Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Fridge and Battery

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Fridge and Battery

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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10000
Printed Date: 29 Jun 2025 at 10:45am
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Topic: Fridge and Battery

Posted By: DawgLady
Subject: Fridge and Battery
Date Posted: 21 May 2017 at 1:11pm

Can anyone tell me what on the fridge in 180 draws on battery even tho running on propane or shore power? Something on fridge is pulling battery down anytime it is on no matter what source it is running on and I have never used the battery to run it. It will pull battery down to 40% overnight with nothing else running except microwave clock and radio clock. Have tested all I know to test and wondering if there could be a ground wire loose if that would cause this.

As always thanks so much for any help. Have appointment to take to repair shop Tues but was hoping to find problem and not have to travel to shop.

This group is The Best!!

Sara

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Dawg Lady
2016 R-180 "Lizzy"
Georgia

Replies:

Posted By: yakinator
Date Posted: 21 May 2017 at 2:54pm

I know that the propane detector also draws 12v. Before I started disconnecting the battery, the Phantom draw would drain my battery within 2 weeks with fridge turned off. If you are on shore power I can't see how your battery could be drained except if the converter is bad. My converter failed after 4 months.

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2017 RPOD 180 named VentuRpod

Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 21 May 2017 at 9:14pm

If you are on shore power, there is no reason for the battery to drain unless the converter is defective. Trouble shooting is where I would go

Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 22 May 2017 at 11:03am

Regardless of the power source selected, the cooling fans for the fridge's heat exchanger run on 12V.

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 22 May 2017 at 12:29pm

I would assume that the fridge draws zero when it's turned off? You could put a meter on it to see what the phantom loads add up to. The only things that might be pulling current would be the O detector and/or the smoke detector.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 22 May 2017 at 1:15pm

Originally posted by GlueGuy

I would assume that the fridge draws zero when it's turned off? You could put a meter on it to see what the phantom loads add up to. The only things that might be pulling current would be the O detector and/or the smoke detector.

The stereo and antenna booster are also possible sources of current drain. The booster can be easily turned off.

Posted By: DawgLady
Date Posted: 22 May 2017 at 2:02pm

Thank you all for the help. We think it is converter after all😢 Have ordered a new one so maybe that will solve the problem. This group is fantastic!!

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Dawg Lady
2016 R-180 "Lizzy"
Georgia

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 22 May 2017 at 7:35pm

Yes, the O detector does grab a fair amount of juice from the battery and as yakinator stated, it will drain your battery to nothing in a matter of a couple weeks. The muffin fans on the back of the fridge don't draw very much and only run when it is quite hot out and or your fridge side is sitting where the sun is hitting it. They only run for short amount of time until the ambient temp drops. Another way to lessen the time the muffin fans run is to remove both lower and upper access panel covers on the outside behind the fridge which will improve air flow and if you are able to, park your pod so that the fridge side doesn't face south or west.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: dboyer
Date Posted: 23 May 2017 at 12:14pm

Indicator lights on our 177 Domestic refrigerator will switch to gas or battery power but both shut off after 2-3 minutes. In fact the entire indicator panel shuts off except if the refrigerator is on electric power.

Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 23 May 2017 at 2:27pm

Originally posted by dboyer

Indicator lights on our 177 Domestic refrigerator will switch to gas or battery power but both shut off after 2-3 minutes. In fact the entire indicator panel shuts off except if the refrigerator is on electric power.

That's not normal and points to a 12V problem, maybe the battery. If a power source isn't working, the normal response is for the warning light to come on and the fridge to beep. The converter is apparently working or else you'd have the same issue on electric.

Posted By: dboyer
Date Posted: 23 May 2017 at 6:38pm

Thanks for taking you the time to respond! I will have my battery tested and hope that alleviates the problem.