Fridge on Battery while towing?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Dave & Penny Smith

Escape's orientation video clearly recommends running on 12V (after pre-cooling on 120V) and indicates the frig will use little power if it is already cool. If this is possible without draining the trailer battery (ies)?
...
Most responders seem to recommend running on propane, but will 12V (as recommended by Escape) work--without significantly discharging the trailer batteries?

That would depend on the wiring of your tow vehicle, and to some extent on the voltage regulation logic of your tow vehicle; both of these vary greatly between tow vehicles.

Originally Posted by Dave & Penny Smith

If so, it would seem to me to have the advantage of not having to remember to turn off the frig (if running on propane) at fuel stops.

Yes, running on 12V DC power while towing is certainly the most convenient method and avoids both the hassle of switching off of propane for refueling, and the risk of forgetting to switch off.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Jean

If set on battery, I don't think you have to turn fridge off when stop briefly, but you do need to unplug the 7-way cable or your car battery and/or trailer battery would drain (see response from senior member at beginning of thread).

The (tow vehicle) car battery will only drain down if the tow vehicle wiring is missing the shut-off relay which is normally included in a trailer power circuit (this is the "solenoid" which Jon mentioned); however, draining the trailer battery is a significant issue due to the high power demand of a refrigerator.

[padlin]

To answer your question, between the solar and the tow vehicle you'll be fine running on battery when towing. I would recommend switching to Auto when you stop for the night.

The issue is, you need to remember to manually swap to battery, then to the other source when you stop for the night.

I sometimes swap to battery if the weather is going to be decent, but I forget about it pretty often, usually give up and just leave it on auto. The amount of propane the fridge uses is pretty low. I get a couple weeks out of a 20lb tank, so roughly a buck a day with the bigger 6.7 fridge, and a little bit of hot water heater run time.

Some folks shutoff the propane when fueling, most don't. Some folks worry about exploding from propane when traveling, most don't. Take your pick.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by padlin

Some folks shutoff the propane when fueling, most don't.

Just to clarify... there is no reason to shut off the supply of propane when fueling, only to turn any propane-fired appliances off or to other energy sources. The risk associated with fueling is due to the flame as an ignition source, not due to having propane in the system.

[padlin]

Okay. On revise...

Some folks shutoff propane appliances when fueling, most don't.

[Vermilye]

If you are worried about killing the battery of your tow vehicle during stops, it is worth checking your 7 pin connector with a tester - 7 pin tester. It is not too expensive an addition to your tool kit & can be used to check whether the charge line stays on or off with the ignition as well as giving you a way to determine whether non working trailer lights are the fault of the trailer or the tow vehicle.

[Dave & Penny Smith]

Thanks for the advice (and opinions). As Jim pointed out, we'll have to experiment to determine what works best for us (and will have to buy a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer so we have some idea of what's happening in the fridge. We're off on a trip to the Ruby Mountains (NV) this weekend, so will try 12V on the drive from Salt Lake to Elko (roughly 4--5 hours).
Dave

[stephen99]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

If you are worried about killing the battery of your tow vehicle during stops, it is worth checking your 7 pin connector with a tester - 7 pin tester. It is not too expensive an addition to your tool kit & can be used to check whether the charge line stays on or off with the ignition as well as giving you a way to determine whether non working trailer lights are the fault of the trailer or the tow vehicle.

Good tip. Thanks Jon. Just added it to the latest Amazon order.

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by bdornbush

We have a 19 with dual 6v batteries and 150W solar panel. Our tow vehicle is a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the battery and alternator in the TV connected through the 7 pin plug. We took a 3 week trip recently to southwest national parks, and ran the trailer refrigerator on 12v all the time while traveling. We had no problem with the battery draining. We had sun most of the time while traveling and the battery was always fully charged when we arrived. We usually stop every 2-3 hours for breaks or lunch and never disconnected the 7-pin. We always turn the propane off while traveling. When we stop for the night, as part of our unhooking, we turn on the propane and if we are dry camping, turn the refrigerator to propane, or if we have electric, turn it to 120v. It works so well, we see no reason to change. The power is basically free (sun and tow vehicle running anyway) and we don't use any propane while traveling.

Our experience is exactly like Bill's. We have the solar and dual sixes also. I have to confess though, Bill taught me everything I know about solar and batteries during our pre-purchase viewing. Thanks Bill!

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by ice-breaker

We have never used the 12V option for powering our fridge. Majority of the time (probably >90%) we use propane, and the other 50% of the time we use 120V AC power.

A very good Yogism

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by ice-breaker

We have never used the 12V option for powering our fridge. Majority of the time (probably >90%) we use propane, and the other 50% of the time we use 120V AC power.

Years ago my boss and his son hosted a foreign exchange student from Portugal. We took him hunting and someone pushed a skunk hiding in a fence row. The skunk runs out into a picked cornfield. Somebody yells "shoot him Rui." Rui shoots the skunk and later relates, " I never heard such a smell" . Rui, meet Yogi.
Dave

[Mucram]

Originally Posted by Dave & Penny Smith

Thanks for the advice (and opinions). As Jim pointed out, we'll have to experiment to determine what works best for us (and will have to buy a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer so we have some idea of what's happening in the fridge. We're off on a trip to the Ruby Mountains (NV) this weekend, so will try 12V on the drive from Salt Lake to Elko (roughly 4--5 hours).
Dave

Hope to see you in lamoile. Probably staying @ Thomas cg? One of my favs.

[Trav]

Does the Robot Check only tell you about your car battery? What do you use for the trailer to check the trailer batteries?

[padlin]

If I read your question right.

Most folks use a volt meter to monitor batteries. Something like these will work... https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Elect.../dp/B00AQAQIGO

If you look aroud on the web, you'll find voltage tables to convert the voltage to a % of charge. Shoot for not going below 12.0 volts, which is about 50% charge.

[Dave & Penny Smith]

Mucram:
You're right, we will be staying at Thomas Canyon (site #8) from Sunday (6/26) until Friday (7/01). It will be our first time camping in Lamoille Canyon, and hope to do several of the shorter hikes in the area. When are you going to be in the area and where will you be staying? Would be good to meet other Escape enthusiasts.
Dave

[John David]

Originally Posted by bdornbush

We have a 19 with dual 6v batteries and 150W solar panel. Our tow vehicle is a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the battery and alternator in the TV connected through the 7 pin plug. We took a 3 week trip recently to southwest national parks, and ran the trailer refrigerator on 12v all the time while traveling. We had no problem with the battery draining. We had sun most of the time while traveling and the battery was always fully charged when we arrived. We usually stop every 2-3 hours for breaks or lunch and never disconnected the 7-pin. We always turn the propane off while traveling. When we stop for the night, as part of our unhooking, we turn on the propane and if we are dry camping, turn the refrigerator to propane, or if we have electric, turn it to 120v. It works so well, we see no reason to change. The power is basically free (sun and tow vehicle running anyway) and we don't use any propane while traveling.

This is the way we plan to do it. But here's a question. If my vehicle charge system puts out a higher voltage than my solar charge controller will the solar panels even be providing any energy into the battery when I'm towing? I think not. What say the electrical gurus out there?

[bdornbush]

All I can say is that after about 7000 miles traveling with solar and car connected in parallel, I have had no issue with arriving without the batteries charged, so it works with my Jeep.

[John David]

I'm glad to hear that. I was just wondering if the charge was coming from the sun or the petroleum product. I suspect it's coming from whatever gives the highest voltage or push.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by John David

If my vehicle charge system puts out a higher voltage than my solar charge controller will the solar panels even be providing any energy into the battery when I'm towing?

The solar panels don't have a single fixed voltage output, even for a specific sun condition. If the tow vehicle's charge system imposes a higher voltage than would exist without the tow vehicle connected, and the panels are connected directly to the battery, they will just run at that higher voltage... and will produce less current (possibly none at all in poor sun brightness). The maximum voltage output of panels used with "12 volt" battery systems is much higher than a vehicle's charging system would ever produce.

The complication is the solar charge controller. If the tow vehicle drives the voltage seen by the controller higher than what the controller is programmed to provide, it will shut off the panel output.

[Dave & Penny Smith]

Folks:
We got back yesterday afternoon from our 6-day trip to the Ruby Mountains (NV).
We noted fridge temp. (and setting) and battery level while traveling. We used an "Acurite" wireless thermometer to measure temp. in the fridge. Our TV is a 2008 Toyota 4Runner (V6), our 2015 Escape 17B has the 4.3 cu. ft. fridge and we have a solar panel (150W) and dual 6V batteries. Data was collected at convenient stopping places, so the time intervals are not consistent. Results were:
Salt Lake to Thomas Cyn. CG (6/26)
Elapsed Time Fridge Setting Fridge Temp. Battery V
start 5 bars 40 degrees 13.7 V
1-35 4 bars 40 degrees 13.7 V
1-35 5 bars 40 degrees 13.1 V
1-20 5 bars 42 degrees 13.2 V
2-20 5 bars 43 degrees 12.8 V
The last measurement was after a lunch stop, the fridge was left on 12V (and connected to the TV) during this time. Outside temp. ranged from 72 to 85.

Thomas Cyn. CG to Salt Lake (7/01)
start 4 bars 38 degrees 14.4 V
2-45 4 bars 33 degrees 13.0 V
1-15 4 bars 38 degrees 13.2 V
3-37 4 bars 42 degrees 12.7 V
Outside temp. ranged from 68 to 88.
Conclusions:
1. Our system (4Runner, dual 6V batteries and solar panel would seem to allow driving at least 6-7 hours on 12V without depleting the batteries unduly (given the conditions we experienced). Our trip was in clear weather driving from Salt Lake to Elko, so probably optimum conditions for solar.
2. Having the fridge well cooled to start with is key--we plugged it in to 120V two days (5 bars) before the start of our trip and it was at 40 when we started. After running on propane for five days (4 bars), the fridge was cooler (38) and interestingly initially got even colder running on 12V (33).

I hope this information will be of interest to other forum members. Lamoille Canyon (and the Ruby Mtns. are spectacular and we enjoyed some great hiking!

Dave