Refrigerator

[MichaelInMA]

With all the generators and invertors available today, what is the point of a 2 or 3 way model.  Especially ones that can use propane.  It seems to me all they do is add a lot of complexity and cost.

 

[CincyGus]

Camping Preference variables for all kinds of folks. Many people don't like running genny's any more than they have to. To run strictly on electric with minimum genny use, you have to have a pretty good battery bank and some solar. Many Boondockers have a setup like this. Others run with a smaller battery bank and run the fridge on Propane as it cools better in this mode and saves them from having to have as big a battery bank as the first group. Others still camp with electric 120v hookups 90% of the time and only rarely camp for a few days on battery only so a battery or two vs. 4-6 for the other group works for them and again, using propane makes those batteries last even longer.

 

[Matt_C]

It all depends on how you expect to use the unit. 
Many owners drive from one FHU to the next and the thought of a night on the road without shore power scares them.  Then propane has some charm.  We have enough battery to run the reefer for about a day and an half and we often dry camp overnight, but then we are travelers and not so much campers. 

If you know now what you plan to do, set up for that.  It can always (at some later cost) be changed. 

Matt

 

[Kevin Means]

Yeah, if you like to boondock, and you've got a residential refrigerator, you're going to be running your generator 3 to 4 hours a day unless you invest in solar and a larger battery bank. LP fridges are actually very well suited for boondocking, because they're pretty efficient propane consumers, and the control board only consumes about one amp an hour (12 volts).

LP fridges that cool with DC power (12 volts) are voracious power consumers, so IMO they're not well suited for boondocking unless you've got a larger battery bank and solar. A friend of ours has one, and when he runs it on DC power, it consumes about 32 amps per hour.

Kev

 

[solarman]

With all the generators and invertors available today, what is the point of a 2 or 3 way model.  Especially ones that can use propane.  It seems to me all they do is add a lot of complexity and cost.

welcome to the forum.

my wife and I almost exclusively boon dock, therefore a propane fridge in my opinion is a must.
power consumption is minimal, they stay cool enough for food storage but not enough for beer, sodas etc..
gas consumption is very low and we usually run out of food and water before we run out of propane..

some people prefer the additional cooling capacity of a conventional fridge and need additional battery capacity/solar to cope.

it's a horses for courses scenario.. use what best suits your lifestyle.

 

[John From Detroit]

Inverters need lots of batteries to run a fridge all night
Generators.. Well most places have quite hours

2-way (Forget 3 way) run all night on very little electrical power

Likewise high efficiency compressor jobs but those are expensive .
But then they all are.

 

[UTTransplant]

For the cost differential between a propane refrigerator and a residential refrigerator, you can buy a lot of batteries. Just saying.

 

[grashley]

Welcome to the Forum!

First this discussion assumes no shore power is available.

In theory, you are correct. A generator could easily power a refrigerator when camping.  Unfortunately, even the quiet ones are too noisy to run 24 / 7.  Many campgrounds have STRICT limits on generator use for this reason.

An inverter to run even an efficient residential fridge will work, but it requires a large, heavy battery bank to keep everything going - and that does not include A/C or microwaves to hair driers.  And they must be recharged.  Solar is great in the southwest, but of no value in cloudy or rainy weather.  Back to that noisy generator. (Limited microwave usage is possible).

Back to propane.  It works silently and efficiently when shore power nor generator power is available.  Manufacturers make one size fits all units, so the two way (propane / 120VAC) fridge is the unit of choice.

Some mid to premium level campers offer residential fridges, with larger battery banks and inverters, assuming the owner will not be boon docking very often.

 

[Rene T]

Yeah, if you like to boondock, and you've got a residential refrigerator, you're going to be running your generator 3 to 4 hours a day unless you invest in solar and a larger battery bank. LP fridges are actually very well suited for boondocking, because they're pretty efficient propane consumers, and the control board only consumes about one amp an hour (12 volts).

LP fridges that cool with DC power (12 volts) are voracious power consumers, so IMO they're not well suited for boondocking unless you've got a larger battery bank and solar. A friend of ours has one, and when he runs it on DC power, it consumes about 32 amps per hour.

Kev

I use to have a truck camper and the fridge was a 3 way. When going down the road, I would put it on strictly 12 volt mode. The truck would keep the camper battery charged. As soon as I got to my destination, I would switch it over to either propane or 120 Volt AC.

 

[MichaelInMA]

I probably fall in the 90% that go from one campground to the next.  I suspect the number is much higher than 90%.  The only time I boondock is a single night in a Walmart parking lot for a long jump between campgrounds.  Even at home I have an outlet to plug the camper in.

I am looking to replace the trailer I have now.  It has a 120VAC only refrigerator.  I have found it holds well 48 hours.  Never pushed it more.  I have never missed not having LP.  I got a generator last year for the AC.  I am amazed at how quiet they are now.  At one campground someone had a soundproofing box around his.  All you could hear was the quiet ventilation fan built into it.

With the increasing availability of lithium batteries I suspect the battery argument is going to change over the next few years.  I wonder what direction it will take?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I agree with you overall, but smaller RVs have limits on how much battery space/weight they can afford. Still, I expect to see auxiliary power packs (inverter+ LiFe batteries) available as the prices come down.

 

[JudyJB]

One other issue that might pertain to you--I have the typical dual electric and propane refrigerator.  I occasionally have to leave my motorhome in an airport parking lot.  I recently had to fly from Oregon to Ohio.  Weather was cool and there was some rain and some sunny days while i was gone.  After 9 nights/10 days of running on propane, everything was still frozen and system operating when I returned. 

I have also left it for 6 nights in a very hot Salt Lake City economy parking lot a year or so ago, and had same experience. Still lots of battery capacity and everything frozen or cold when I got back.

I think the dual electric and propane refrigerator gives you a lot more flexibility for those times when you have to do things you did not plan on doing.   

 

[John From Detroit]

For the cost differential between a propane refrigerator and a residential refrigerator, you can buy a lot of batteries. Just saying.

Yes but the initial cost (purchase price) is only part of the total cost.
1 your cargo carrying capacity goes down with every additional battery
2: So does your MPG