The Fridge

[MBtigger]

Does propane take longer to cool the fridge than AC?


Our first trip in the new Escape 17B was at a location with electrical hook ups. We ran the fridge off AC and cooled it down overnight before our trip. It was great.


Our next trip (about 20 hours from now) does NOT have an electric hook up. So I am trying to cool down the refrig using gas to make sure the gas works. It’s 90 something F outside and after a few hours I am having a hard time determining if the refrigerator is cooling using gas!


I know – it takes forever (more than 12 hours - overnight) for the fridge to get cold. But as this is a system I have not yet tested (and you can yell at me that I SHOULD have tested this weeks ago!) I am getting nervous. Gas is seeming to take longer than the AC did….


And yes, in the future I will cool down with home AC power prior to using gas on a trip. But I need to make sure gas works somehow...


Thanks, MB
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[JeffreyG]

My experience with RV fridges is that they run better on propane than they do on 120V.

[gbaglo]

You need an indoor/outdoor thermometer to monitor the temp so you can keep the fridge door closed.

[MBtigger]

After 3 more hours, I am positive the gas cooling is working. 3 way fridge is slick, even if it takes ages to cool....

[rubicon327]

If you don’t already have one do yourself a favor and get something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Refri...08654109&psc=1

Or if you want to get fancy and monitor from your phone even from your tow vehicle a set of these. I have a pair and they worked fantastic on the last trip.
https://www.sensorpush.com/products/p/ht-w

[Bobbie54]

I think once cool propane is great but I always pre-cool on AC just because I know that's going to take a lot of energy.

[MBtigger]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

I think once cool propane is great but I always pre-cool on AC just because I know that's going to take a lot of energy.

I think this will be the way of the future, but I need to test propane cooling before heading out for a weekend without an AC hookup....

[gbaglo]

Took me a while to convince my wife that the fridge door doesn't close itself, like the one at home. We always press firmly. And, we keep sandwich stuff in a plastic box that can be quickly removed, with no hunting while the door is open.

[Ian and Sue]

Originally Posted by MBtigger

I think this will be the way of the future, but I need to test propane cooling before heading out for a weekend without an AC hookup....

Fill some ice cube trays and put them in the freezer....this is a cheap way to know it is working. If you have ice the next day...it works!

[h2owmn]

Someone here recommended an even fancier thermometer setup. It has three sensors--one for the freezer, one for the refrigerator, one for outside and the master panel gives inside temp (and humidity for all four as well) I like it very much.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

Someone here recommended an even fancier thermometer setup.

Brand, model, link?

[RangerMan]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Brand, model, link?

After a few hours on propane I open the freezer door and place my hand on the floor of freezer. If it's getting cold , you're OK.

[JeffreyG]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

I think once cool propane is great but I always pre-cool on AC just because I know that's going to take a lot of energy.

Fill the fridge with cold food from your house fridge = cold right away.


The mass of the food x cP of the food is significantly higher than the mass x cP of the fridge internals and air.

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by JeffreyG

Fill the fridge with cold food from your house fridge = cold right away.


The mass of the food x cP of the food is significantly higher than the mass x cP of the fridge internals and air.

Two days before each trip my friend puts a FROZEN 1 gallon jug of water in the fridge to "pre-cool" before turning the unit on and loading with food.

He says it works great.