Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Running Fridge on Battery in Transit

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Running Fridge on Battery in Transit

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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=2006
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Topic: Running Fridge on Battery in Transit

Posted By: g4royce
Subject: Running Fridge on Battery in Transit
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2011 at 1:47pm

When we first got our trailer the dealer told me that the most efficient way to run the fridge while in transit was propane. We've had problems with the fridge in propane mode and have been using it in battery mode in transit instead lately. My tow vehicle is not very powerful and towing in the heat of summer is straining my engine. What I'd like to know is does anyone know if running the fridge on battery increases the strain on my engine significantly? Thanks.

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ChaiPod
2009 RP152
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.5L V6

Replies:

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2011 at 1:57pm

Doubtful.. I have not yet checked to see what the drain/load would be, but the charging system usually doesn't draw a lot of engine power anyways...

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Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2011 at 7:55pm

There are people, including myself, that say you should never use LP while on the road. The reason is that in an accident you would have an open gas line. BOOM! It would be better to get the fridge cold before you leave and put it on 12v.

Terry

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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565

Posted By: Hodge-PODge
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2011 at 8:46pm

Originally posted by TerryM

There are people, including myself, that say you should never use LP while on the road. The reason is that in an accident you would have an open gas line. BOOM! It would be better to get the fridge cold before you leave and put it on 12v.

Terry

Hey Terry, that's not what Tech said a couple of weeks ago. Here is his post and a link to it. I respect BOTH your opinions. Any chance of mutual consensus on this topic? Or will you just agree to disagree? I value what you both say.

Diane

Link to Post:

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1799&KW=PROPANE&PID=17584&title=greasing-the-grooves#17584 -

Hodge - don't worry about using the propane, it isn't illegal in any state, just in some tunnels where it is clearly marked. Most big rigs only have 2 way fridges with no 12 volt option and can only use propane on the road. The tanks have several safety features which prevent accidents - I've seen videos of them on Mythbusters where even sitting in a fire the worst they do is vent. No explosion.

Doug
'10 Forest River R-pod 171 (first 'pod ever registered in MD!)
'98 Coleman Grandview SP - FOR SALE
'03 Toyota Sienna

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2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge
2011 Mercedes ML350
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 30 Jul 2011 at 9:59pm

Even on other big camping forums this is one of those subjects where nobody can agree. Wink

The heating element in 12 volt mode is usually around 120-150 watts. One horsepower is 745 watts, so it isn't much of a load on the engine. What you do need to worry about is if the wiring coming from the battery to the Bargeman connector is big enough. The +12 line and the negative line need to be at least 10 gauge wire, even 8 would be better. That ensures there isn't much of a voltage drop when you have the fridge in 12 volt mode and the battery is charging (and the lights are on, etc).

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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual

Posted By: secretbard
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2011 at 3:52am

I might get yelled at for this, but I suggest only short trips for the 12v battery powered refrigerator mode. The reason being that I have personally had my battery quickly drain while boondocking for 2 nights with the refrigerator in battery power mode. Now this might be solved with a heavier gage wire as was previously suggested, I don't know. I personally prefer the propane power mode for the refrigerator as the propane usage seems minimal and it gets the job done. I know others will disagree with the use of propane, but I really do prefer it.

I prefer propane if not plugged in that is...

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2010 Rpod 172 :)
2004 Chevy Trailblazer

Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2011 at 7:50am

Hodge-PODge: I will stick with my statement. Lets say you had an accident. Under normal conditions there would not be a fire in the camper. If your gas line was turned on and broken there would be free flowing LP gas in the camper. It could accumulate in the camper. One spark is all that is needed. I have seen pictures of campers that caught fire. They go up pretty fast. No matter how safe the tank is on LP, the weak link is the gas line. A line putting out gas.

In the not too distant past all the fridges were LP/110v/12v. A lot of people had problems with the wind blowing out the burner when driving. The 12v setting of course didn't have that problem. The manufactures fixed the blow out problem. So because there isn't that problem any longer they are making 110v/LP ones. Than is fine and good I guess. Except for one thing...a broken gas line.

My point is this: IF you have the option of keeping your fridge cool in a safer manor, why not do it?

Terry

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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565

Posted By: Iteach5th
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2011 at 7:58am

I just traveled 6500 miles over 25 days. I always traveled in battery mode. When I would be parked for a while, sightseeing, I would switch over to propane mode. Hooked up at campgrounds it would be plugged in. Only problem I had is when it reached 98 degrees outside and I put stuff in after stopping at a store, frost built up on the interior coils,( slats) once I scraped the frost away it worked like a charm.

Travel on battery mode, much safer, I agree.

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"Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you are right"- Henry Ford

2011 RP-177
2009 Jeep Cherokee
1982 Coleman Redwood pup

Posted By: Hodge-PODge
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2011 at 10:22am

Originally posted by TerryM

Hodge-PODge: I will stick with my statement. Lets say you had an accident. Under normal conditions there would not be a fire in the camper. If your gas line was turned on and broken there would be free flowing LP gas in the camper. It could accumulate in the camper. One spark is all that is needed. I have seen pictures of campers that caught fire. They go up pretty fast. No matter how safe the tank is on LP, the weak link is the gas line. A line putting out gas.

In the not too distant past all the fridges were LP/110v/12v. A lot of people had problems with the wind blowing out the burner when driving. The 12v setting of course didn't have that problem. The manufactures fixed the blow out problem. So because there isn't that problem any longer they are making 110v/LP ones. That is fine and good, I guess. Except for one thing...a broken gas line.

My point is this: IF you have the option of keeping your fridge cool in a safer manor, why not do it?

Terry

Terry, I guess it would be better to be safe than sorry. I appreciate your explanation of why, too. Thanks!

Diane

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2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge
2011 Mercedes ML350
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2011 at 9:09pm

One of the safety features the new tanks have is a high-flow cutoff. If you get into an accident and a line is cut, the flow will be cut off at the tank. You can test this by turning off the tank and then lighting the stove until it goes out (to empty the lines). Then turn the tank back on quickly and you won't be able to light the stove. This is why you must open the tank valve slowly, older tanks could be opened quickly w/o a problem.

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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual

Posted By: cgarb
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2011 at 9:34pm

We were told to travel with the battery and switch to propane when stopped, so that is what we have done on our 2 trips! We just used the battery for lights, since we camped in state parks with no hookups. Should the battery fully recharge after driving for a couple of hours? Ours didn't and we thought it should. We have the 2 batteries on the 177.

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Carol
177 HRE rpod
2014 Honda Pilot

Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 31 Jul 2011 at 9:56pm

No problem traveling in 12 volt mode - as long as your +12 and negative lines are big enough. If they aren't you could arrive with a partially discharged battery. Not a big problem when you have hookups, but if you are dry camping it could mean a dead battery in a day or two. If you do have hookups by all means leave your battery hooked up to the 'pod and it will get topped off while the 'pod is plugged in. If you don't have hookups as long as your charge lines are big enough you should arrive in camp with a full battery.

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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual

Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2011 at 6:49am

When dry camping on 12v you have to do thing differently than when you have shore power. Only use lights when necessary etc. If you do a lot of dry camping you might want to consider changing your lights to LEDs.

Terry

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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565

Posted By: cgarb
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2011 at 2:21pm

Thanks for the suggestion. A while back there was some discussion of using LEDs and it sounded like they weren't bright enough to read by. Do you know if that is still the case? Seems like there would be a market out there for good bright LEDs. So far we have spent most of our time outside, but that will certainly change as the weather gets bad. We'd better figure out how to make that work, for sure!

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Carol
177 HRE rpod
2014 Honda Pilot

Posted By: splante
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2011 at 7:43am

we switched to LED's and they are perfectly fine to read with..We found the bulbs that came in the rpod to burn too hot...love the LED's

Posted By: g4royce
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2011 at 8:39am

You're certainly right about those 12V bulbs burning hot! We'd like to switch to LEDs also but they're so expensive! >$30 per bulb.

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ChaiPod
2009 RP152
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.5L V6

Posted By: Damour
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2011 at 9:03am

I have buy some LED puck lights , (works on batteries) and it comes with a switch (no wire)

We stick the pucks of LED at some places in the Pod and glue the switch a the enter near the door.

All the lights will open at the same time time and if you want only one to stay on you go click on the others and they turn off.

This kit was buy at COSTCO under 30 $ and I love it. It makes a nice ambiance in the evening.

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rp 171 , from Québec with not a good english writing lol

Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2011 at 2:17pm

Here is a place that I used to get LED's for my motorized bicycle. I bought the set of day time running lights to use as a headlight. WOW! Very bright! I got my tail lights and turn signals there too.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/ - http://www.superbrightleds.com/

Terry

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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565

Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2011 at 4:09pm

My old jeep Liberty would cut off the 12V feed to the Pod when the engine was shut off. So I never had to worry about the Jeep's battery running down if I left the two vehicles wired together. My new Chevy Pickup is wired so that the Pod can feed off of the PUs battery if I don't remember to disconnect them. My question is...if the Pod is connected to AC at a campground...does the Pod's AC2DC power supply electrically disconnect the TV 12V from the Pod's 12V?
In other words, do I have to disconnect the TV from the Pod if the Pod is plugged into AC?

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TIDALWAVE

Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2011 at 4:57pm

As long as the 'pod is plugged into the TV, the pod's converter/charger will charge both batteries. This assumes you have properly-sized wires running to the Bargeman connector from your battery. At least 10 gauge on the +12 line, and at least 10 gauge on the negative line (or a direct connection to the frame of the TV). If your wires are too small then its likely the TV battery won't charge at all due to voltage drop - although it won't discharge, either.

I always plug my 'pod in the night before a trip, partly to cool the fridge and partly to put a good charge on the battery. I usually will connect the 'pod and TV to ensure the TV's battery gets a bit of a charge, too.

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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual

Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2011 at 7:54am

My Jeep Liberty stays connected. In fact my Pod battery went dead and wouldn't power the electric tongue jack so I hooked the Pod to the Jeep and the jack worked.

Terry

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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565