Baffling Fridge Problem Baffled!
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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=14008
Printed Date: 15 May 2024 at 5:05pm
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Topic: Baffling Fridge Problem Baffled!
Posted By: fwunder
Subject: Baffling Fridge Problem Baffled!
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2020 at 5:58pm
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I swear the Dometic 3-Way fridge is more art than science! Currently, mine is working great in all three modes after 7 years, but it hasn't always been that way. I crossed country with no modifications and it worked great. Then it started acting up. I'm an expert at cleaning, replacing orifice, looking and listening for perfect flame, solar panel boost for 12 volt towing operation and spending wayyy too much money on a Yeti cooler cuz I don't trust it!! The last year or so, I started getting flame-out while running fridge on propane while towing. Pissed me off cuz it always works perfect when standing still and it is the cleanest propane delivery system on the planet. Something changed with solenoid or draft or karma or wind direction. Don't know what. I was able to run on 12 volt while towing and added a solar panel to my TV to help out so I didn't let it bother me too much. But...being the OCD camper that I am I still wanted to run fridge reliably on propane while towing. Just cuz!! I can't remember or find where I found this baffle design (I would offer credit), but, hot damn! it works great!! I made mine out of some leftover round ducting I had sitting around. It's really cheap, works great, I swear the fridge works better and it is a work of art!! And please don't call me Art. The cut size in 8"x10". The cutout is 1 1/2" from bottom, then another 2 1/2" and 2 1/2" deep. Snaps right in. I cut a little tab to secure it a little better. I doesn't get too hot to worry about and works for me. I did re-locate the 12 volt line so no chance of chafe. Just another Dometic fridge art project!!   ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2020 at 6:13pm
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I like it. To slightly modify a rule attributed to Arthur Clarke, the inventor of the communications satellite: "Any sufficiently complex technology is indistinguishable from magic". From the point of view of the multitude of variables that can effect the performance of an RV fridge, it really is a pretty complex technology. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 6:02am
Genius  ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 9:55am
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Not to put the Baby Ruth in the pool, but my manual says to run the fridge on battery when towing. Why not just do that? ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 11:01am
Doodie!! Everybody out of the pool!!  Couple of reasons why I prefer fridge on propane... 1) Mine appears to work better on propane. 2) My TV charging system cannot really keep up the 10 amp drain the fridge takes. I would rather use those amps to go back in batteries between boondocking sites. 3) It just pissed me off cuz it was never an issue until it was. ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 3:14pm
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If you are running your fridge on propane when filling up your TV with gas be really careful. Just a thought.
------------- Jay 179/2019 |
Posted By: ArenaBlanca
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 3:45pm
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And, for those of us who "upgraded" to the 195 because of the bed orientation, the fridge only runs on propane or shore power. A bit of an oversight for a travel trailer IMHO. ------------- Enjoy Life!! |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 4:09pm
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Its not really practical to try to run the larger fridge on 12V, it would put too much current demand on the TV alternator. As it is the 10A requirement for the smaller 3 way fridge provides only marginal cooling and is still too much for many alternators while also running everything else. I'm staying out of the debate about the pros and cons of running the fridge on propane while driving, just saying that with the bigger fridge you don't really have the option of running on 12V.
------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 4:31pm
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Until recently, running on 12V was not an option. The Frontier (and the Escape before that) simply could not provide enough power through the connector to both charge the dual 6V batteries I had previously, and was unsuitable for the LiFePO4 battery I have now. I added a battery isolator and ran a separate 121V circuit to power a DC to DC charger for the LiFePO4 battery. That circuit, coupled with the stronger DC to DC charger now means that I can both charge the battery and run the refrigerator on 12V simultaneously. However, when stopped, the refrigerator still needs to be on either AC power or on LP. Before making the changes, I towed for thousands of miles while running on LP gas with no problems. I added screens to the refrigerator vents. These were to keep the wasps and other insects out. An added advantage is that screens act as a flame arrestor. I learned about that in science class many years ago. Place a screen above a Bunsen burner and the flame halts at the screen. I have felt safe while towing and even when stopping to fill the gas tank. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2020 at 5:04pm
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Colt,
I have done that for years. Honestly my TV handles the load and I'm not one of the cross country campers. Most of my trips are less than 200 miles and primarily to fish. I have owned my 178 for 5 years, and all my systems function. On occasion I have run fridge on propane but not often. I don't boondock, my fridge is cold enough, for my purposes and I pre cool before the trip begins on shore power. When I chose a TV I made sure it could handle a 12V load. Lot of TVs have issues with that and I chose not to do that. It is an owner choice based upon your capabilities. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2020 at 1:10pm
Because after about 6cuft, 12v amperage gets to high to be manageable. That's why only small campers, and truck campers, generally, have a 12v option. They are 2-6cuft.
So when you see all those "bigger rigs" out there on the road, and as you know, that's just about "everybody else".. well.. if you don't see a really long extension cord out the back, you know they are running on propane. Or, everything in their fridge is warming up. |
Posted By: Dirt Sifter
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2020 at 10:11pm
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Good job on the baffle for the fridge! And yup, when we moved from the 179 to the 195 we didn't miss the 12v option. We were used to using the propane on our larger, longer 'family' travel trailers and just kept doing it on the Rpods. We would turn it off after about 3 hrs into our trip when we stopped to gas up, then turn it on following the last fuel stop (usually the next one) before stopping for the night. Nothing seemed affected by the 3 hrs. without constant cooling in a cold fridge. ------------- Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE '07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages 1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2020 at 9:16am
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There has been plenty of debate in other threads about whether it is really necessary to turn off the refrigerator or the gas at the tank when refueling the tow vehicle. Opinions vary. But that being said, turning the fridge off when you pull into the gas station and turning it back on when you leave, would seem to solve the problem. An ordinary thermometer would not be able to register the temperature rise in that brief time. It's simply a matter of pushing the on/off button. The more complicated situation is crossing bridges or going through tunnels that prohibit a propane tank valves to be turned on. There isn't always space to stop before and after. It's a hassle to make the two stops, but again the amount of temperature rise would be relatively minima if one pays attention to turning the tank valve off/on as quickly as possible. The refrigerators are pretty well insulated. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2020 at 9:35am
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The Norfolk VA area bridge tunnels I used to go through often when we lived in NC require a stop for inspection to show that the propane tank valve is really shut off. So I just left the fridge in whatever mode (12V or propane) it was in, and shut off the propane then if it was on. Not a big deal. So only one additional stop was required to turn it back on (or just leave it off when heading home). Not sure whether other tunnels/bridges banning propane use require inspection, but it probably wouldn't take much to find out, there aren't very many of them. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2020 at 9:39am
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I avoided the Baltimore tunnels. The key is whether a tunnel is high in the middle or low in the middle. The ones under a river/bay are lower in the middle so propane, being heavier than air, would tend to accumulate in the middle of the tunnel. Thus, no propane there. Ones through mountains are generally higher in the middle or sloped from one end to another, not providing a place for propane to accumulate. Thus, no restriction. I don't know of any bridges that are enclosed and provide a place for propane to accumulate. Restrictions there don't make sense, but since they exist, need to be obeyed. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2020 at 9:54am
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To clarify, there are multiple tunnels and bridges in NYC, Boston, and Baltimore, maybe some other places that ban propane tanks completely, you can't use those while towing a travel trailer regardless of whether the tank is on or off. You'll would need to find other routes bypassing those. There are a handful of bridges/tunnels in the country that allow propane tanks through but they must be shut off first. Those would be the only ones that could effect fridge operation using propane. IIRC, they are all on the east coast with the exception of the Houston Ship Channel tunnel.
------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |