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10-14-2013, 12:00 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jourdanton, Texas
Posts: 144
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Propane
We have one large propane tank full and one half full. I want to leave the RV sitting with the propane keeping refrigerator cooled. Any guesses on how long the propane would last?
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10-14-2013, 12:03 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: X
Posts: 2,781
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It will last longer than your battery, unless you're plugged in to "shore power", and if you are, why not just run the fridge off of that?
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10-14-2013, 12:04 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Tiner
We have one large propane tank full and one half full. I want to leave the RV sitting with the propane keeping refrigerator cooled. Any guesses on how long the propane would last?
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Weeks or even months on a full 30 pound tank. Frig uses very little gas, like a pilot light.
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2018 Forester 3011 DS
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10-14-2013, 12:24 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jourdanton, Texas
Posts: 144
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No electricity available, just propane. I think I can use the battery disconnect to conserve the battery.
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10-14-2013, 12:25 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Stromsburg, Nebraska
Posts: 1,682
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Even on propane, the fridge uses 12v
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Joel and Teresa
2016 Sabre 34TBOK
2006 GMC 3500 CC LB DRW 4X4
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10-14-2013, 12:34 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,954
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How long are you wanting to leave the RV fridge running for on propane/ 12 volt DC for the control panel?
Do you have a way to recharge the battery (solar, generator, etc.)?
Are you going to using anything else in the RV that will need battery power (lights, heater, propane leak detector, etc)?
If you can provide the brand/model of your fridge, it will help to see exactly what the minimal 12 volt draw for the control panel on propane will be for it.....then it might can be guesstimated how long it can run depending on your battery. Temperature is going to be a needed consideration too, to see how much cooling the fridge will need to do. A fridge in TX temperatures will have to work harder than one in Minnesota.
As far as your original question, the propane fueled flame needed for the fridge to cool is close to the size of a pilot light (as dcheatwood stated), if that helps you understand how long your cylinder may last.
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10-14-2013, 04:57 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jourdanton, Texas
Posts: 144
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Thanks to whoever for reposting this for me. Never knew propane had its own post.
After my original post, I realized that the frig HAD to have an electrical power source. That made my inquiry moot. Thank you all for your comments and guidance.
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10-14-2013, 05:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jourdanton, Texas
Posts: 144
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Jtstromsburg, thank you for that info.
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10-15-2013, 08:46 AM
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#9
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Old Enough to Know Better
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Greenwood, In
Posts: 528
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FYI
Most units use 1550 btu per hour (dm2652) LP gas has 91,500 btu's per gallon, 21,548 per pound. A 30# cylinder when full will hold 6 gallons or 59.03 hours per gallon times 6 = 354.18 hours or 14 days. I dont think the battery will last that long without solar back up
regards
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Jim & Debbie England
Do you have Gas? 2015 F350 6.2L CCLB DRW 4.30 axle.
2020 Keystone Cougar 364BHL ,Gone 2012 Yellowstone Ridgeline 34RLT Fifth Wheel
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10-15-2013, 09:10 AM
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#10
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Denver, CO
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gasman6674
FYI
Most units use 1550 btu per hour (dm2652) LP gas has 91,500 btu's per gallon, 21,548 per pound. A 30# cylinder when full will hold 6 gallons or 59.03 hours per gallon times 6 = 354.18 hours or 14 days. I dont think the battery will last that long without solar back up
regards
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Where does the ambient temperature come into the equation? Is that 1550 btu per hour when operating.
How does the propane system know when to shut off when the fridge reaches it's temperature.
I guess I need to understand how the propane works since the flame never stops, once it is lit. Hmmmmm.
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2017 Fuse 23T
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10-15-2013, 09:17 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Palm Coast FL
Posts: 746
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Either the pilot light on the fridge is minuscule and will light the "burner" when needed or the burner is lit each time the fridge t-stat requests cooling (probably the latter in newer units). I don't hear the burner unless I am outside near the vent and my fridge is in a slide so it also has aux 12vdc fan to assist in venting heat from fridge.
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'14 Ram 3500 MCSB 6.7L HO PullRite 16K S/G, Grey Columbus 320RS Camped '14 - 146 days/'15 - 196 days
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10-15-2013, 09:27 AM
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#12
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Old Enough to Know Better
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Greenwood, In
Posts: 528
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The fridge is controlled by a thermostat (12v) that cycles the gas on and off with a spark igniter to light it, otherwise you would have an ice block. Ambient temp will affect vaporasation rate of the tanks and how long the fridge stays on. All the info I posted is based on 60 deg f. For ex a 30# cylinder at 25% full @ 60 will vaporise a max of 32,000 btu per hour but at 30 degrees will only do 21,100 btu per hour
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Jim & Debbie England
Do you have Gas? 2015 F350 6.2L CCLB DRW 4.30 axle.
2020 Keystone Cougar 364BHL ,Gone 2012 Yellowstone Ridgeline 34RLT Fifth Wheel
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10-15-2013, 09:28 AM
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#13
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Old Enough to Know Better
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Greenwood, In
Posts: 528
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The "pilot" light is the main burner on most units. It does not that much to do the job just a while to get the box cold.
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Jim & Debbie England
Do you have Gas? 2015 F350 6.2L CCLB DRW 4.30 axle.
2020 Keystone Cougar 364BHL ,Gone 2012 Yellowstone Ridgeline 34RLT Fifth Wheel
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10-15-2013, 09:43 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: X
Posts: 2,781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garbonz
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I guess I need to understand how the propane works since the flame never stops, once it is lit. Hmmmmm.
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The flame does stop. DSI re-ignites it as needed.
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10-15-2013, 09:58 AM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,499
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And mine has no burner. The only flame is the little "pilot-light-like flame which cycles on and off.
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2018 Forester 3011 DS
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10-15-2013, 10:12 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: X
Posts: 2,781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcheatwood
And mine has no burner. The only flame is the little "pilot-light-like flame which cycles on and off.
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That is a burner. "Pilot light" refers to a flame used to ignite another burner, so it's not a pilot light (although you did say "like").
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10-15-2013, 04:44 PM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BarryD0706
That is a burner. "Pilot light" refers to a flame used to ignite another burner, so it's not a pilot light (although you did say "like").
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Yep. "Like" as in "similar size." I knew that. The poster of the question needed to know that the little pilot light-looking flame is all there is.
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2018 Forester 3011 DS
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10-15-2013, 05:32 PM
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#18
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Denver, CO
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,102
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Thanks.. I have never heard it lighting after the first ignition... so I assumed it was always on, and used something else to modulate temperature.
Love this forum...
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2017 Fuse 23T
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10-16-2013, 06:51 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 978
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gasman6674
FYI
Most units use 1550 btu per hour (dm2652) LP gas has 91,500 btu's per gallon, 21,548 per pound. A 30# cylinder when full will hold 6 gallons or 59.03 hours per gallon times 6 = 354.18 hours or 14 days. I dont think the battery will last that long without solar back up
regards
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GREAT INFO!!
So at 24-7, it'll last about 14 days per tank. Since there are so many variables, predicting exact duration would be nearly impossible. Variables like ambient temps, fridge temperature setting or how much time the fridge door is opened change how much of the propane is used. My general experience is that a tank will last about a month in the cooler climates we generally camp.
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10-16-2013, 06:57 AM
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#20
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RPAspey
GREAT INFO!!
So at 24-7, it'll last about 14 days per tank. Since there are so many variables, predicting exact duration would be nearly impossible. Variables like ambient temps, fridge temperature setting or how much time the fridge door is opened change how much of the propane is used. My general experience is that a tank will last about a month in the cooler climates we generally camp.
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Since we got our 5er in Feb 2012, the frig has been off propane 5 weeks and we've not used a 30# cyl of propane yet.
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