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fridge on propane - Event Date: 23 Jun 2022 - 23 Jul 2022

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jato View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: fridge on propane
    Posted: 27 Jun 2022 at 5:52am
Originally posted by offgrid


You could consider changing to a 12V compressor fridge as an alternative to a replacement absorption fridge. These are very efficient and work well regardless of the ambient temperature, but they do use more energy from your 12V power system.


So do these 12V compressor fridges run on propane also or only on shore power?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote offgrid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 2022 at 12:15pm
Only on 12V, or of course shore power via the WFCO converter. No propane. But they are much more efficient on 12V than the absorption fridges are, probably by a factor of 3 or more. Also you can put warm stuff in them and they will actually cool it, not just maintain food that's already cold, of course using more electricity to do so.

StephenH installed one recently and as usual has a good write up on his mods thread.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote hogone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 2022 at 3:32pm
save the original!!!!   jpp
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2022 at 8:17pm
Yes, I am sitting looking at the thermometer and the inside of the refrigerator is at 38 degrees F on the top shelf. I use an indoor/outdoor thermometer and use the outdoor sensor in the refrigerator.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2022 at 9:04pm
Just my two cents. When it comes time to replace our fridge, I will stay with the 3 way absorption fridge. Fewer moving parts to vibrate to pieces and the versatility of having 3 power sources. 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jun 2022 at 7:14am
Originally posted by StephenH

Yes, I am sitting looking at the thermometer and the inside of the refrigerator is at 38 degrees F on the top shelf. I use an indoor/outdoor thermometer and use the outdoor sensor in the refrigerator.


That is a good way to monitor, we do the same.  Don't have to open the door to 'feel' how cold it is inside and then let all the cool air out in the process.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote offgrid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jun 2022 at 8:07am
If you want reliability the compressor fridges beat the absorption ones hands down.

The good 12V compressor fridges use the Danfoss compressor system. This product has been in use for around 40 years in all kinds of mobile and stationary applications, very well proven. It is the go to solution for cruising sailboat refrigeration, where they have to work for months or years on end in the tropics with no access to parts or repair services.

I personally installed many in medical clinics in Africa and latin America in the early 80s. The downside in the past was heavy and expensive batteries and solar power systems to run them. That is no longer the case. If you look at the higher end boondocking RV market most have gone to this system now.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote hogone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jun 2022 at 9:05am
100% concur with gpokluda...........only way to go.    jpp
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Mooree Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 May 2023 at 10:50pm
Running an RV fridge better on propane since they are absorption refrigerators with no compression system compared to the typical house fridge, they  are ideal for RVers. The amount of propane usage base on the different propane tank sizes.  there is about 4.6 gallons propane in a standard 20 lb tank or grill cylinder, it gives around 11 to 12 days. A 30 lb propane tank can power your 8 cubic feet fridge that uses 1500 BTUs per hour for at least 18 days.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 May 2023 at 1:16pm
I found that when the temperatures get above 90F, and even below that if the sun were shining on the refrigerator side of the RPod, that the propane refrigerator could not stay cold enough. I carried an electric Free Piston Sterling Cooler that could reliably maintain food-safe temperatures. Now that I have an electric only refrigerator, I no longer have the food safety worries. The trade-off is that long term boondocking is not as easy. Still, our new Grey Wolf came with a larger electric only refrigerator (DC/AC). We need to run a CPAP machine for me and a portable oxygen concentrator for my wife at night. We will need solar or a generator pretty much on a daily basis to make sure we have enough power to run everything overnight.

I have not checked the CPAP machine, but the oxygen concentrator uses about 100 watts or a little less when running. Our 200 AH LiFePO4 battery should be sufficient.
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