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Old 09-21-2018, 07:40 PM   #1
DENBRO
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Odd question

I have a 2017 Bullet Ultralight 220RBI. It is recommended to turn off fridge and propane while traveling. I have a solar generator (battery) with a 30 amp RV receptacle. Question: is it feasible (Will it work) to connect the external power cord into the battery to run the refrigerator and, if so, where and how do I access the cord from INSIDE the trailer so I can plug it into the battery as we cruise down the road? I said it was an odd question.
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Old 09-21-2018, 07:51 PM   #2
chuckster57
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Welcome to the forum!!!

Who “recommended” that you turn off your fridge and shut off the propane while traveling? It’s not necessary and probably 95% of us if not more travel with the fridge operating on propane.

You would need 110VAC for the fridge to operate on AC during travel, which would require either a generator running or an inverter operating.

Set the fridge to “AUTO” open the propane valves and enjoy your trip.
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Old 09-21-2018, 07:55 PM   #3
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The easiest way is set the fridge to "auto" open propane bottle & hit the road. Tens of thousands have traveled millions of miles doing it this way for years, that's what they're designed to do.
Not sure what/how your solar set up might work, but I'd think you'll need an inverter to get AC power from your batteries/solar system.
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Old 09-21-2018, 08:15 PM   #4
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The only time I ever turned the refrigerator off during our travel trailer days was because I was getting gasoline. As soon as that was done, the refrigerator was turned back on. Now we have a residential refrigerator so that is not necessary.
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Old 09-22-2018, 04:08 AM   #5
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leave your propane on! you don't have to turn your refrig off at all while traveling.

even if you did turn it off for 4 or 5 hours it won't defrost.

let it go.
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Old 09-22-2018, 04:19 AM   #6
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I'm also curious where you heard you should shut the fridge and propane off when traveling. Going back to when I was young, in our family's then-new Sportscoach, we always left the fridge on when under way.

Often it blew out during driving, and in the old days, they didn't self light, so my dad would have to re-light it when we stopped for the day, but that just seemed to be "standard operating procedure".

Based on that experience, I've always left my fridge on while traveling. Never knew not to.
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Old 09-22-2018, 07:37 AM   #7
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Smile Odd question thx

Thank you to everyone who responded. I will keep it simple and leave on the propane except when refueling. I keep seeing videos of rv’s On fire due to propane lines ruptured on the road so thought I might try the solar battery concept, but it would be complicated. I’ve traveled with propane on and off and it is a big hassle when off due to warmups or using coolers. My wife has threatened my life if I do it again. Thanks for your quick responses and putting my mind at ease.
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Old 09-22-2018, 11:15 AM   #8
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Thank you to everyone who responded. I will keep it simple and leave on the propane except when refueling.
You shouldn't even have to turn it off during refueling. If there is that much gasoline vapor in the air to ignite from the flame, the station will have gone up in flames from other cars coming and going LONG before your little flame would cause anything. That just seems like a great way to waste 10 extra minutes at the station.
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Old 09-22-2018, 11:58 AM   #9
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Thank you to everyone who responded. I will keep it simple and leave on the propane except when refueling. I keep seeing videos of rv’s On fire due to propane lines ruptured on the road so thought I might try the solar battery concept, but it would be complicated. I’ve traveled with propane on and off and it is a big hassle when off due to warmups or using coolers. My wife has threatened my life if I do it again. Thanks for your quick responses and putting my mind at ease.
The "My wife has threatened my life it I do it again" quote was a laugh out loud moment for me!

I seem to remember back in the "old days" there being 3 way fridges that would work off 12volt while underway, but I've never owned one. Maybe they still make them? I don't know. But my experience has been that propane is a pretty safe fuel. I'm totally comfortable with my new rig with the fridge burning propane while underway, and I must say the fact that it will re-light itself if the wind blows it out on the road is pretty cool.

(OK, just re-read that, and honestly, no pun intended!)
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Old 09-22-2018, 12:11 PM   #10
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To the best of my knowledge, the only time you are "required" to turn off propane is when in certain marked tunnels, or marked bridges or ferries. Other than that, as already mentioned, your kept closed COLD refrigerator will stay cold for quite a while. So it's a matter of choice, For me, here in New England where traffic jams are a given, I keep mine on propane for travel.

For example, the George Washington Bridge between NYC and NJ requires Haz-Mat, and propane to use the upper level . But is rarely enforced.

Good Luck,
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Old 09-22-2018, 02:27 PM   #11
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Propane industry groups recommend turning it off when fueling.
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Old 09-22-2018, 03:22 PM   #12
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There's no need to turn your propane off when refueling IMO. Just think about it; that tiny pilot is a long way from that pump. As was mentioned, if the fumes were that heavy the smoker standing next to his pump 20' away would have already exploded. In our case, the pilot is 20'+ away from the pump and on the other side of the trailer. If something is going to cause a blowup at the pump there are a lot of other folks doing far worse than leaving a fridge pilot lit that should go "boom" first. YMMV
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Old 09-22-2018, 05:59 PM   #13
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"Propane industry groups recommend turning it off when fueling" That's because of the large number of lives lost every year due to RV's exploding at the pumps. Uh, excuse me while I get my tongue out of my cheek.
There are a number of RV owners who will not travel with the propane on, check the tire pressure every single pee stop, and loosen and retorque lug nuts before every trip. It is what floats their boat. In that it doesn't affect me or mine I really couldn't care less. However I can't in good conscience recommend to an inexperienced RV'er that the propane should be turned off during refueling. Better that they should spend that time checking the air pressure in the tires....
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Old 09-23-2018, 04:53 AM   #14
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Sure don't miss the old days of laying on the floor and lite frig manually
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Old 09-23-2018, 08:20 AM   #15
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The oven is still a pain! Especially with a center island floor Plan! LOL
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Old 09-23-2018, 02:10 PM   #16
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The oven is still a pain! Especially with a center island floor Plan! LOL
It sure is,, I was gonna cook pizza a while back,, by the time I got it lit was not hungry lol
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Old 09-24-2018, 10:58 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DENBRO View Post
I have a 2017 Bullet Ultralight 220RBI. It is recommended to turn off fridge and propane while traveling. I have a solar generator (battery) with a 30 amp RV receptacle. Question: is it feasible (Will it work) to connect the external power cord into the battery to run the refrigerator and, if so, where and how do I access the cord from INSIDE the trailer so I can plug it into the battery as we cruise down the road? I said it was an odd question.
WOW, I've not heard of turning off the propane while underway (he said with a sarcastic tone )
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Old 09-24-2018, 01:29 PM   #18
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I don't think we'll ever find a statement in any Dometic manual that says, "If you're reading this on the Keystone Forum....." That said, the Dometic owner's manual addresses operating the refrigerator while underway. It does not say "you can safely use propane" nor does it say, "You must not use propane" but it does say that the rocking and motion of the coach will eliminate the need to maintain the vehicle level while operating the refrigerator when towing. That "should" provide the ability to understand the process (although it's not addressed in specific words"....

Anyway, this is what's in the Dometic 2652/2852 Owner's Manual:

"Any time the vehicle is parked for several hours with the refrigerator operating, the vehicle should be leveled to prevent this loss of cooling. The vehicle needs to be leveled only so it is comfortable to live in (no noticeable sloping of floor or walls). When the vehicle is moving, the leveling is not critical, as the rolling and pitching movement of the vehicle will pass to either side of level, keeping the liquid ammonia from accumulating in the evaporator tubing."

So, common sense would indicate that if the rocking while towing is sufficient to distribute the gasses, then it must be OK to operate the refrigerator while in motion which means that it also must be OK to operate the propane system when in motion because that's the only way to operate the refrigerator.... (vicious circle ???)

And, if there's someone who wants to rebut this with, "But that could mean operating it on 12 VDC"... Remember, the 2652/2852 are both two-way refrigerator systems and require either 120VAC or LPG to operate...
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Old 09-24-2018, 02:09 PM   #19
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Keep it on while travelling unless required otherwise by your DOT like on specific tunnels and such.
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Old 09-24-2018, 02:19 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
I don't think we'll ever find a statement in any Dometic manual that says, "If you're reading this on the Keystone Forum....." That said, the Dometic owner's manual addresses operating the refrigerator while underway. It does not say "you can safely use propane" nor does it say, "You must not use propane" but it does say that the rocking and motion of the coach will eliminate the need to maintain the vehicle level while operating the refrigerator when towing. That "should" provide the ability to understand the process (although it's not addressed in specific words"....

Anyway, this is what's in the Dometic 2652/2852 Owner's Manual:

"Any time the vehicle is parked for several hours with the refrigerator operating, the vehicle should be leveled to prevent this loss of cooling. The vehicle needs to be leveled only so it is comfortable to live in (no noticeable sloping of floor or walls). When the vehicle is moving, the leveling is not critical, as the rolling and pitching movement of the vehicle will pass to either side of level, keeping the liquid ammonia from accumulating in the evaporator tubing."

So, common sense would indicate that if the rocking while towing is sufficient to distribute the gasses, then it must be OK to operate the refrigerator while in motion which means that it also must be OK to operate the propane system when in motion because that's the only way to operate the refrigerator.... (vicious circle ???)

And, if there's someone who wants to rebut this with, "But that could mean operating it on 12 VDC"... Remember, the 2652/2852 are both two-way refrigerator systems and require either 120VAC or LPG to operate...
A good read,, enjoyed it
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