3-way refrigerator
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Topic: 3-way refrigerator
Posted By: hammockmadness
Subject: 3-way refrigerator
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2015 at 6:50pm
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I'm picking up a new 2014 181-G from our local dealer this Saturday and had a question about the efficiency of the 3-way refrigerator in 12V mode. Or previous TT (27' Salem) worked great on propane, but I always felt a little nervous driving down the highway that way. Does it cool as well on 12V as it does on 115V or propane? |
Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2015 at 8:27pm
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The short answer is no. The Dometic is rated at 132 Watts (12V x 11A) on DC and 144 watts (120V x 1.2A) on AC. More watts means more cooling so DC is slightly less effective than AC. Propane is usually about equal to or somewhat better than AC. That's by the numbers, but experience has shown the DC operation is noticeably worse than on AC or propane. Not sure why, but I think some earlier Dometics were rated a bit lower on DC. That said, the fridge will really suck the battery and, depending on how well the TV is wired, may actually discharge the trailer battery while towing. At best you will only trickle charge the TT battery since most of the current is going to the fridge. Due to the design of the flow limiting safety valves on modern propane tanks there is little danger of operating the fridge on gas while towing. Larger fridges in RVs do not even have a 12V option. It's either propane or shore power and nobody thinks a thing about it.
------------- 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: hammockmadness
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2015 at 9:36pm
Thanks! I'll have to do a little testing on the road.
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2015 at 7:57am
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Ours does fine on 12v. It's the mode we run in when towing, and at full hookups have just left it there on occasion, and no issue. The important thing to know is it WILL drain your battery in 3 hours or so if you leave it on 12v without being hooked up to shore power or a tow vehicle that is charging the pod.
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Posted By: SNO4ME
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2015 at 3:31pm
We use the 12v when ever towing and have had no problems, (after the first time we used it). It was 95 above and I'm not so sure we cooled it down long enough and we over loaded it.  This weekend will be trip # 9 or 10 since July of 2013. (It's nice to loose track of such things). Haven't lost track of how long I've been retired yet though! Monday, this is day four! ------------- Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod (and Brewer too) 2011 RP 177 |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2015 at 3:41pm
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We tow with the 12v i Vermont and it works fine, we have towed with it on our trip to the Keys and it did not work well. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2015 at 11:07pm
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Safest bet is to use propane mode, since most factory TV wiring, and most aftermarket installations use 12 gauge wire. I ran the numbers here before and bottom line the fridge is such a large load you will discharge the battery as mentioned above. You need minimum 10 gauge and much better 8 gauge wire. ------------- 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: papabear
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2015 at 11:49am
| I plug in the refrigerator to cool it down.I have found that it did not need to be set on the hightest setting to cool it to 38 degrees. When I tow i switch to 12v and set the cooling up higher. This has worked for three hour trips so far. |
Posted By: Don Halas
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2015 at 11:26am
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Just curious. Has anyone used a vessel near or about the size of the freezer and created an ice bank. This could be done at home before leaving and maintained once AC is available again. Even if it didn't replace the need for using propane or DC, wouldn't it supplement it to take some of the demand away. I mean really, except for holding a couple of popsicles the freezer is really pretty useless anyway. We actually laughed at the ice cube tray when we first saw it. Personally we plan on continuing to travel with a cooler to transport and use the fridge only when we're on shore power but I was wondering if anyone has tried this approach.
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Posted By: hammockmadness
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2015 at 12:06pm
If you're not using the freezer section, you can take it out. On the bottom side of the freezer there are two latches that hold it in place. After unlatching them, just open the door on the freezer and slide it out of the track. ------------- Dana & Regina Fleetwood & Jasper 2014 181-G 2014 Silverado 4X4 |
Posted By: Don Halas
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2015 at 12:21pm
| Thanks, but I knew that. My interest was in using it as an ice bank. I don't know what we'd do with the extra space anyway. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2015 at 4:40pm
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I usually roll from the house with a couple steaks, maybe some chops, and some burgers and dogs up there. Works as a heat.. err.. cold sink I am sure.. and it's edible. win win as they say. ------------- |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2015 at 7:31pm
Fresh frozen pulled pork in a few food saver bags and a few frozen snicker bars keeps the fridge cold and turns the Pod tour into a dinner party!!  Fresh watermelon in the fridge helps too. fred ------------- 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! |