Newbie question re: fridge

[kthoms]

Hi there, taking my first trip this weekend!

I have my 27' Class C 2015 Forrester plugged into the house power.

Couple of questions about the fridge:

1) When I turn it on, does it automatically start cooling using the house power or do I *have* to press the auto button so it knows what source to cool it from?

2) When travelling, does it automatically kick in to propane, is this advised or will it drain my propane tank?

Thanks for any help

Keith

[timfromma]

When your fridge is set to 'auto', it will use shore power when your camper is plugged and propane when not. It will switch back and forth automatically. You can turn off the fridge entirely if you don't want to use it.

Leave it on auto while you travel. The fridge sips a tiny amount of propane and is preferable to a fridge and freezer full of spoiled food.

[kthoms]

Thanks a lot!

So, is it the norm for people "in between" trips to be plugged into the shore line at all times and with the fridge going?

[timfromma]

I keep my camper plugged in just so the battery stays charged. Unless you plan on keeping your fridge stocked, turn it off and shut off your propane at the tank. When your ready to head out again, turn on the propane, turn on the fridge, load it up and hit the road.

[donniedu]

There should be a power switch. Turn it off and prop the doors open. Two days before you go, close the doors and turn it on. Day before, load. Day of turn on and purge gas lines and go.

[5picker]

One 'other' thing to consider.

We typically do not run the fridge going down the road.
Unless we think we are going to be traveling more than 4-5 hours there is simply no need.

We turn on a couple of days prior and try to be all loaded in an hour or two before pulling out. Once the refrigerator/contents gets to temp, it easily stays there for 4+ hours turned off. And if you've got room, throw a bag of ice the freezer or a couple pre-frozen freeze packs in the fridge for additional off time.

[whj77372]

I do as above, turn it off with the doors propped open when it is at my house. I do fill it as suggested above but I leave it on propane when I travel down the road. Good Luck

[Harkerr]

From a room temp start it takes a while to cool down to operating temp. I allow at least 4 hours befor loading. Also these units to not like to be overloaded. Leave room to circulate air.

[KAS]

This is all assuming your RV is parked on level ground while it is turned on (either power source). Otherwise your refrigerator will go bad ($$$).

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by timfromma

When your fridge is set to 'auto', it will use shore power when your camper is plugged and propane when not. It will switch back and forth automatically. You can turn off the fridge entirely if you don't want to use it.

Leave it on auto while you travel. The fridge sips a tiny amount of propane and is preferable to a fridge and freezer full of spoiled food.

Ditto X2

[Black]

I start mine in mid May and stop it in mid October.
Always on while on the road, and plugged in at home & campsite.

[Love13]

While on the road mine runs off either the house batteries, mh battery or inverter.
I don't have the propane turned on.

[oldsmasma]

We stock our fridge in the spring and plug it in when we get home. I have a list of things I carry in the freezer and restock those after a trip. When we decide to go away I only need to add the perishables and last minute things from the house fridge.

[spock123]

My refrigerator stays on year round, I have had a LP rv refrigerator and a residential refrigerator.


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[Skip51]

I start it a day before I stock it. Putting a small (as small as you can find) battery operated fan to circulate the cold air inside helps greatly.

[mdstudey]

Originally Posted by donniedu

There should be a power switch. Turn it off and prop the doors open. Two days before you go, close the doors and turn it on. Day before, load. Day of turn on and purge gas lines and go.

How do you "purge" the gas lines. I am a newbie and have not heard of this.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by kthoms

Thanks a lot!

So, is it the norm for people "in between" trips to be plugged into the shore line at all times and with the fridge going?

I keep my trailer plugged into shore power and keep the fridge running. This keeps the batteries topped off. I understand keeping the fridge running on shore power will make the fridge last longer by driving moisture out of the workings that get hot when it's operating.

And I run it on propane when towing.

8 years into it, never a moments problem with the fridge. OR batteries/charger either.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by mdstudey

How do you "purge" the gas lines. I am a newbie and have not heard of this.

You just light one of the eyes on the stove. What this does is remove any air from the gas lines. If it lights right up, fine. If not, leave the valve open for about a minute to purge the air.

I KEEP A BARBEQUE LIGHTER GOING THE WHOLE TIME I DO THIS SO THAT THE GAS WILL LIGHT RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT BUILDING UP IN THE TRAILER



And keep the area ventilated while you do this.

[NMWildcat]

Don't worry about how much propane the fridge uses when not plugged in to shore power. It's not enough to worry about.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by mdstudey

How do you "purge" the gas lines. I am a newbie and have not heard of this.

It means that you have air in the lines that needs to be moved out before the pilot in the Frig can lite. It happens when you change a tank out or sometimes just because you depressurized the line for say THE OFF SEASON

I lift the stove top cover and start a burner. The time it takes to start the burner is the time it takes to get the air out of the line.

If you wait for the frig to purge that line it would likely take 100 times longer as that stove burner is using at least 100 times as much propane as the Frig