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Old 10-05-2019, 05:21 AM   #1
Hooch on Wheels
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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.

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Jim&Celia
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Old 10-05-2019, 05:35 AM   #2
suny07
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hooch on Wheels View Post
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
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
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Old 10-05-2019, 06:25 AM   #3
mazboy
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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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Old 10-05-2019, 06:28 AM   #4
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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.
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Old 10-05-2019, 08:04 AM   #5
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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.
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Old 10-05-2019, 08:27 AM   #6
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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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Old 10-05-2019, 09:57 AM   #7
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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.
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Old 10-05-2019, 02:22 PM   #8
jcurtis934
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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.
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Old 10-13-2019, 02:44 PM   #9
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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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Old 10-13-2019, 05:06 PM   #10
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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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Old 10-15-2019, 08:54 AM   #11
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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.
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Old 10-15-2019, 04:03 PM   #12
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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.
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