Fridge to propane?

[bonkers4]

I have a Salem 2018 27REI. And I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get the fridge to switch to propane for travel. Where is the switch? It’s a Whirlpool fridge.

[rearly7]

Do you have a picture of the fridge?

[birdman77]

Does Whirlpool make a 2 way fridge? Or do you have a residential fridge? If residential, propane is not an option.

[rearly7]

Originally Posted by birdman77

Does Whirlpool make a way fridge? Or do you have a residential fridge? If residential, propane is not an option.

Yeah that's what I am thinking.... You should have an inverter somewhere to be able to run the fridge off of battery while traveling

[bonkers4]

I believe it is a residential one. If it’s residential is there still a way to run it off battery for travel?

[birdman77]

It should continue to run off your batteries as long as the inverter is on.

[bonkers4]

How do I check that the inverter is on? The last trip it clearly didn’t run and I lost all my food.

[birdman77]

So sorry to hear that... Since I don't have a residential fridge, I will defer to your owner's manual or others on the forum... Good luck.

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by bonkers4

How do I check that the inverter is on? The last trip it clearly didn’t run and I lost all my food.

Check the 12:39 minute mark of this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkno_UqVxbM

That is a nice camper! I wish our first Grey Wolf had been like that one, we might never have moved from it.

You have an inverter somewhere. Ask the dealer, ask other owners, something. It has an on/off switch. You have to turn it on when unhooked from shore power and hooked up to tow vehicle. It will power the refrigerator, and nothing else, while in transit.......as long as the batteries will last.

[bonkers4]

Great! Thank you so much! I will try calling the dealer and see if they can help. And yes I definitely love this RV!

[Chuck_S]

I've not seen the wiring diagram for these trailers but absent any exotic automatic electrical switching devices unlikely to be fitted to a camper my guess is the refrigerator always runs via the inverter using 12vDC provided by either the converter (120vAC to 12vDC) or directly off 12vDC from the trailer battery.

This means if it works on shore power it should work off the trailer battery and tow vehicle IF the battery is connected which I suspect is not the case.

Some trailers are fitted with a 12vDC master power switch to the battery which can be overlooked as all the 12v stuff works when plugged into shorepower. And this same switch (on my camper) disconnects the tow vehicle "trailer battery charge" circuit as well.

Your tow vehicle should provide a 12vDC "trailer battery charge" connection. On my Fords this is only powered when the ignition is On. Check how yours works as a long lunch break on the road could kill a small trailer battery and your starting battery as the inverter sucks both dry.

-- Chuck