using propane for fridge

[kbottcher]

I use propane side of fridge to get it cold before we camp.I know i need battery to turn fridge on.Can i use battery disconnect to turn battery off then, or will the fridge then not run?
thanks in advance
Kerry

[wolfe10]

To clarify:

Yes, your refrigerator must have 12 VDC to operate on either 120 VAC or propane. It powers the PC board.

The real question comes in as to how your coach is wired. Some wire 12 VDC to the refrigerator through the salesman switch, some provide an alternate direct routing so that you can turn off the salesman switch to kill lights, etc and have the refrigerator remain running.

Simple to determine. Turn off the salesman switch and see if the refrigerator still works.

[Ron3rd]

wildtoad wrote:
Even if you run the fridge on propane you need 12v power to the fridge. No power, no Fridge.

X2. Rule of thumb: if you lose 12v power, the only thing that will work is your stove.

[2oldman]

He's gone.

[DrewE]

It depends on the fridge to be absolutely precise. Some (old) models did not have any electrical control circuitry for operation on gas, and so did not need battery power; you just opened a gas valve and lit the flame and maybe adjusted its size to control how much cooling you got.

Most if not all current models have electronic controls that need 12V power regardless of whether the fridge is operating in gas mode, 120V mode, or 12V mode if it's a three-way fridge. Almost certainly your fridge is in this category and does require some 12V power to operate.

[profdant139]

The control panel for the fridge runs on electricity. It doesn't draw much power, but it does need a little!

[1492]

Moved from Forum Posting Help and Support

[pianotuna]

Hi,

My fridge turns off if I cycle the battery disconnect switch to the off position.

[wildtoad]

Even if you run the fridge on propane you need 12v power to the fridge. No power, no Fridge.

[2oldman]

Dunno. Try it. If the interior light doesn't come on, no. Why does your profile show a website that's just a IP address?