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Topic ClosedRunning the fridge while driving

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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Running the fridge while driving
    Posted: 12 Jun 2016 at 10:27pm
When towing the brakes get all their power from the TV through the brake controller. The TT battery is out of the circuit. But under breakaway conditions the TV is down the road apiece. Dead battery=no brakes.
Charlie
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OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jun 2016 at 6:33am
 As CharlieM stated, the only time the trailer brakes get any 12V power from the trailer battery is if the breakaway switch is pulled and a closed circuit is made. Trailer brakes 100% of the time normally get their power from the tow vehicle connection.

If your trailer battery is dead, and your trailer "breaks away" from your tow vehicle, and your safety chains break or weren't used, it's going to be a BAD day and a runaway trailer.

And, I always tow with propane ON for the fridge cooling. My camping locations are always NO Hookups. So I want my 2 batteries at full charge when I arrive for the weekend. And I never bring my generator, since I know I won't be running the A/C and 2 batteries is enough as long as the furnace isn't used heavily.

Like others have noted, there are MANY RVs that do NOT have a 12V option for the fridge, which means they must travel with propane on, or fridge off.

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techntrek View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jun 2016 at 11:23am
Maybe this will help those that learn visually:  https://www.etrailer.com/static/images/pics/q/u/qu41784_800.jpg

The pin that is labeled "brake controller output" is the yellow line that comes from the brake controller and runs to the brakes.  typically it only outputs 6-8 volts depending on the setting on the controller (for lighter trailers).  

The line labeled "12v battery power" runs from the TV battery to the pod battery and to the converter where it splits up to run the lights, fan, fridge "brains", 12 volt fridge heater (when fridge is set to 12 volt mode), and LP detector (the one by the floor).  The fridge heater or a low pod battery will both overload this line on most factory or aftermarket Bargeman installations since they use 12 gauge wiring - which gives you a voltage drop between the TV and pod battery, and due to physics this forces the fridge to pull only from the pod battery.  The pod battery itself won't charge.  After 8 hours on the road you arrive in-camp with a dead pod battery and warm fridge.  This happened during our last long trip with our pod with our new Suburban.  I didn't check the size of this wire so assumed I would use 12 volt mode because the gas mode wasn't working.  Wondered why the temperature slowly climbed as we monitored our remote display in the TV.  Didn't realize until we got back what the problem was.  You really need 10 gauge (also too small for the worst conditions) or 8 gauge (best).

Turn/brake left/right, and running lights have their own separate wiring, too.

The Achilles heel is the ground line.  If it makes a bad connection or is sized too small before it connects to the pod and/or TV frame, it can affect everything listed above.  It should be sized large, short, and go directly to the frame on each side.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Cap View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2017 at 1:23pm
I have a Dometic refrig and when I plug it into shore power, the alarm goes off.  It works well on propane and battery.  Anyone have this problem, or can offer any information?
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