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Old 08-04-2017, 06:06 PM   #1
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fridge on battery

My Windjammer is stored in a storage lot at a local campground. I would like to load my fridge the night before. I have no power to the camper unless I rent a site the night before and turn on the fridge let it cool and then load it. My question is, could I run my fridge on 12 volt the night before then load it in the morning. I know propane usage is minimal , how about the 12 volt ? Would that last overnight without depleting the battery. I run a single battery rv/ marina type deep cell. Battery maintains a full charge via small solar panel. I have been keeping my food in a cooler, turn on the fridge after I hook up, I will usually be able to load my food in the fridge after I arrive at the campsite. The last option works, but how long can the fridge run on 12 volt power before running down the battery? 24 hrs? I know you boon dockers have it down to a science.
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Old 08-04-2017, 06:09 PM   #2
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I start our fridge the night before we leave and haven't had any problems, I also have 4 fans on the fridge that I leave on also.
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Old 08-04-2017, 06:30 PM   #3
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I depends on what you mean about running on 12 volt.
The refrigerator on propane with 12 power on to the control board will go 2-3 days on a healthy 100 amp hour battery. Most coaches will draw 18 to 25 amp hrs per day as a baseline which includes fridge on propane.
If you are referring to using a 3 way fridge, set to 12 volt , with one battery then you may not make 6 hours powering the 250 to 300 watt heating element that evaporates the ammonia solution .
Hope that helps. Good luck
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Old 08-04-2017, 06:35 PM   #4
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Run your fridge on propane, power draw is approx .8 amps when fridge is in cooling mode. So running for 12 hours would use approx 8 amp hours for power.
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Old 08-04-2017, 07:05 PM   #5
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Agree, propane is the way to go. Many of the new 3 way refridgerators are really only propane and 120, with the 12v setting going through an inverter to generate the 120v from 12v.

That would draw down your battery even faster. Since I don't know the model, can't say if yours is like that, but you should check.
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Old 08-04-2017, 07:15 PM   #6
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Consider loading it with a couple blocks of ice, or add some frozen jugs of water from your own freezer or deep freeze ... over night, that would pretty much pull the box as far down as it will go, pull out the ice before AM departure if you need last bit of space for additional food load. Start with propane in morning then, it develops the magic chemical cycle refrigeration way faster than the electric heating element.
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Old 08-04-2017, 10:33 PM   #7
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Charles, your fridge is either 2-way or residential.
2-way only runs on propane or shore power. It uses 12v power for the electronics.
A residential fridge will run on battery power IF you have an inverter. But you'll need at least 2 batteries.
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Old 08-05-2017, 05:52 AM   #8
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I have a 2 way fridge. Its either propane or 120v. So when running on propane does it take much battery power to keep it going ? Lets say for 12 hrs without any hookups.
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Old 08-05-2017, 06:13 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Firth View Post
I have a 2 way fridge. Its either propane or 120v. So when running on propane does it take much battery power to keep it going ? Lets say for 12 hrs without any hookups.
You can run your Refer for 12 hrs on Bat/Propane "after it has been ON for12 hrs and Cooled Down"! Youroo! !
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Old 08-05-2017, 07:10 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by youroo View Post
You can run your Refer for 12 hrs on Bat/Propane after it has been ON for12 hrs and Cooled Down"! Youroo! !
Not sure why you think it needs to be cooled down first??

I turn mine on LP the day before we load up all the time with no problems.
24 hours on LP even if they have the dreaded environmental heater between
the doors should not be a problem.


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Old 08-05-2017, 10:44 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Firth View Post
I have a 2 way fridge. Its either propane or 120v. So when running on propane does it take much battery power to keep it going ? Lets say for 12 hrs without any hookups.
Run your fridge on propane, power draw is approx .8 amps when fridge is in cooling mode. So running for 12 hours would use approx 8 amp hours for power.
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