If you’re like most RVers, you are wondering how long will RV fridge run on propane and you rely on your RV fridge to keep your food cold and fresh. But how do you know when it’s running out of propane?
How Long will RV Fridge Run On Propane?
How long does an RV refrigerator powered by propane last? A 20-pound propane tank can power most trailers for a month. During this month, your water heater, kitchen appliances, and refrigerator will be powered.
Typically, this is longer than the amount of time a battery can power an RV refrigerator. However, the length varies depending on the size of your RV, refrigerator, and a few other significant factors. Therefore, once you have the RV’s specifications, you will need to account for these factors.
Now that you know how long your RV refrigerator can run on propane, we’ll explain how it operates. In addition, we will examine how much propane each of these refrigerators requires. Then, we will examine ways to reduce the amount of propane your RV refrigerator uses. Once you have all of this information, we’ll answer a few more questions for you, such as whether or not you need a battery to power your RV’s propane refrigerator with a battery.
We understand that if you’re new to RVing, you likely have a number of questions. So we thought it would be a good idea to review some of the best RV refrigerators currently available on the market. Although you may not find the ideal refrigerator, the products we present should give you a sense of what to expect from future alternatives.
What Function Does An RV Refrigerator Serve?
You may initially believe that an RV refrigerator operates in the same manner as a residential refrigerator. In contrast, nothing could be further from the truth. Your refrigerator at home has a compressor, but your RV’s refrigerator has neither a compressor nor any other moving parts to keep food cool. It is an absorption refrigerator instead.
To keep things simple, and absorption refrigerator heats a mixture of ammonia, hydrogen, gas, and water with a flame. Due to the heat, chemicals evaporate, and the resulting condensation cools the refrigerator. Whether using shore power or a generator, a heating element is produced. When LP gas is used, however, a flame is produced and the chemicals are heated. Depending on which is plugged in at the time, modern RV refrigerators automatically switch between LP gas and electricity. Some people ask what to do if Avanti fridge not cooling and the dometic refrigerator troubleshooting no power, but we will save that for another article.
How Much Propane Does a Camper Refrigerator Use?
Most modern RV refrigerators consume less energy than their predecessors. Consequently, a newer RV refrigerator will be less expensive to operate over time. In contrast, size increases total energy demand. A modern RV refrigerator with an interior volume of 10 to 12 cubic feet uses an average of 1.5 pounds of propane per day. This corresponds to roughly 1,400 BTUs per hour. However, a few factors can either increase or decrease the RV refrigerator’s performance.
How Can I Lower the Propane Consumption of My RV Fridge?
Energy efficiency is essential for RV living and travel. Inefficiency can lead to a substantial energy bill. There are several ways to reduce the amount of propane your RV refrigerator uses.
Fans For RV Refrigerator Cooling
Due to the absence of a compressor, RV refrigerators have a serious problem with air circulation. As a result, installing RV fridge cooling fans inside your refrigerator may be necessary to maintain proper airflow in your refrigerator.
These fans are primarily responsible for transferring additional cool air from the freezer to the refrigerator system. This will reduce the cooling load on the system over time. Depending on the amount of food in your refrigerator and freezer, you may be able to increase thermal efficiency by up to 50 percent.
Fan For Refrigerator Ventilation
A vent fan is an additional fan that can be installed in an RV refrigerator in order to improve thermal efficiency. In contrast, a cooling fan cannot enter the refrigerator. As a matter of fact, this goes beyond it.
The purpose of an RV fridge vent fan is to remove hot air from the area surrounding the refrigerator. When hot air accumulates around a refrigerator, it must exert more effort to keep the contents cool.
In order for your refrigerator to maintain the desired temperature, it will have to work harder and consume more propane. If you have a vent fan that pulls hot air out of the room, the air conditioner will not have to work as hard.
Make Sure Your RV Is Level
Absorption refrigerators function optimally when placed on a level surface. This is largely due to the fluids of the cooling system being fed by gravity. The internal fluid cycling process will be slowed if your RV is parked on uneven terrain.
The longer it remains on an uneven surface, the less efficient it will become and the greater the likelihood of a catastrophic mechanical failure. It is therefore essential to check the level of your RV after parking. Otherwise, you may face significant problems in the near future.
Before Placing Items In The RV Refrigerator, Pre-Chill Them.
Precooling your food before placing it in the RV refrigerator is a simple way to increase its efficiency. This can be achieved by placing the items briefly in an icebox before placing them in the refrigerator.
Alternatively, add cool food before adding anything warm or hot. Having cold items in your refrigerator further reduces the thermal load on the system. If you have the space, you can also place cold packs on the shelves to further reduce the temperature.
Is A Battery Necessary For My Propane-Powered Refrigerator?
You may believe that a battery is unnecessary because your refrigerator runs on propane. Due to the fact that all modern RV refrigerators have a control board that serves as the unit’s brain, a battery is required to power it.
Depending on the brand and model, the required voltage to operate the refrigerator will vary, but a battery will be necessary. The control board and ignition both require a battery for power. In the majority of instances, a powerful battery is not required, but one is necessary.
Final Thoughts
RVing is a great way to travel and see the country. However, it is important to be efficient with how you use propane so that you do not spend all of your money on fuel. If you are not careful, an RV fridge can burn through a lot of propane.
Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to help make your RV fridge more efficient. These tips will help you get the most out of your propane so that you can keep your costs down and have more money to enjoy your travels.
