12 volt Refrigerator vs Propane gas

[Bob K4TAX]

12V refrigerators make NO sense to me. You have to move up to lithium batteries that poor little kinds in China have to mine, You have to have solar panels or fire up the generator to keep the refrigerator running.The good old lead acid batteries that can allow a refrigerator to run off of propane for many days are easily recycled vs the lithium batteries and solar panels that are not easy to recycle. Propane is MUCH safer than gasoline that most people run in their generators and tow vehicles.

X2 for me!

I believe that any RV system should operate from 2 power sources.

Bob

 

[fanrgs]

. . . We sized our battery bank (210 AH GC-2) for 4 nights dry camping without recharging. At the end of 4 nights/5 days, the batteries are down to 50-60%, the fridge is getting empty, and so is the water tank. It's time to move on.

This would be impossible to do without a propane fridge. My norm is about 20AH/day with some heater and/or fantastic fan use, less if none. We don't use the stereo, all lighting is LED.

We also have 210Ah of batteries, but ours are 12v LiFePO4, not 6v lead acid. At less than half the weight of those GC2 batteries, we have the use of all 200Ah, not the 100 Ah (50%) of the GC2s. So, twice the usable power at half the weight. And, using only solar power for recharge, those Li batteries have been tested for 6 days--including two cloudy, overcast days--while powering our 12v Norcold fridge. The fridge froze and kept ice frozen in the freezer and water cold in the fridge for those 6 days without difficulty. Not an ounce of propane or gasoline used by the fridge or generator in 6 days, just FREE Colorado sun!

 

[capeharj]

12V refrigerators make NO sense to me. You have to move up to lithium batteries that poor little kinds in China have to mine, You have to have solar panels or fire up the generator to keep the refrigerator running.The good old lead acid batteries that can allow a refrigerator to run off of propane for many days are easily recycled vs the lithium batteries and solar panels that are not easy to recycle. Propane is MUCH safer than gasoline that most people run in their generators and tow vehicles.

You don't need to move up to lithium batteries for a 12 volt refrigerator, if you think you need more capacity add another battery. We travel in a Salem 187RB, it had a propane refrigerator, but it caught fire, first one I had do that in 48 years with a travel trailer. I installed a 12 volt and couldn't be happier. It cools great is quiet and uses less power that the furnace. If you are afraid while boondocking carry a small 2000 wat inverter genset and charge your batteries once a day and use some of your other appliances like coffee pot, toaster, TV, hair dryer. I also have one in my 2021 Coachman 35 foot travel trailer, works great.

 

[ghuotari]

Is anyone out there having issues with then Everchill 12 volt fridge? Mine has failed twice in one year and it takes forever to get replaced.bought new Entrada 2200 June of 2023