DC question

[kdot]

Whenever I've had a three-way fridge, I've used AC in the campground, propane for dry camping, and DC when traveling hooked up to the trailer. My dealer tells me that the DC is intended to be used for dry camping, -just the opposite of what I've always done without a problem. What do others do? Do you use DC when towing?

kdot

[dmchapman]

The DC heater would drain your battery pretty quickly when parked. When driving the tow vehicle alternator is sufficient to run the fridge.

[bikendan]

Your dealer is Wrong!

[Bama Rambler]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Your dealer is Wrong!

Amen to this. Running on 12 volt DC would drain a good bank of batteries pretty quickly. Most of those DC elements draw about 15 amps when running.

[rockfordroo]

Dealer's wrong. Assuming your fridge is a Dometic, I got this Caution from a Dometic RM8501 manual:

CAUTION
The refrigerator should only be used in
12VDC-operation while the vehicle’s engine
is running, otherwise the on-board-battery
would be discharged within a few hours!

Read your manual, ignore the dealer; they are notoriously ignorant and mis-informed.

If you don't have the manual, you can find it here:

http://www.dometicmanuals.com/PROD/M...f?Opendatabase

[kdot]

Thanks again. I just completed a 400 mile trip to and from Bayfield,WI and ran the fridge on battery all the time I was driving. Nooooo problem whatsoever.

Kot

[flyinghigh]

So new here...have a new to us 2010 Rpod 172. Does the trailer hookup provide +12 to the Rpod to power the fridge?

[Flybob]

Yes. It will power the fridge while driving, but be careful if your vehicle does not have an ignition operated relay in the circuit it will kill the TV battery if left connected while parked for any length of time. Note the TV will assist the rpod battery in running the fridge and not much more.

[lbrjet]

Don't assume your vehicle 7 way is wired for 12 volt through put. It may be and it may not be. Test is with a volt meter first.

[flyinghigh]

Thanks...will do!

[flyinghigh]

Just hooked it up to test. The battery level increases on the meter in the camper when you connect the 7 pin cable to the truck. You can also hear the motor load up a bit.

My battery is weak, but I am fairly sure this will keep it going down the road.

Also noticed the battery level is full when plugged into shore power...imagine the AC charger is keeping it full. So we can just leave the fridge on 12V and not have to worry about switching it back and forth.