Fridge Temp Elec vs. Gas

sfrye5853 · 07-26-2011, 08:10 AM

Has anyone noticed temperature differences in the fridge depending on if they are running gas or electric? On our maiden voyage I stopped at the Wal-Mart to get some milk and grabbed a couple bags of ice (forgot to mention, fridge was running about 3 hours before I headed out). Stuck one bag in the freezer and one in the fridge part. Put the milk in the fridge as well and headed down the road with the fridge running on gas. 45 minutes later, we reach our spot and the milk is already starting to get cold. After hookup, I switched over to electric to conserve my gas.. Next time I checked, I had ice melting everywhere (fridge and freezer). Turned the fridge back to gas and after a while, the water in the bottom of the freezer turned to ice. I kept it running on gas the whole weekend, but would have liked to be on electric instead. Breakers were not blown nor were fuses.

brianb · 07-26-2011, 08:36 AM

I believe gas is more efficient and will make it colder then 110v AC. BUT... On shore power/AC it should still maintain everything cold (or frozen). You might want to invest in a thermometer for you fridge so you can verify the temperatures. Sounds like something might be wrong with the AC heating element.

Put the thermometer in the freezer and get it down to temperature with gas, then switch to AC. Observe what the thermometer does... It should stay below freezing (32).

LadyWindrider · 07-26-2011, 08:36 AM

If you have a tripped GFI outlet in the camper, that could kill your refer on electric. Do you run anything that plugs in? If you pull the bottom access panel for your refer on the outside of the trailer, you will see where it is plugged in to 110 Volts A C. With the trailer on shore power, you need to check this plug by plugging in a lamp, drill, or something, assuming you don't have a meter. By the way, I always run my fridge on "auto", then if I am gone and the campgrounds looses power, my fridge will switch to gas, when power comes back, it will switch back to electric.

campingcajuns · 07-26-2011, 08:49 AM

I have found that it cools down much quicker using gas than it does using a/c.

Iggy · 07-26-2011, 09:02 AM

I usually put it on gas on the trip to the campground or the night before while parked then at the campground switch over to the electric. It works great on electric if you have it cooled down earlier with gas.

ng2951 · 07-26-2011, 10:52 AM

If it is in auto you should not have to switch to A/C. The system will automatically go to A/C when available.

If it is not switching to A/C automatically, then something is probably wrong with the A/C to the refrigerator...

08flagvlite · 07-26-2011, 01:13 PM

I've found that if you fill up your fridge with stuff, which really isn't that much, that it is way more efficient on gas. Electric is fine for a weekend trip, but a longer trip gas is best. Also, the cooler outside temps and a fridge fan will help the fridge run cooler, too. Randy

prof_fate · 07-26-2011, 02:53 PM

My experience has been it cools faster on gas. Haven't tested to see if gas is overall cooler than elec.
I'm adding a fan this weekend and I hear that helps a lot (a former pc case fan wired to the interior light power)

When we camp I have several 1/2 gallon milk jugs filled with water in my home freeze that I transfer to the cooler with our cold food for the ride to the camper, then transfer all that into the fridge (about 90 minute drive to the campground). Run it on elec once there.

At the end of the trip the one 1/2 gallon jug was in the freezer is still frozen, the other I had moved from the fridge to the cooler (often with beer - why waste the cold) and that way the food we bring home stays cold for the trip.

No need to by ice.

mhuffs9017 · 07-27-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prof_fate

My experience has been it cools faster on gas. Haven't tested to see if gas is overall cooler than elec.
I'm adding a fan this weekend and I hear that helps a lot (a former pc case fan wired to the interior light power)

Where are you going to mount the fan? This is a great idea.

prof_fate · 07-27-2011, 08:53 AM

from other threads here they say in the fridge blowing over the fins.

I plan to add a second fan in the back - the constant on/off of the factory fan is annoying (since the cooling fins are enclosed, unlike a home fridge, the fan is needed to remove the heat from behind the fridge. Dometic made an error in placement of a temp sensor for the fan, so the fan blows on the temp sensor...fan off, fan on, fan off every 15 seconds in our tt. the fix is to move the sensor, which means pull the frigde, but a PC fan that is always on will fix it too, for less work, less hassle and it will be quieter as well). i just don't have a second fan laying around.

mhuffs9017 · 07-27-2011, 08:58 AM

Where are the interior light power wires? Behind the fridge, access from the panel?

prof_fate · 07-27-2011, 09:26 AM

I've not looked yet - there is a light inside and a switch for it - the neg will be at the bulb and the positive at the switch (the always hot positive).

the back of the fridge is easy - there is a red wire with an inline fuse that feeds the factory fan -just tap into that feed.

now mounting the fan...i'm going with zip ties unless that somehow wont' work. This trip it's just a test - if it works then I'll work up a permanent solution this fall when I bring the camper back home and have access to my workshop.

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