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Topic ClosedWill fridge run on propane with no electricity?
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Location: Mayville, WI
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Will fridge run on propane with no electricity?
    Posted: 24 May 2013 at 9:41pm
I liked the one where the cats turned on the gas.  Cats can be like that...
Keith-N-Dar
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 May 2013 at 10:05pm
The problem is when the cats learn to ignite a lighter.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Joined: 03 Apr 2011
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 May 2013 at 8:21am
That is why our cats stay home when we camp.
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P&M View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Aug 2012
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 May 2013 at 10:17am
[/QUOTE]

BUT to the OP's question.. Battery will run the fridge brain for a long time... Days and days. It's one of the lower draws on the 12v system. Heater motor, fantastic fan, water pump, lights. Thats where your amps go..

You know if all you are running is the fridge.. can you just run a regular extension cord out to the trailer? will be fine.
[/QUOTE]
I would, but unfortunately we store it in a self-storage facility that has no electric anywhere near our Pod.  I found that by swinging by on Friday morning about 7am, hooking up battery and turning on the fridge with the gas, that when I swung back around to pick it up and head out at 2pm the fridge was a nice 39 degrees cold.
P & M ... and Comet too!
2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod
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Camper Bob View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Sep 2011
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Posts: 913 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 May 2013 at 12:35pm
I too like cats.  I just can't finish one myself.  Dog person.  Safe travels.
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 May 2013 at 3:10pm
Originally posted by P&M

[/QUOTE


BUT to the OP's question.. Battery will run the fridge brain for a long time... Days and days. It's one of the lower draws on the 12v system. Heater motor, fantastic fan, water pump, lights. Thats where your amps go..

You know if all you are running is the fridge.. can you just run a regular extension cord out to the trailer? will be fine.
[/QUOTE]
I would, but unfortunately we store it in a self-storage facility that has no electric anywhere near our Pod.  I found that by swinging by on Friday morning about 7am, hooking up battery and turning on the fridge with the gas, that when I swung back around to pick it up and head out at 2pm the fridge was a nice 39 degrees cold.[/QUOTE]

I truly hate it for people who can't store at home, no matter what the reason. We are digging in our own dump station very soon.

So Camp Driveway will be full hook-ups..

I can charge more that way. LOL
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Jdub View Drop Down
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Joined: 17 Mar 2013
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Posts: 94 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 May 2013 at 3:47pm
So wait, let me get this right. 

The pod is plugged in the night before with the refrig cooling on the house electricity. Load it up and take off. 

Of the two choices on the road, run the frig on propane or on the battery, I had assumed battery all the time. But running it on propane is equally ok (or maybe better) as long as you don't crash the rig? 

I didn't know propane was a functional option.....
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Joined: 13 Aug 2012
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 May 2013 at 4:30pm
Jdub, I actually run it both ways when I'm traveling.  I will run it on 12v until I stop, and if we are stopping for any longer than 15-20 minutes or so (like for lunch and beverages) I'll switch it over to propane so that I don't drain my batteries.  Then I switch it back over when we are ready to take off, and shut off the propane.
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 May 2013 at 4:47pm
furpod - I love the idea of bringing the dump station to the pod.  I can move our pod to our cleanout access to dump at home, but it isn't close to where we usually park it.  I'm getting ready to extend the parking area in front of our garage - kids with cars coming in the next few years, and as a better parking location for the pod.  It wouldn't be that hard to extend a pipe from the septic system to that new parking area but I hadn't thought of it before.  Already have a 30 amp outlet within reach and it doesn't take much to extend the hose.
 
Jdub - yes, many people plug in the night before to charge the battery and precool the fridge on AC mode (make sure you unplug the battery from the pod between uses, but plug it back in and then plug in the pod once a month to maintain battery health).  Personally I go down the road in 12 volt mode most of the time since we camp with hookups so I just switch between 120 and 12 volt modes.  However, on those trips where we dry camp I'll switch to propane mode before we leave and leave it there for the whole trip.  One less thing to fiddle with once we get to camp.
 
Edit: I do the same as P & M, if we stop for lunch or any other reason I'll switch it over to propane mode.  You WILL kill your battery quickly if you leave it in 12 volt mode too long w/o your engine running.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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P&M View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Aug 2012
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 May 2013 at 7:16pm
techntrek, where did you think we got that idea from other than you?   
P & M ... and Comet too!
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