourUncle wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
325 watts x 2 /3 x 24 = 5.2 kwh per day

365 x 5.2 = 1898 Kwh per year

1898 x 0.12 =~ $227.00 per year

Don, I thought mine was only 175 watts. Seems I pulled it apart once to look. It's been a while, maybe I'm mistaken. Wouldn't be the first time - LOL!

I put my Kill-O-Watt on my 8 cu ft refig a few years ago and got around ~325 watts. Meter was plugged in at the frig rather than the shore power to avoid misleading data from charger, detector, etc.

Different size fridges ...different wattage heat elements.
Key is to know/use the right one for YOUR model of fridge

[BBFD]

BobsYourUncle wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
325 watts x 2 /3 x 24 = 5.2 kwh per day

365 x 5.2 = 1898 Kwh per year

1898 x 0.12 =~ $227.00 per year

Don, I thought mine was only 175 watts. Seems I pulled it apart once to look. It's been a while, maybe I'm mistaken. Wouldn't be the first time - LOL!

I put my Kill-O-Watt on my 8 cu ft refig a few years ago and got around ~325 watts. Meter was plugged in at the frig rather than the shore power to avoid misleading data from charger, detector, etc.

[1jeep]

we used to religiously shut off, empty and clean the fridge after each trip, not anymore. this season I had to replace the electric element since then we have had the fridge running, that was back in april. I do see that after this next trip I might need to empty and shut off for a few hours to defrost, after I will turn it back on.

[Padlin]

Mine goes on a day or 2 before I leave on a trip, and is turned off when we get home.

This thread makes it look like the majority leave it on, which surprises me.

[DE88ROX]

When not in use its turned off. When I put it away after each use, I raise the tongue high enough to clear the ball and leave it just like that to help with water run off, So obviously the trailer isn't even close to being level and that could cause harm to the fridge.

[pianotuna]

Hi Bob,

Hope you are managing the smoke ok. Did you go on your dry ice trip?

I think the 12 volt setting on mine is 175 watts (or less) that's why it doesn't work well.

Being resistance heating, voltage does matter considerably to the output. Mine, on 120 volt, often reads 335 watts, but I have seen 312 watts, too.

BobsYourUncle wrote:
Don, I thought mine was only 175 watts. Seems I pulled it apart once to look. It's been a while, maybe I'm mistaken. Wouldn't be the first time - LOL!