Fridge on when driving??
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Topic: Fridge on when driving??
Posted By: paulpiastro
Subject: Fridge on when driving??
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2022 at 2:27pm
| A dumb question-when the fridge in my rPod 192 is turned to "auto" and I unplug from shore power, does it switch to battery or gas while driving?? I would assume using the gas would be dangerous---I get a continuous beep when I travel however the food seems to stay cold in the fridge--can someone explain this?? Thank you. |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2022 at 4:25pm
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Use of propane while traveling isn't necessarily dangerous. Before our refrigerator died and I replaced it with an AC/DC model, I used propane while driving with no issues. I did put bug screens on the vents to keep wasps from building nests in the burner area (had that happen when we first bought the RPod). As to why it is beeping, you might wish to check to see if your refrigerator is operating on propane or battery. The beeping could be low battery or it could be that the flame failed to light. Do you have the propane turned on or off when you are on the road? ------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2022 at 6:46pm
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+1 to Stephen H. We have operated our Dometic fridge on propane for 12 years now on our 177. Have traveled over 43,000 miles and no issues. In fact the only time it isn't on propane are the few times when we find a campsite that offers electric. Also check your onboard battery (12v) or batteries (if you have a pair of 6v). The motherboard needs 12v power to function correctly. If your battery is low (below 12.1v or thereabout) it will cause the beeping. Hopefully you have a multitestor or voltmeter. Fully charged at rest the reading will be 12.72 volts, if at 50% (you want to charge your battery if it gets to this point) 12.2v. ------------- 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: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2022 at 9:50pm
| Like the others have said, I run my fridge almost exclusively on propane. Its very efficient and works well. Not so on 12v power, it runs the battery down quickly. So when I unplug from shore power, I always switch it to propane and let it run that way when travelling. |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2022 at 11:23am
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We also use propane almost exclusively and leave it on while driving. One additional cause of a beeping refrig is when the door is not completely closed. the beeping may be a door signal. Travel safe and often Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2022 at 12:58pm
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I ran my fridge on 12V while on the road, not because I was concerned about propane safety but because it saves on propane and the tow vehicle alternator kept the batteries charged just fine. Also, I frequently passed through the Norfolk bridge tunnel, one of the several tunnels in the country that bans propane use. Just remember to switch over to propane if you stop for more than a few minutes or your trailer battery will discharge rapidly. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: paulpiastro
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2022 at 4:31pm
| THANKS TO ALL WHO RESPONDED TO MY "DUMB QUESTION" IT VERIFIED WHAT I WAS THINKING AND GIVES ME SOME PEACE OF MIND WHILE TRAVELLING!!! HAVE A GREAT YEAR 'ON THE ROAD'!! |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2022 at 12:01pm
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We also run the fridge on 12V. OK for us because our F150 turns off the 12V to the trailer when the engine is off. We switch to propane when we get to the final destination. We know a lot of people who just leave it on propane all the time, but for us, it's better to not have to think about it. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: LongRanger
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2022 at 10:46am
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Was the F150 feature something you added on? I've got a 2017 F150 and I'm wondering if mine does that. Last time we took out the RP190 I ran the fridge on battery and by the time we got to our destination (6 hours away) our fridge was beeping and the battery was low. I don't know if I've got a problem with the truck or the RP190.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2022 at 6:37pm
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From what I understand, there may be a fuse that needs to be inserted in the fuse block for the connector to supply power to the trailer. Check your truck's owner's manual for details. ------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2022 at 6:55pm
I also have a 2017 F-150. Purchased it used and it came with a towing package. Now the interesting thing is that I had to have it wired so that I had 12v going through the Bargman plug to charge the onboard battery while traveling. You would think if a truck has a tow package it should include the 12v wired to go to the trailer. Both previous 150's had that with their tow package, one was a 2011, the other a 1994. ------------- 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: poston
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2022 at 7:29pm
I had to have a 7-pin installed on my Xterra. We happily headed off on our maiden voyage, but found out in the field that I wasn't getting 12V back there. I took it back to my shop, and they said, you didn't say you wanted the 12V power hooked up. Come on! ------------- -- Jim Virginia City, Nevada 2016 R-pod 180 2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2022 at 7:52pm
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Our 2019 F-150 sends electrons to the trailer through the bargeman plug. I haven't checked to see if that stops with the motor turned off. Next time I hook up the trailer, I'll check. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: LongRanger
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2022 at 8:59pm
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