Will fridge run on propane with no electricity?
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3526
Printed Date: 10 May 2024 at 2:48am
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Topic: Will fridge run on propane with no electricity?
Posted By: P&M
Subject: Will fridge run on propane with no electricity?
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 9:10am
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Will the fridge, once it is fired up on propane, continue to run on propane if all electrical is then disconnected? IE: I want to pre-cool it before heading out, so I connect the battery so I can get the ignitor to work and get the fridge running on propane, and then disconnect the battery. When I tried this of course all the lights went out on the fridge once the electrical was disco'd, so I am not sure if it is still "running" on the propane. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 9:21am
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My guess is no. The control circuitry probably controls an electric valve to turn the propane on and off. Even if the valve operated from a thermocouple like a home gas water heater, the flame would not re-ignite after the fridge reached temperature and shut down the first time. No pilot light on these units. Charlie ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 9:42am
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As CharlieM said, no; battery power is needed to run the fridge on propane. The fridge electronics require power as does the DSI. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 9:55am
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Thanks ... that's what I thought and just needed it confirmed. I reconnected the battery to keep it powered up, and just hope that the fridge electronics won't drain it too much in the 5 hours it is sitting this way. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 10:01am
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You should be fine for many hours running on propane and the battery should recharge while you're driving. Though there is some controversy, I prefer to run the fridge on gas while traveling to make sure the battery is fully recharged. As I recall the fridge draws about 10 amps when running fully on DC and this can limit the charge to the trailer battery even when hooked to the TV. Happy podding, ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 12:11pm
I'm not slamming you but I hope you never have an accident that crashes your camper with that gas turned on. Big fire. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 1:53pm
Hate to say it.. but I believe this to be MUCH over hyped. Almost EVERY RV out there has only a 2 way fridge.. and they ALL go down the road on gas. The propane bottles have safeties built into them in case of line failure etc. If you have a crash so bad the propane lines are broken open.. I think a fire is low on the list of damage anyway. I mean think about it.. BILLIONS of miles driven every year by RV's of all types.. very few spontaneous combustion events. BUT to the OP's question.. Battery will run the fridge brain for a long time... Days and days. It's one of the lower draws on the 12v system. Heater motor, fantastic fan, water pump, lights. Thats where your amps go.. You know if all you are running is the fridge.. can you just run a regular extension cord out to the trailer? will be fine. ------------- |
Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 3:05pm
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I agree with Furpod. However, there are laws against running with open propane. I know that some tunnels prohibit it. This means that if in an accident you will likely be cited with contributory negligence even if not at fault causing the accident === if there is a fire. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171 
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 3:18pm
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It is only illegal to run wth propane on in a few specific tunnels, such as the ones in the Baltimore area. Other than that it isn't illegal, or unsafe. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 5:50pm
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OK. To try and put some practical science on this, I ran an experiment on my gas grill propane tank: The full tank with nothing connected did not discharge any gas with the valve fully open. The tank with only the grill regulator connected, but no grill connected, discharged gas at a very low rate with the valve fully open. This is only enough to light and run the appliance. So I conclude: The tank safety valve will limit the flow for a completely open line such as a disconnected or broken line. Now, if you leave the cook top on and the camper closed up you've got a problem. Happy podding, ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 9:41pm
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I liked the one where the cats turned on the gas. Cats can be like that... ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 May 2013 at 10:05pm
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The problem is when the cats learn to ignite a lighter.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 25 May 2013 at 8:21am
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That is why our cats stay home when we camp.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 28 May 2013 at 10:17am
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[/QUOTE] BUT to the OP's question.. Battery will run the fridge brain for a long time... Days and days. It's one of the lower draws on the 12v system. Heater motor, fantastic fan, water pump, lights. Thats where your amps go.. You know if all you are running is the fridge.. can you just run a regular extension cord out to the trailer? will be fine. [/QUOTE] I would, but unfortunately we store it in a self-storage facility that has no electric anywhere near our Pod. I found that by swinging by on Friday morning about 7am, hooking up battery and turning on the fridge with the gas, that when I swung back around to pick it up and head out at 2pm the fridge was a nice 39 degrees cold. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 28 May 2013 at 12:35pm
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I too like cats. I just can't finish one myself. Dog person. Safe travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 28 May 2013 at 3:10pm
BUT to the OP's question.. Battery will run the fridge brain for a long time... Days and days. It's one of the lower draws on the 12v system. Heater motor, fantastic fan, water pump, lights. Thats where your amps go.. You know if all you are running is the fridge.. can you just run a regular extension cord out to the trailer? will be fine. [/QUOTE] I would, but unfortunately we store it in a self-storage facility that has no electric anywhere near our Pod. I found that by swinging by on Friday morning about 7am, hooking up battery and turning on the fridge with the gas, that when I swung back around to pick it up and head out at 2pm the fridge was a nice 39 degrees cold.[/QUOTE] I truly hate it for people who can't store at home, no matter what the reason. We are digging in our own dump station very soon. So Camp Driveway will be full hook-ups.. I can charge more that way.  ------------- |
Posted By: Jdub
Date Posted: 28 May 2013 at 3:47pm
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So wait, let me get this right. The pod is plugged in the night before with the refrig cooling on the house electricity. Load it up and take off. Of the two choices on the road, run the frig on propane or on the battery, I had assumed battery all the time. But running it on propane is equally ok (or maybe better) as long as you don't crash the rig? I didn't know propane was a functional option.....
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Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 28 May 2013 at 4:30pm
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Jdub, I actually run it both ways when I'm traveling. I will run it on 12v until I stop, and if we are stopping for any longer than 15-20 minutes or so (like for lunch and beverages) I'll switch it over to propane so that I don't drain my batteries. Then I switch it back over when we are ready to take off, and shut off the propane. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 May 2013 at 4:47pm
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furpod - I love the idea of bringing the dump station to the pod. I can move our pod to our cleanout access to dump at home, but it isn't close to where we usually park it. I'm getting ready to extend the parking area in front of our garage - kids with cars coming in the next few years, and as a better parking location for the pod. It wouldn't be that hard to extend a pipe from the septic system to that new parking area but I hadn't thought of it before. Already have a 30 amp outlet within reach and it doesn't take much to extend the hose.
Jdub - yes, many people plug in the night before to charge the battery and precool the fridge on AC mode (make sure you unplug the battery from the pod between uses, but plug it back in and then plug in the pod once a month to maintain battery health). Personally I go down the road in 12 volt mode most of the time since we camp with hookups so I just switch between 120 and 12 volt modes. However, on those trips where we dry camp I'll switch to propane mode before we leave and leave it there for the whole trip. One less thing to fiddle with once we get to camp.
Edit: I do the same as P & M, if we stop for lunch or any other reason I'll switch it over to propane mode. You WILL kill your battery quickly if you leave it in 12 volt mode too long w/o your engine running. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 28 May 2013 at 7:16pm
techntrek, where did you think we got that idea from other than you?  ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 29 May 2013 at 8:13am
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@Furpod ~ Full hookups at camp driveway!! How far in advance do you all take reservations, and what's the camp store like?? ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 29 May 2013 at 8:34am
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does it come with a firepit also?? ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 29 May 2013 at 5:31pm
Does in fact have a firepit.. the camp store is pretty basic.. but it does have these: Oh, and free high speed wifi. . ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 May 2013 at 10:34pm
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Speaking of which... for anyone newer around here you'll notice some people have "podders Helping podders - pHp" by their name. They have volunteered to provide assistance to podders on the road - some will help get help if needed, or pointers for their area, or even offer up their camp driveway for a night or two. Personally I offer up all three. Look for the pHp sub-forum for a list of everyone and their locations. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 30 May 2013 at 8:07am
Yep. On the Airstream side it's called "Courtesy Parking". We met a couple nice people that way. We used to live right on the bikecentennial route, which became the TransAmerica Bike Trail, and we had touring bicyclists camping in our yard quite a few times. ------------- |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 30 May 2013 at 5:35pm
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taking first trip since i put in the fuse/relay for charging(about a month ago); I understand all the pros/cons of traveling battery vs gas; but 1 question; I thought the the charging system off the tv only operates/works when in run position, therefore would not wear down tv battery when stopped; and if fridge is really cooled down, the pod battery would hardly wear down, and what little it did would recharge upon start up and rolling down the road; so why switch around until your at your base? just curious. going dry camping, have plenty of battery for 4 days, plan on gas while base camping............
------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 31 May 2013 at 8:12am
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Depends on how your particular charging system is set up on the TV. Some are litteraly nothing more than a fused lead from the battery.. But if you are hooked up to a TV with a factory tow package, as far as I know, it will protect the TV's battery through the relay. We stay on 12v the whole pull. We run dual batteries, and my playing around with the multimeter tells me that with a pre-cooled fridge, we can sit overnight no problem. So a quick trip into Wendy's for some frosty action is going to be OK. YMMV, as they say. Or, your YEMV in this case. (Electrons) ------------- |