Fridge on during travel?

[otisite2016]

To answer Dan..yes that was the assumption from the state police. Nothing was proven. However to say it is nearly impossible is like saying I will take that chance. Your fridge cold during travel if left closed. Everyone has that choice.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by otisite2016

To answer Dan..yes that was the assumption from the state police. Nothing was proven. However to say it is nearly impossible is like saying I will take that chance. Your fridge cold during travel if left closed. Everyone has that choice.

Down here mine not cold during travel without running. I ran out of propane on my way to Goshen last year and the gas regulator didn't switch tanks (I don't even know if mine can) and the refrigerator was not cold when I found it.

By your analogy, if I ever see an RV trailer turned over in a ditch (and I have - it busted open and spilled contents for 150 yards), I would never tow a trailer again. Yes, I do have a choice and I'm extremely comfortable with towing with the propane on. I also accept your position. Peace.

[dalford]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Down here mine not cold during travel without running. I ran out of propane on my way to Goshen last year and the gas regulator didn't switch tanks (I don't even know if mine can) and the refrigerator was not cold when I found it.......

X2, I see all the time on here that the fridge will stay cold. I guess this is relative but I know from experience that it does not take long for the temp to rise above 40 degrees, the safe temp for food in the fridge. Feels cold to touch but not safe for eating.

I know this because I had a trailer that when traveling the small flame operating the fridge would keep getting blown out. I discovered this by monitoring the fridge thermometer I had. I noticed the temp would be below 40 degrees before I left on a trip. When I arrived at my stop the temp was hovering around 50 degrees. I called Dometic and they had a baffle kit that they sent me to eliminate the problem. Obviously Dometic has no problem with operating the fridge while traveling as they have a fix for the problem.

So I used to operate mine when traveling (now have a residential fridge). I think hmmm... Trailer fire or food poisoning

[D-Man]

My Salem Hemisphere dosen't have a propane fridge, just 110 with an inverter that runs off the two batteries. Didn't think I'd like this setup at first as I was used to propane, but now that I'm used to it, it's great.

[07roo233]

People make things to difficult first off running the fridge on propane while traveling is safe as ever this is how they are made to work. Secondly turn the fridge on st least 24 hours before you load it and most importantly only put pre chilled and frozen items in it. Rv fridges aren't made like your home fridge to make warm items cold only to keep prechilled items cold. Also I use and recommend a fridge fan helps circulate the cool air around your food. And make sure is rv is level for the fridge to work properly.

[Canadiancrew]

I enjoy the peace of mind having mine on that my food is kept cold. We have been on the road sometimes for 12 to 14 hours and may travel for 3 or 4 days in a row. It's nice to know I can trust to eat anything in the fridge without the risk of food poisoning.

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

The flame is so small at the end of the coil that you can't even see it. It get all absorbed by the coil, maybe I should have said there is no standing pilot as you see with a thermocouple and there is no ribbon burner.hope that helps, did you ever feel the tube that go's up with a limit on it? It gets hot real hot. If you look at the parts manual for a Norcold you will see the coil I'm talking about

yes there is a standing pilot in the boiler tube . you can see the flame and it can be and is much larger then a standard pilot flame . there is the thermocouple in there , it's heats the boiler the boiler gets real hot because the flame from the burner which is much larger then a standard pilot makes it that hot . Norcold burners are notorious for rusting over

[Witch Doctor]

There is no burner there is a one inch coil only, never heard of a rusting problem, with norcole.

[Witch Doctor]

Also there is no standing pilot such as your oven to make it clear big difference

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

There is no burner there is a one inch coil only, never heard of a rusting problem, with norcole.

No Burner . you must go look at the nor-colds or dometics both duel power either electric or gas . the propane side has a burner . much greater flame then a standing pilot . and yes the burners on the nor-cold rust up .
Just what do you think heats the boiler when on propane ? Answer the burner .

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

Also there is no standing pilot such as your oven to make it clear big difference

You clearly do not have an understanding of how these fridges work . most now days are electronic ignition . it ignites the burner . which if you read my post is like a pilot only larger flame . yes that's flame, real fire in there . the older units used a thermocouple like a oven pilot now they use a flame sensor . yes that's flame sensor to tell the unit the flame is on .
the electric side has an electric heating element to heat the boiler section of the fridge .

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

There is no burner there is a one inch coil only, never heard of a rusting problem, with norcole.

http://manuals.chudov.com/RV/Norcold...ing-Manual.pdf
here's link for you go to page 27 and learn about the burner . then stop telling people what you think you know which is wrong

[B and B]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

This is another one of those WAY over thought threads. I realize everybody has their own phobias about stuff and will do crazy things because of them. I think this is one of them.

We can't turn off our fridge in the southwest while traveling as the cool will not last all day in the heat. And I've never seen any rules at gas stations about RV propane being off. But then I don't travel much back east where they seem to have a rule for EVERYTHING. I've also never read anything about insurance not covering accidents due to your propane being on. That one made me snort out loud

Since the advent of the modern refrigerators w/o the pilot light, I don't personally know anybody that turns off the propane at gas stations. Even when I had one I never did.

Our RV group was discussing this a while back due to a similar thread and most of us had never even heard of turning off the fridge on travel day.

So, if the propane being on bothers you... turn it off. Otherwise do as most of us do and don't worry about it and pick another phobia to focus on

People used to spark up a Camel and fill there tank, seldom did anyone blow up.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by TURBS

You got a better chance of being hit by lightning then your Rv catching on fire because the fridge is running.

What's to stop it catching on fire while your camping?

If it was such a no no then it wouldn't be possible to do so.

I'm more scared of miss Amy then I am of my fridge catching on fire.


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"
2016 nights camped "32"

Does Miss Amy know of this?

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by otisite2016

To answer Dan..yes that was the assumption from the state police. Nothing was proven. However to say it is nearly impossible is like saying I will take that chance. Your fridge cold during travel if left closed. Everyone has that choice.

A guy posted a couple weeks ago about his batteries catching fire. Maybe the trailer you saw suffered from that???

If it were really that dangerous:
a. There'd be stickers all over it saying not to (I've got 3 or 4 just on my range hood!)
b. There'd be RV's torching the side of the road all over the place (I've never seen one or heard of one).
c. This would not be such a heated debate

QED

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

There is no burner there is a one inch coil only, never heard of a rusting problem, with norcole.

Norcold frig in my Flagstaff has a burner. I do think yours does also.

[B and B]

Witch Doctor has been drinking his social brew. I think he was referring to a standing pilot.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by northstar1960

No Burner . you must go look at the nor-colds or dometics both duel power either electric or gas . the propane side has a burner . much greater flame then a standing pilot . and yes the burners on the nor-cold rust up .
Just what do you think heats the boiler when on propane ? Answer the burner .

It is not a burner it is a coil, It is about 1" long with a very little flame, I'm not going to say this again. You can call that a burner if you want but it is just a coil top right sorry picture upside down. NO RIBBON BURNER PERIOD>

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by northstar1960

http://manuals.chudov.com/RV/Norcold...ing-Manual.pdf
here's link for you go to page 27 and learn about the burner . then stop telling people what you think you know which is wrong

Page 27 shows a coil not a ribbon burner, there are only two types of burners either ribbon or inshot, that is a coil. Also sir you can say what you want and call it what you want, but when you order the part it called a coil. The flame is smaller then the old standing pilot the small flame only heats the coil. Your oven has a bigger pilot flame then that refer. And Yes i know the difference between electronic ignition and standing pilots. And I still have never heard of any rusting problems on this forum or any other. Also there is no reason to be rude.

[dalford]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

It is not a burner it is a coil, It is about 1" long with a very little flame, I'm not going to say this again. You can call that a burner if you want but it is just a coil top right sorry picture upside down. NO RIBBON BURNER PERIOD>

Just what does it say the item circled with the number 75 in it? Maybe the flame that is heating the burner.

Have you ever peered into the back of your fridge while on gas? Look hard and you will see a flame now if you want to define a burner as some long ribbon type thing then no there is no ribbon burner but there is a pilot type flame heating that coil... #75