esox07
Wisconsin
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I see that most people run their fridge on propane for several hours to a day to cool it down to normal temp before leaving for a campground and then usually switch to shore power after arriving. How long would you normally have to pre-cool on propane and how much propane will a 4.5cf fridge use per hour while cooling down and running? Is it better to pre-cool with propane or would it be better to connect to home power and cool it down on electric? Then, is it normal to run it on propane while driving to the campground?
Bruce
Minnesota Viking fan trapped in Wisconsin
2011 KZ Sportsmen Classic 19BH
2004 Chevy Blazer 4x4
Boliy 3600si
AAA Plus RV
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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6-12 hours
very little
doesn't matter
yes
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tanman32225
Jacksonville, Florida
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Joined: 10/13/2012
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I cool mine down by shore power at home. When I leave the drive it switches to propane then re connect to shore power. It took me dozen trips, use of furnace, use of oven several times making biscuits and pizza to use one 30# tank if that helps in the usage. one trip was 10 hours each way on gas. I would say overall the refrigerator uses very little.
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hmknightnc
Wilmington, NC
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4 to 6 hours on mine to cool down. Both electric and gas about the same
Fridges use very little propane, so little I have never even tried to measure
Either works for cool down
FW comes of out storage, fridge goes on and stays on until back into storage
Fridges also require 12v to run the control circuitry. Make sure you have sufficient battery power or are plugged in to ensure continued operation. Depending on your battery capacity and other parasitic loads you might be only able to go a few days before killing the battery without charging
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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I don't like driving with the fridge running. I use small plastic reusable ice packs. I wedge them between the food and every thing is cold when we get to the cg and I just throw them into the freezer and refreeze them for the trip home.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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I agree they use very little propane but having a MH it is a pain to get to propane source more often than not so I just use electric when it is dripping out the end of a nearby socket. 
For cool down in our case it is fast to use propane the first hour then go to electric if at least 120 volts at the frig outlet.
Do not not propane usage but do know on electric with temps ranging 75F to 101F daily the duty cycle is about 70% over a 24 hour period.
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Hi,
The refrigerator uses about 2,200 Btu's of propane per hour. There is 95,000 Btu's of gas in a gallon, and that is enough to run the refrigerator about 42 hours, and if the burner runs for say 10 - 15 hours the first day, then about 10 hours a day after that, you can run it a week or so before needing to refill the propane tank. And most of my propane goes to water heating, not the refrigerator.
Basically don't worry about it.
Fred.
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path1
seattle
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deleted
* This post was
edited 03/10/13 06:58pm by path1 *
(To cheap to buy new)
1990 37 ft 5th wheel that hasn't moved since 1996 (our best home)
1997 33 ft trailer (winter home in much warmer climate)
2005 25 ft M/H (our "stand up B" for traveling)
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edatlanta
Panama City Beach, FL
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I fulltime and my fridge is never turned off moving or not. I run it on propane while at my home base since I have a large external propane tank and it is cheaper for me to use propane than electricity. I do run the fridge on electric as well as my water heater when I am hosting at a state park since the electricity is included. Propane is used for both the rest of the year.
Ed
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, TTT/Schefenacker Towing Mirrors, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50C, TST Systems 507 TPMS
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS,Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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The fridge burner is about like a pilot light, or so I have been told. FWTW
Papa Bob
1* DW "Granny"
1* 2008 Brookside by Sunnybrook 32'
1* 2002 F250 Super Duty 7.3L PSD
Husky 16K hitch, Tekonsha P3,
Firestone Ride Rite Air Springs, Trailair Equa-Flex, Champion C46540
"A bad day camping is better than a good day at work!"
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