I probably should hunt down the manual and read it but: Can you run the fridge on gas while you are towing if you do not have a battery for 12V. Would the pilot blow out with the Draft? May be there may even be a law against it , not sure on the safety aspects so have never tried. Also can any one give a rough estimate of gas consumption rate or rooughly how long it would last on a 9kg bottle
jandas fun said
08:16 PM Nov 22, 2009
Hi Whoppa
NO. all gas appliances should be turned off whilst travelling
have heard that a 9kg bottle can run a fridge for about 3 weeks but don't know how much gas stove uasage was involved.
some of our long term free campers would have a better idea.
Johnw
Delta18 said
08:23 PM Nov 22, 2009
I don't know whether you 'should', but you certainly 'can.
I have been doing this without problems when mine was playing up on 12v.
No doubt there will be those saying it is foolhardy, you will crash and burn etc but I find that, if it is necessary, and providing you remember to shut off the gas when coming into a service station for refuelling then there will be no problems.
However, having said that, in your case, you don't need a battery in the van. Just run dedicated heavy core wiring from your car battery via an anderson plug or similar at the towbar, to the fridge. No more problems.
You will get weeks on a full gas bottle running full time.
Cheers
jimricho said
08:48 PM Nov 22, 2009
The operation manual for my fridge (Dometic RM2350) clearly states on page 9 in uppercase bold type...
(quote)
! WARNING DO NOT OPERATE THE REFRIGERATOR ON LP GAS WHILST TRAVELLING
(end quote)
regarding 12 volt operation from the vehicles battery I quote again from the manual (page 8).....
(quote)
! CAUTION
Do NOT operate the refrigerator on 12 volt when the vehicle is parked. The amperage draw of the 12-volt DC heating element can discharge a battery in a very short time. The installation of a 12-volt DC operated refrigerator requires a relay to be installed on the tow vehicle or in the caravan. The relay will auto- matically shut off the 12 volt DC power to the refrig- erator when the ignition is turned off.
(end quote)
I always shut off the gas at the cylinder when travelling. I am under the impression that this is a legal requirement but I could be corrected on this.
Gary and Kerry said
08:56 PM Nov 22, 2009
Delta18 wrote:
I don't know whether you 'should', but you certainly 'can.
I have been doing this without problems when mine was playing up on 12v.
No doubt there will be those saying it is foolhardy, you will crash and burn etc but I find that, if it is necessary, and providing you remember to shut off the gas when coming into a service station for refuelling then there will be no problems.
However, having said that, in your case, you don't need a battery in the van. Just run dedicated heavy core wiring from your car battery via an anderson plug or similar at the towbar, to the fridge. No more problems.
You will get weeks on a full gas bottle running full time.
Cheers
The 12V side of the fridge motherboard failed 1 month into our trip, for the remainder of the trip we used gas 24/7 including travelling. Just turned gas off before entering servo's.
jandas fun said
08:59 PM Nov 22, 2009
damn !! beat me by that much... just pulled my dometic manual out of the caravan for a read as well.
also staTes in uppercase bold type.... TURN OFF THE GAS BOTTLE WHILST MOBILE.
Johnw
Rolly said
09:06 PM Nov 22, 2009
Should the gas not turn itself off when the pilot blows out, or a fracture develop in the gas feeder line, then there is the potential for an explosive gas/air mixture to be created.
In the event of a slow leak, not big enough to extinguish the pilot flame, then a nice little gas fire behind the fridge will fairly quickly set everything else alight.
These things have been known to happen.
jimricho said
09:13 PM Nov 22, 2009
I have a neighbour with a caravan who does not have any 12 volt wiring in his van so he always just puts some cooler bricks in the freezer and claims this holds the temperature satisfactorily low enough for a days travelling. As he always stays in caravan parks and he runs the fridge (with the bricks) for several days before departure.
I have tried this too and it seemed ok but I prefer to run the fridge (on 12volt) while travelling.
I stand by my view that it is potentially risky to leave the gas turned on (at the cylinder) while the rig is closed up and on the move.
whoppa said
07:37 AM Nov 23, 2009
Thanks all ,I will stick to just leaving it off between camps ,as it seems to hold for the time we are on the road if we keep the door closed
Mike
clazandaza said
06:40 PM Nov 24, 2009
I believe there is a standard 80 metre rule for naked lights/flame etc near service stations. No real problem using the gas whilst driving but a pain in the bum turning it off before each fuel stop.
Rolly said
09:26 PM Nov 24, 2009
clazandaza wrote:No real problem using the gas whilst driving but a pain in the bum turning it off before each fuel stop.
There's a number of people with burned out caravans and campers who would disagree with you on that point.
I've seen it happen, so it wouldn't be me taking the risk.
dave06 said
10:29 AM Nov 30, 2009
never drive with the gas turned on, and certainly with the fridge fired up, the potential for huge harm is just too great,
12 volt when driving, 240 in c/parks, gas when free camping unpowered non traveling
dont do it, you will die!
Can you run the fridge on gas while you are towing if you do not have a battery for 12V.
Would the pilot blow out with the Draft?
May be there may even be a law against it , not sure on the safety aspects so have never tried.
Also can any one give a rough estimate of gas consumption rate or rooughly how long it would last on a 9kg bottle
I have been doing this without problems when mine was playing up on 12v.
No doubt there will be those saying it is foolhardy, you will crash and burn etc but I find that, if it is necessary, and providing you remember to shut off the gas when coming into a service station for refuelling then there will be no problems.
However, having said that, in your case, you don't need a battery in the van. Just run dedicated heavy core wiring from your car battery via an anderson plug or similar at the towbar, to the fridge. No more problems.
You will get weeks on a full gas bottle running full time.
Cheers
(quote)
! WARNING
DO NOT OPERATE THE REFRIGERATOR ON LP GAS WHILST TRAVELLING
(end quote)
regarding 12 volt operation from the vehicles battery I quote again from the manual (page 8).....
(quote)
! CAUTION
Do NOT operate the refrigerator on 12 volt when the
vehicle is parked. The amperage draw of the 12-volt
DC heating element can discharge a battery in a very
short time. The installation of a 12-volt DC operated
refrigerator requires a relay to be installed on the
tow vehicle or in the caravan. The relay will auto-
matically shut off the 12 volt DC power to the refrig-
erator when the ignition is turned off.
(end quote)
I always shut off the gas at the cylinder when travelling. I am under the impression that this is a legal requirement but I could be corrected on this.
Just turned gas off before entering servo's.
In the event of a slow leak, not big enough to extinguish the pilot flame, then a nice little gas fire behind the fridge will fairly quickly set everything else alight.
These things have been known to happen.
I believe there is a standard 80 metre rule for naked lights/flame etc near service stations. No real problem using the gas whilst driving but a pain in the bum turning it off before each fuel stop.
There's a number of people with burned out caravans and campers who would disagree with you on that point.
I've seen it happen, so it wouldn't be me taking the risk.