Is it ok to leave my fridge on ?

[bfandlw]

I am still new to the RVing world. I thought you guys could help me. I use my Winnebago Era 24' every weekend and would like to keep my fridge on, using propane as my power source. It takes a while to get cold, so I wanted to leave it on all the time. If my RV was in front of my house I would just turn it on a day before I need it, but it is in a storage lot several miles from home. I looked in the manual and it wasn't clear, imagine that !! My sales rep from the dealer where I purchased my RV said not to leave the fridge on, but looking on line there are a lot of mixed opinions. I know you girls have a lot of experience, any suggestions ?
Thanks in advance....

[Azusateach]

Becky, when you leave the fridge on and use propane, you're still using battery power, and that's why you don't want to do it. Think about how your home fridge cycles on and off -- your MH fridge does the same thing, using the battery to fire up the propane to cool down the fridge. It shouldn't take your fridge more than 8 hours to cool down sufficiently to put your food in safely. I know that it's a pain to have to go out and turn it on, but the alternative is discovering that you've got a dead battery when you're ready to hit the road.

There are many parasitic draws on your house battery besides the fridge, and you'll find that they'll cause your battery to drain pretty quickly if left alone. Most newer rigs have some sort of battery disconnect switch for their house battery, and I'd be using that to make sure you've got enough power when you need it. I have a travel trailer, and when I got it that was one of the requirements for purchase -- to have a battery kill switch installed. By doing so I know that as long as I use the kill switch I'll have battery power when I want it (provided my batteries are well-maintained and in good shape).

Laura

[monik7]

My rig is in storage too. I would not leave the fridge on. When I'm ready for a trip, I make sure everything I put in the fridge is already cold or frozen. That way stuff doesn't have to go through the cooling-off process. Never had a problem and things seem to stay cool or frozen even though the fridge starts off at room temperature.
Sandi

[cpatinjones]

I agree with the others...don't leave it on running off propane...will draw battery down.

I also don't travel with my propane on.

This is what I do: I use 4 - 6x6 hard-sided ice packs that you place in freezer to freeze (can get assorted sizes at walmart). I load my refrigerator with food and randomly place the the 4 packs in and round the food in the refrigerator. In other words, I use the refrigerator as an icebox. I have never had a problem doing it this way.

I also have used an ice chest with the ice packs to keep food cool until frig has been turned on and cooled.

I place the ice packs in the freezer to be used on my return trip home.

[WickedLady]

I would not leave fridge on (especially in storage) as I would be afraid of something going wrong and having a fire.

[bfandlw]

After reading your comments I realize how silly I was to consider leaving my fridge on. Thank you !
I have a lot to learn about RVing...

[mitch5252]

After reading your comments I realize how silly I was to consider leaving my fridge on. Thank you !
I have a lot to learn about RVing...

..
And didn't we all, at one point (and still do...you can NEVER know it all)
Keep up the good work.
..

[crimsonrose]

This post was very helpful since i'm new to RVing. I need further clarification. I'm living in my RV full time moving around almost every day, not plugged into electrical, not traveling far, maybe 5 miles a day, run my generator for microwave cooking every couple of days, I've been leaving my fridge on using propane, I really have to keep a watchful eye on the fridge to make sure it hasn't shut off due to rv not level. Any suggestions would be helpful. My fridge is 9 yrs old, can't find any info re annual maintenance either.

[Bethers]

This post was very helpful since i'm new to RVing. I need further clarification. I'm living in my RV full time moving around almost every day, not plugged into electrical, not traveling far, maybe 5 miles a day, run my generator for microwave cooking every couple of days, I've been leaving my fridge on using propane, I really have to keep a watchful eye on the fridge to make sure it hasn't shut off due to rv not level. Any suggestions would be helpful. My fridge is 9 yrs old, can't find any info re annual maintenance either.

Unless you are really, really not level, your fridge is fine. If it's shutting off, it's probably because your battery is getting too low. Driving such a short distance daily isn't charging them, and running the generator so little isn't either. The batteries need to be charged even to keep the fridge going on gas. And letting them get too low isn't good for them - they'll not last as long. So, if you aren't going to be driving much, then you need to run the generator more often. When I was not plugged in and counting on my generator or driving to keep my batteries charged, I got in the habit of running my generator one hour mornings and one hour evenings (if not driving enough to give the necessary charge).

[crimsonrose]

Thanks for the input, very helpful ~ will start running my generator longer and more often - currently running it 10 mins. every few days, obviously
not enough.

[SoCalGalcas]

When I was boon docking out in the desert, I ran my generator for two hours every morning. That did a fine job.

A generator should be run for two hours every month if not using it and just plugged into electricity.

Running the generator for just a few minutes in not a good habit to get into.

lyn

[Dell]

I am so glad somebody asked this question. I didn't know enough to ask it myself, but now that I've read the answers a lot of what has happened to me makes sense. Even though M.H. Rachel is in open field storage, the owner absolutely will not let me leave the propane on for any amount of time. I can understand the dangers; the fear of propane leaks is at the top of my brain constantly, especially since the alarm went off the first night I stayed in her. One time when I was driving back from the Wickham GTG, I stopped after thirty minutes to wipe love bugs off the windshield so I could see (yes, they were that bad). When I got out, I heard a horrendous cracking/popping sound like a frozen lake thawing. I had not forgotten to turn off the propane, but I did forget to turn off the refrigerator which apparently kept trying to get what it needed. I can only imagine the stress that propane tank went through. Propane is dangerous. Never take it for granted. I'm also thankful for the tips on how to run the generator appropriately. I'm learning lots of stuff from all of you. 8-Dell

[ellenw]

Becky, when you leave the fridge on and use propane, you're still using battery power, and that's why you don't want to do it. Think about how your home fridge cycles on and off -- your MH fridge does the same thing, using the battery to fire up the propane to cool down the fridge.
Laura

This is EXACTLY the information I was looking for. Knowing my fridge switches automatically between AC & propane, I couldn't figure out why, when the power went off in the storage unit and the house battery drained all the way down, the fridge shut off too. And I had plenty of propane. Thanks! Now I get it. (I'm getting tired of cleaning the freezer and having to replace the ice cream. )

Follow-on question: I read further down in the same thread about running the battery an hour in the a.m. and an hour in the p.m. while boondocking (Bethers) or 2 hours every morning (SoCalGalcas) OR driving a while. Do the same number of hours driving apply for you, Beth and Lyn? Or like everything else, it depends... ?

[BirdbyBird]

Like many answers "it depends" how many batteries you have to recharge....how much you had drained them the night before or through use during the day... Usually one or two hours works fine...

[ellenw]

Super! Thanks, Tina.