3-way refrigerator |
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hammockmadness
Groupie Joined: 07 Jul 2015 Location: Middleburg, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
Topic: 3-way refrigerator Posted: 09 Jul 2015 at 6:50pm |
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?
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 09 Jul 2015 at 8:27pm |
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.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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hammockmadness
Groupie Joined: 07 Jul 2015 Location: Middleburg, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
Posted: 09 Jul 2015 at 9:36pm |
Thanks! I'll have to do a little testing on the road.
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 10 Jul 2015 at 7:57am |
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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SNO4ME
Senior Member Joined: 28 Sep 2013 Location: NW Wis Online Status: Offline Posts: 122 |
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! |
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Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod
(and Brewer too) 2011 RP 177 |
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4507 |
Posted: 10 Jul 2015 at 3:41pm |
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.
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 11 Jul 2015 at 11:07pm |
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.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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papabear
Newbie Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Location: Denver Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 17 |
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.
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Don Halas
Senior Member Joined: 01 Jul 2015 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 190 |
Posted: 05 Aug 2015 at 11:26am |
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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hammockmadness
Groupie Joined: 07 Jul 2015 Location: Middleburg, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
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.
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Dana & Regina
Fleetwood & Jasper 2014 181-G 2014 Silverado 4X4 |
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