+1 to Stephen

we operate on propane 24/7  from the time we leave our house until we return unless we have shore power

there is a lot of "old knowledge" about propane that says it is unsafe to operate while traveling..  It is safe and efficient

Vann

For us, we travel with exclusively propane and agree with StephenH and Pod People.  

Right now, not thrilled about driving with Propane on if it blows out while driving.

As is discussed in several other threads, the most common cause of fires in RV's is an electric fault.  

If you want to run your fridge from your alternator while driving, it is certainly possible, but you'll need to have adequately sized wiring from your alternator to the fridge to handle the current load.  Inadequately sized wire can overheat, leading to a risk of fire or blown fuses.

You will find a split on this topic. If you search the archives, you'll find some go one way (propane), and others go the other way (battery). There are also a few who just don't run the fridge on the road or else keep stuff in a separate cooler.

We are in the battery contingent because we don't agree with having the propane valve open on the propane canister(s) while traveling AND our TV does a good job of providing enough power AND our TV disconnects the 12V auxiliary power when we turn off the ignition.

So I would evaluate those issues, and go with what you want.

As for fueling, for situations where safety requires that the propane be turned off, there is no point in running on battery for those few minutes (and it also has spark potential in the switches).  The fridge is well enough insulated that it will hold it's cold temp for way more time that it takes to refuel.  And if the flame from the fridge is a fire danger, so is the ignition switch and other electric components in the TV that can also provide an ignition spark for fuel vapor.  And they're a lot closer to the vapor source than the fridge flame.  i don't think any common TV's are manufactured to mine safety spark specifications, but I've been wrong before.

Sparks that can ignite vapor while fueling can come from pretty much anywhere, including the TV, a cell phone, the switch supplying energy to the electric heating element of the fridge, or just good old static electricity.  Given the very few explosions around gas pumps, these events are statistically insignificant [I found no reports of such explosions on Google, and if it ain't in Google it doesn't exist].  The same is true with explosions around gas pumps due to a  travel trailer fridge running on propane.  They just don't happen often enough to be an issue of real concern.  If someone has spilt a bunch of gasoline in the pump area, you are in as great a danger of a fire just driving in as you are with your fridge running as you pull to the pump.  Moral of the story, if you see spilled gas, don't drive near it, with or without a trailer.

The question is not one of safety but what kind of hydrocarbon you want to burn to power your refrigerator.  No one has discussed how much energy it takes to generate the electricity from your TV and send it down copper wires to heat a heating element in the refrigerator.  Do you use more energy burning the propane than gasoline to turn the alternator of your TV?  

My intuition tells me that burning gas to turn the flywheel of an internal combustion engine, which in turn drives a pulley belt, which in turn has to spin the bearings in the alternator, then sending those excited electrons down the copper wire with what ever ohms of resistance, depending on wire size, is likely to be less efficient.  But if we really want to fully understand the energy consumption, we have to go back to when the petroleum upon which the propane and gasoline were based.  What energy was expended to pump and refine them?  Which used less energy getting to the point of distribution.  Does the gas have ethanol, which has a negative energy balance [that is it takes more energy to produce it that it yields]?  How much extra energy did you consume going to Tractor Supply to buy the propane?  How many calories did it take to pressurize the propane in your tank and pump it from the mother tank?  

The point is there is no right or wrong answer because we don't know all the variables that go into producing a watt of energy for the fridge.  Advanced  planning to use electricity is not an issue of being prepared and using the most efficient system, it's a matter of being well prepared to send the electrons scurrying from your alternator to the fridge without burning up the wiring on your vehicles.  Using propane isn't any better because it, too, can present unplanned ignition and combustion issues.

For me, I don't want to spend the money on a heavy duty electric system for my little old Dodge Dakota with a stock alternator.  There is no discernible benefit in the cost/benefit analysis.  On the other hand, if I had a $65K Dodge diesel that came with an alternator big enough to light up Las Vegas, and 6 awg wire to a convenient plug in the back of the truck and my pod was wired with similar wire from the battery to plug into the truck wire, I'd probably use it, notwithstanding the ultimate energy use calculation.  [edit. - I forgot to mention my dream truck would have a 15 amp AC plug, so I could run the refer on AC and not worry about 6 awg. wire.]

So to everyone, use what you have, enjoy it and don't look down on the other guy who likes to do something different.  At the end of the day [an over used cliché], we all want a cold refrigerator so the beer doesn't get warm.

I boondocked for Friday thru Sunday.  Running the bathroom fan on low the entire time for airflow in the camper, and minimal lighting (was worried about the battery with the fan running full time) when I packed up on Sunday, I was still at 2/3 full.  Drove home for 2 hours and still 2/3 full

Looks like a new battery monitor is in order, but the fridge works flawlessly on Propane, while driving, and boondocking.

in short I have switched camps to the propane "On" side.

They are vapor compression cycle so much more energy efficient and temp stable than the absorption type RV fridges we have now, probably about 4X more efficient. Downsides are smaller interior volume and increased electric demand vs using propane as the energy source. Looks like TAB also offers a larger standard RV absorption cycle fridge as well. 

If you want to stop using propane for refrigeration while boondocking and use solar instead.

Works like a smaller version of your household fridge, so:

 Better temperature control 

 Better cool down capacity (but using more electricity)

 Better cooling in hot climates (but using more electricity)

Probable longer life (absorption fridges eventually corrode internally and leak ammonia coolant)

Aren't sensitive to being kept level

If you are afraid of driving with propane on and also afraid of forgetting to change from 12V to propane at your destination and draining your house batteries. 

But if like most people you're happy with what came with your rPod then there's no reason to change. 

 

Personally, I'll consider changing over if I still have my rPod when its refrigerator fails.  I've had two other RV's where the absorption fridge failed, one was about 15 years old and the other about 8. 10 years seems to be a pretty common life expectancy. They're not cheap.  Levelling whenever you stop for any length of time helps.  

Has anyone replaced the Dometic RM-8501 with one of these? If so, how well did it fit? If not, what are other models people have tried successfully? We have the Free Piston Sterling Cooler working and it, plus an additional small Lifetime Ice Chest are providing for refrigeration needs for the remainder of our trip. However, there is no freezer capability.

I like the idea of the Dometic CRX or other equivalent refrigerators if there is one that will fit the space with minimal modification. I don't know if I want to go with another absorption refrigerator given the issues I and others have had with them. Have the compressor models proven to be reliable? If so, that may be the way I will go.

I'll be curious what you come up with.

fred

As stated, I did have the FPSC cooler. I purchased a Lifetime ice cooler which is a cheap Yeti knock-off, but at a much more reasonable price.  Right now, we are at our daughter's house so we are just using the FPSC cooler until we leave. Since the FPSC cooler is energy efficient and can keep proper temps, even in a hot environment, it was holding our meats and other really perishable items with the refrigerator holding those not needing as much temperature stability. The ice chest is an okay substitute, but things do need to be sealed so they won't fill up with water as the ice melts.

For now, the refrigerator has become additional pantry space since it won't be able to be used for cold things.

You should have ordered it from me.  Had a brand new one for sale in the campers flea market section for the past few months.  Just sold it 2 days ago for $ 450.  A great deal !