Refrigerator Question AC - Gas - DC

[hazer1mike]

I own a 2015 Keystone Bullet Premier TT with an Atwood Refrigerator. When driving I feel like the refrigerator used to run on DC when it was hooked up to my truck. Now the only way to get the refrigerator to run when driving is to use propane. Should the refrigerator run off of DC when driving?

[hankpage]

I have not seen a fridge with a 12v option come standard in years. Unless you ordered it special it is only 110v ac or propane ...... but both need 12v dc for control circuits.

[Festus2]

Most of today's RV fridges are two-way only: gas/propane or 110 VAC. When driving, many simply set the fridge to propane/gas and leave it on when travelling. The fridge does require 12DC for the control board to function but you also need either gas or 110VAC at the same time. It won't operate using 12DC only.

[Tbos]

A very long 40+ years we (my parents) had a 3 way installed in a tent camper. I wish 3 way was the standard but I don't know if they even make them anymore. I travel with mine on propane and shut it off when I refuel.

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[chuckster57]

They do make them. Dometic IIRC, installed in Pleasure Way Class B RVs. Not big but they do the job.

[hazer1mike]

Anyone else have experience with Atwood fridge? It definitely has the 3 modes.

[440justin]

I have the Atwood frig in my Passport and it is only a two way. Checking the Atwood website also shows their frigs are only two way. The large 8 cu. ft. Would never cool on 12volt or last very long if you only have one battery.

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[chuckster57]

Anyone else have experience with Atwood fridge? It definitely has the 3 modes.


Maybe your thinking the three modes are
Auto
110
L/P

[Festus2]

Anyone else have experience with Atwood fridge? It definitely has the 3 modes.

If you still have the owner's manual for the Atwood fridge, it should specify in there what modes that particular model will operate it. If you don't have the manual, go to their website, search for the model number of the Atwood fridge and look up the specs for that model. It should be fairly simple to verify from the manual or the site whether or not it is 2 way or 3 way.

[gearhead]

I think 3 way fridges are still available in cabover truck campers. Most of them are fairly small though. So, they are around.

[JRTJH]

Atwood produces two RV refrigerators, the HE-601 and HE-801. To the best of my knowledge, Atwood has never produced a "three way" refrigerator and I'm sure there is not a current production (within the past 5 years)Atwood "three way" refrigerator.

Here is the "cut and paste" power requirements explanation from Atwood:

"CONTROL PANEL
The refrigerator control panel is located between the fresh food and freezer compartments of your refrigerator. The refrigerator control requires +12 volts DC to operate. There are three pushbuttons.
POWER ON – Pressing this pushbutton turns the refrigerator on and off.
MODE – Pressing and holding this pushbutton cycles the mode selections from AUTO, manual GAS, and manual AC. Releasing the pushbutton selects the last mode displayed. The selected mode will be displayed for approx 5 seconds before all the mode indicators are turned off. The active mode can be displayed at any time by pressing and releasing the MODE pushbutton.
TEMP – Pressing and holding this pushbutton cycles the temperature settings from 1 through 5 with 5 being the maximum cool setting. Releasing the pushbutton selects the last temperature setting displayed. The selected temperature setting will be displayed for approx 5 seconds before all the temperature indicators are turned off. The active temperature setting can be displayed at any time by pressing and releasing the TEMP pushbutton.
AUTO MODE
When the refrigerator is in the AUTO mode, the control automatically selects the best energy source which is available. When a more efficient energy source becomes available, the refrigerator automatically switches to the more efficient source. AC energy is considered the more efficient energy source and is the first choice selected by the control. Propane gas is the second choice and is selected in the AUTO mode only when AC energy is not available.
GAS MODE
The GAS mode can be selected either automatically or manually. When switching to gas operation, the refrigerator control begins a 40 second trial ignition cycle. During this period, the control opens the gas safety valve and begins sparking the burner. If after 40 seconds the control fails to detect the presence of a flame, the control shuts off the gas safety valve and stops sparking the burner. The CHECK indicator on the control panel turns on indicating that the burner failed to ignite. The CHECK indicator can be reset by turning the refrigerator off and then back on again and a new 40 second trial ignition cycle begins. On initial start up or after changing a propane tank, it is possible that air in the gas supply lines will require 2 or 3 ignition trials before successfully lighting the burner. If after repeated attempts, the burner fails to ignite, stop and consult your local dealer or an authorized Atwood Service Center.
MANUAL MODES
The manual modes allow for selection of either the AC or GAS modes directly. If the selected mode’s energy source is not available, the refrigerator is turned off, the CHECK is turned on and the selected mode indicator flashes on and off indicating which energy source is not available."

Here are links to Atwood's reference material:
http://www.askforatwood.com/manuals/refrigerators/Refrigerator_Quick_Reference.pdf
http://www.askforatwood.com/manuals/refrigerators/ENGLISH_Refrigerator_Manual_11.pdf

As previously stated, Dometic does produce small "three way" refrigerators for RV use. The largest is a 5 cuft single door model. There are no "double door three way" refrigerators in production for RV use.

[LaTundra]

I leave mine on auto.
It switches from 110vac to l.p. when I unplug. And then back to 110vac when I plug in.

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[chuckster57]

As promised, here's the three way from Dometic. Found in Pleasure way:
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_198187_0_a6c5aac955b4dbaf03436d169b5efde6.jpg

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_198187_1_fe102f563d1f37d2b8e229a2420e3d9a.jpg

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_198187_2_9a9f6956c7076190094a43d3cadeffb3.jpg

[Ken / Claudia]

My 2002 AF had a 3 way refer. Used it in DC mode on one of the first few trips and never again. It used up the batteries I needed to start the genny even with a charge line from the truck. Think it was 6 cu. That was during hot summer temps. but, for me the propane mode has always been working great while traveling even back in the 1980s. Just be careful or turn it off around fueling stations. The auto mode is a nice thing and so far works as it should in the Keystone.

[denverpilot]

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_198269_0_9a9f6956c7076190094a43d3cadeffb3.jpg


And there you see why they're not popular. 14A 12VDC is a pretty beefy load.