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10-05-2019, 05:21 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Columbia
Posts: 42
M.O.C. #23495
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How do I do a Dometic
We have a 2018 High Country 305RL with a Dometic electric/propane refrigerator. While on the road I do not like running the fridge on propane due to the possible fire issue. I know there is an automatic propane shut off when you turn off the engine but after two house fires in 47 years I would like an alternative to using propane.
Question: What kind of battery system do I need to keep the fridge cool for around 6 hours driving time?
Any suggestions or info would be appreciated.
BTW, only one of those fires was my fault, be sure to unhook your battery when playing with your boat in the garage or you could burn down your garage and part of your kitchen. I speak from experience.
Thanks,
Jim&Celia
Hooch on Wheels
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10-05-2019, 05:35 AM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 355
M.O.C. #21337
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hooch on Wheels
We have a 2018 High Country 305RL with a Dometic electric/propane refrigerator. While on the road I do not like running the fridge on propane due to the possible fire issue. I know there is an automatic propane shut off when you turn off the engine but after two house fires in 47 years I would like an alternative to using propane.
Question: What kind of battery system do I need to keep the fridge cool for around 6 hours driving time?
Any suggestions or info would be appreciated.
BTW, only one of those fires was my fault, be sure to unhook your battery when playing with your boat in the garage or you could burn down your garage and part of your kitchen. I speak from experience.
Thanks,
Jim&Celia
Hooch on Wheels
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Hi,
you would need to get power to the fridge just like for the residential fridge setups.
Means you need an Inverter to connect to your battery.
Then run a direct line from the Inverter to the fridge.
Or more effort connect the power lines from the inverter to the power panel from where the fridge and then also other stuff is connected.
Your Battery Capacity needs to be enhanced depending on how long you plan to run it.
Mike
__________________
Montana 3123RL Legacy 'Boon-docking Edition'
RAM 3500 Mega Cab Cummins Diesel DRW
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10-05-2019, 06:25 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,896
M.O.C. #9561
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6 hours on road? just leave the doors shut and plug in when you get to where you are going.
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10-05-2019, 06:28 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northport
Posts: 624
M.O.C. #12724
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This doesn't help with your question but is just FYI. My first two campers (back in the 70s) were 3 way refrigerators. Propane, 12V DC or 120V AC. Don't know why they got away from them. Think people were using 12V long term while hooked to power and that wasn't how it was intended to be used.
__________________
Paul Northport,AL W4XH
2013 358 RLT Mountaineer
2008 Silverado Duramax
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10-05-2019, 08:04 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Catoosa
Posts: 772
M.O.C. #18384
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Jim, can you please expound on your statement that there is an automatic propane shutoff when you turn off the engine. Since your trailer has it's own onboard 12 volt supply (battery/batteries) the trailer's electrical system operates independently of the tow vechile. I assume that when you turn off the power to the fridge or choose the electric only mode that a valve to the burner closes. Propane, however would still be supplied to that valve. The only way to completely turn off the propane to any of the appliances is to manually close the valves on the two tanks and then purge the lines of any residue pressure.
__________________
2015 3100RL legacy...2005 Ford F-250 CC SB. Tows like a charm! 4/19 Updated to 2017 Chevy 3500 CC SB SRW -hope it tows as well as my F 250 did!
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10-05-2019, 08:27 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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Basically you will need a means of powering the fridge while in transit. A six hour transit should be short enough that the contents remains cold with the door shut. However you have a couple of options as well all are a matter of how much you want to spend.
Install sufficient battery capacity and recharge then at your destination as alternator will most likely not keep up with draw.
Reduce draw by converting fridge to sc compressor running directly from batteries with ample capacity. This arrangement draws considerably less power.
Add an energy source like solar that can adequately recharge your batteries accounting for the draw of the fridge. Some folks also use their onboard gensets for this as well as running AC units so upon arrival coach is cooled down and fridge stays cold.
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10-05-2019, 09:57 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,899
M.O.C. #20477
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The RV fridge use a lot more electric power than a residential when it is run on electric. Just close it up for 6 hours.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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10-05-2019, 02:22 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
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Like said rv fridge draws more power than residential fridge and this would mean 70 plus amps of 12vdc drain even if you did add an inverter and necessary changes to do this. They now have smaller residential fridges to directly replace the smaller 9 cuft rv fridges if that is what you have, but you would still have to do all the changes needed to produce 120vac off of a battery bank.
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
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10-13-2019, 02:44 PM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Kirkville
Posts: 8
M.O.C. #22350
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No worries!
We always travel with our fridge off. I usually put a towel over each shelf in the main part of the fridge before we roll out. After six hours, everything is still cold and nothing has moved around.
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10-13-2019, 05:06 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: miami
Posts: 152
M.O.C. #13290
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Your rv fridge has a resistance like a water heater to heat up the gas that cool the fridge that resistance pull 750 watts ac so you would need solar panel to charge you batteries up so you won’t drain them
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10-15-2019, 08:54 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,318
M.O.C. #17894
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The fridge in our current and all of our previous units have been on while traveling if driving more that an hour. Not one issue in 15 years. Current fridge has the ARP device and 2 additional fans to help prevent fires from over heating boiler tubes.
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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10-15-2019, 04:03 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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We've had a blown tire sever the propane hose so we never travel with the firdge on. We are frequently on the road for up to 10 hours many times in 100 degree heat. In 8 years of full timing we have never had an issue with the fridge staying cold.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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