Driving with proprane operating refridg
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If you have a generator in the 5th wheel you can run that or you can operate it off of propane. If I am going to be running the AC in my motorhome I just let the fridge run on elec. but otherwise I run it on propane.
The only time you have to shut it off is when fueling (gasoline or propane) or when traveling through certain tunnels on the east coast.
Woody
The only time you have to shut it off is when fueling (gasoline or propane) or when traveling through certain tunnels on the east coast.
Woody
When fueling shut off any propane appliance, refrigerator, water heater, especially those with DSI as they may call for spark even though the propane may be off at the tank.
For posted tunnels, you must shut off the propane at the tank, not just the appliances.
For posted tunnels, you must shut off the propane at the tank, not just the appliances.
John From Detroit
Well-known member
There are those who will go on and on about the dangers of running with propane on.... However I have asked and this is what I've found.
Some people have indeed had fires, usually in the frige area, when running with propane on.. 100% of these were caused by poor maintenance, either failure to inspect the flue after birds or insects had nested there, or failure to check for leaks.
Now. if you are going to have a fire,, Would you rather have it on the road where everybody can see the flames and avoid you,, Or next to a 250,000 diesel pusher just off the dealer's lot at a campground or rally (NOTE that either way YOU are going to have a fire)
There is a very slight additional danger in a crash.
However I've yet to hear of a single accident where it made a difference... I dispatched police for 25 years, and have been reading these forums for 3-5 depending on the forum.
Some people have indeed had fires, usually in the frige area, when running with propane on.. 100% of these were caused by poor maintenance, either failure to inspect the flue after birds or insects had nested there, or failure to check for leaks.
Now. if you are going to have a fire,, Would you rather have it on the road where everybody can see the flames and avoid you,, Or next to a 250,000 diesel pusher just off the dealer's lot at a campground or rally (NOTE that either way YOU are going to have a fire)
There is a very slight additional danger in a crash.
However I've yet to hear of a single accident where it made a difference... I dispatched police for 25 years, and have been reading these forums for 3-5 depending on the forum.
Mark R.
Well-known member
One other option is if you have a three way refrigerator meaning 12 volt, 120 volt and propane then you can run on 12 volt when driving!
Tom
Administrator
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We run ours on 110V going down the road. Had a 3-way once, but the 12V always popped a fuse, so we didn't use that option.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
Please note that shutting off the propane valve is NOT required at fueling stations and doing so is NOT sufficient to prevent accidents. What IS required is that all open flames be extinguished and all ignition/spark devices to shut down. Shutting off the propane flow will indeed extinguish any open propane flame but that will not prevent a DSI ignition appliance (nearly all of them these days) from generating sparks as it attempts to re-light itself. You must turn all such devices off, which in most RVs means the fridge, water heater and LP furnace. You should also turn off the generator and engine and ignition switch to eliminate the possibilit of sparks or flames from them as well.
Carl L
Moderator Emeritus
Listen to Gary folks, that is the straight scoop.
Run the fridge on gas, but when refueling go in the trailer and shut off the fridge at the fridge. Do not run with your water heater or furnace on.
Run the fridge on gas, but when refueling go in the trailer and shut off the fridge at the fridge. Do not run with your water heater or furnace on.
Tom
Administrator
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There's nowt wrong with running the refrigerator on 110V while driving down the road either. But that assumes it's wired to run off the inverter.
John From Detroit
Well-known member
Normally.. I just kill all 12 volt save some of the ham radios.. Since all the gas valves, and all the DSI systems in the rig are 12 volt powered. This does it...
Of course the last time I did that in Utah, when I went to turn everything back on...... NOTHING HAPPENED..
Fixed it when I got to Nevada, simple fix as it turned out.. But for a while I was... NOT all that pleased.
Of course the last time I did that in Utah, when I went to turn everything back on...... NOTHING HAPPENED..
Fixed it when I got to Nevada, simple fix as it turned out.. But for a while I was... NOT all that pleased.
John,
I basically do the same ... stop before entering station, check off or shutdown frig, water pump, generator, water heater & furnace (when traveling in the winter) ... and when I get out at the pumps I use the battery disconnects for both house and chassis ... as RV Roamer said, it's not the gas but the igniters that are the problem.
Not switching back on sometime has crossed my mind though. ;D
Howard
I basically do the same ... stop before entering station, check off or shutdown frig, water pump, generator, water heater & furnace (when traveling in the winter) ... and when I get out at the pumps I use the battery disconnects for both house and chassis ... as RV Roamer said, it's not the gas but the igniters that are the problem.
Not switching back on sometime has crossed my mind though. ;D
Howard
John In Detroit said:
John From Detroit
Well-known member
Well.. When it comes to the isolator/disconnect system not re-connecting.....
The best thing you can do, and you should do it NOW, is figure out how your disconnect works
As it turns out on my coach there is a big black box, everything is inside the box. in the bottom of the box are 3 connections labeled "AUX", "Main" and "Generator"
Running a jumper between "Aux" and "Generator" bypassed the switch that did not close
Later I downloaded the service manual for the box (I can't tell you where to get that less you have the same box) noted the differences between my install and the "Standard" (yes, Damon changed a couple things) and figured out the test procedure
Modified same (made it a bit easier) had wife help (it's a 2 person job) and quickly identified the problem (Remote switch failure)
Well, there are a few ways to fix a remote switch... I dang near passed out when the step one no cost repair worked (Remove from circuit (unplug) and operate 20 or 50 times, re-connect and test) First (And only so far) time it's been that easy.
The best thing you can do, and you should do it NOW, is figure out how your disconnect works
As it turns out on my coach there is a big black box, everything is inside the box. in the bottom of the box are 3 connections labeled "AUX", "Main" and "Generator"
Running a jumper between "Aux" and "Generator" bypassed the switch that did not close
Later I downloaded the service manual for the box (I can't tell you where to get that less you have the same box) noted the differences between my install and the "Standard" (yes, Damon changed a couple things) and figured out the test procedure
Modified same (made it a bit easier) had wife help (it's a 2 person job) and quickly identified the problem (Remote switch failure)
Well, there are a few ways to fix a remote switch... I dang near passed out when the step one no cost repair worked (Remove from circuit (unplug) and operate 20 or 50 times, re-connect and test) First (And only so far) time it's been that easy.
JerArdra
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Everything you folks have said is good but for those of us who fill at a truck stops diesel only pumps the risk of explosion or fire is much much less than at the Gasoline pumps, i.e., it's safer. It's the same in boating diesel is so much safer that gasoline.
JerryF
JerryF
John From Detroit
Well-known member
Fullly agree Jerry... Diesel has a much lower explosion danger (Basically zero) But do you ever fill up at the PROPANE pump?
On a scale of 10 where Diesel is zero, Gas is about 3, and propane about 9
I was once on a bus heading into East Lansing, MI.. As we pulled into Lansing (about 2-4 blocks from the terminal) someone in the back of the bus hollered either "Hey We got a fire" or Hey We got SMOKE back here... HE was not joking, pranking or doing anything else naughty, He was telling the truth... I was seated near the front but knowing what I know about diesel stepped out of the way and let others, more excieted then I leave.. I was next to last off the bus (Driver followed me) We both saw smoke coming out the control cluster on the driver's left before we exited (I said he was telling the truth)
Fire dept was on scene by the time I exited (I think they had chased us a ways)
On a scale of 10 where Diesel is zero, Gas is about 3, and propane about 9
I was once on a bus heading into East Lansing, MI.. As we pulled into Lansing (about 2-4 blocks from the terminal) someone in the back of the bus hollered either "Hey We got a fire" or Hey We got SMOKE back here... HE was not joking, pranking or doing anything else naughty, He was telling the truth... I was seated near the front but knowing what I know about diesel stepped out of the way and let others, more excieted then I leave.. I was next to last off the bus (Driver followed me) We both saw smoke coming out the control cluster on the driver's left before we exited (I said he was telling the truth)
Fire dept was on scene by the time I exited (I think they had chased us a ways)
JerArdra
Well-known member
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John,
Nah, never at the propane filler station because I always use the truck side diesel pumps.
JerryF
Nah, never at the propane filler station because I always use the truck side diesel pumps.
JerryF
bross
Well-known member
Back in my younger days I worked at a busy gas station on the PA turnpike. In the couple of years that I worked there it was a common occurrence to have fires while fueling RV's. During fueling, gasoline fumes are pushed out of the fuel tank as gasoline is pumped in. These fumes can be ignited by any open flame or ignition source. The good news is that these fires are usually not a big problem. To extinguish them you simply stop fueling and put a rag over the opening and the fire goes out. The fuel in the tank can't burn because the mixture is too rich, no air. We never had a big fire but I did see a few people pump water into their tanks to try to extinguish the fires. That can become a very expensive mistake. I never saw a fire in a diesel but I suppose it could happen.
Use common sense, keep all ignition sources away when refueling, including cigarettes and cell phones.
Use common sense, keep all ignition sources away when refueling, including cigarettes and cell phones.
ArdraF
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John,
To add to Jerry's comment, we do have a large propane tank so we don't need to fill it very often, but when we do we generally stop at a regular propane dealer like Suburban. When we fill the propane tank we definitely shut off everything and all aboard leave the motorhome.
ArdraF
To add to Jerry's comment, we do have a large propane tank so we don't need to fill it very often, but when we do we generally stop at a regular propane dealer like Suburban. When we fill the propane tank we definitely shut off everything and all aboard leave the motorhome.
ArdraF
