Propane fridge operation

[Bearsfanatic85]

Ok Folks I have a question with regards to propane fridge operation, Recent trip up to the Tetons and waited to light my fridge until I got there, It took about 12 hours to get cool, Is this a normal amount of time? After a couple days I turned it down to max cool and it seemed to perform ok, However when we left to come home I forgot to turn it off and after the 500 mile ride home it seemed that the fridge was actually colder than ever, Is this because of the vacuum created by the hiway speed drawing the flame up higher? If so what can I do to adjust the flame height to get a more effective cooling cycle faster? I appreciate your responses.

[dougrainer]

teambeeson wrote:
Okay, this is probably really dumb sorry, but if, going down the road at highway speeds, the fridge burner goes out (crosswind gust or whatever)... is there a shutoff mechanism or is propane just spilling out the whole time. I'm leery of running the propane on the highway for hours on end and just run the DC, but that prevents the camp battery from topping off I'm noticing. Thx.

When the refer is on LP, there is a FLAME sensor that is activated. IF the flame goes out, that sensor cools down and shuts the Gas Valve OFF. Depending on the Maker and Model of your refer, they have Baffle kits to stop or minimize blow outs in transit. Doug

[pianotuna]

There is a gas valve if the flame blow out the gas valve closes.

[teambeeson]

Okay, this is probably really dumb sorry, but if, going down the road at highway speeds, the fridge burner goes out (crosswind gust or whatever)... is there a shutoff mechanism or is propane just spilling out the whole time. I'm leery of running the propane on the highway for hours on end and just run the DC, but that prevents the camp battery from topping off I'm noticing. Thx.

[BCSierra]

Add a stainless pot full of ice cubes to give a bit of help to the unit if it's struggling in really warm weather or just loaded with a bunch of warm drinks etc.

[TxGearhead]

I turn it on 2-3 days, maybe a week, ahead of time. I put a few bottles of frozen drinking water in the freezer section. Also put one of those little blue "D" cell battery powered fans on the bottom shelf to help circulate.
Try to put cool or already frozen items in it. Loading it up with warm food and expecting it to cool and freeze food usually don't work too good.

[beemerphile1]

Normal, if you read the manual it may say it takes up to 24 hours to cool.

[wa8yxm]

Bearsfanatic85 wrote:
Ok Folks I have a question with regards to propane fridge operation, Recent trip up to the Tetons and waited to light my fridge until I got there, It took about 12 hours to get cool, Is this a normal amount of time?.

Actually.. A bit faster than many.. Yes 12 hours is good, Some take up to 24.

[naturist]

Agree, normal. In fact, 12 hours to cool down is pretty quick. I always fire ours up the day before we plan to put food in it.

[time2roll]

Normal. You know what to do next time. BTW you saved no significant propane.

[rjf7g]

Yep - I fire mine up 2 days in advance of heading out and I put an outdoor thermometer in it and monitor the indoor display to make sure it is cooling. If all goes well, I load it with cold food the day before we pull out and then I can cut the gas off when we leave so I don't have to think about it when I fuel up, etc.

[pianotuna]

Definitely normal.

[Wheelholder]

Not sure the flame was higher, but running down the road will draw the heat out the vent on top and sometimes make them more efficient.

[ScottG]

Yes, that's a normal amount of time.
FWIW, they are designed to stay on 24/7 and while going down the road. Mine has been on 7 mos of every years since 2003 and so far I have staved off Armageddon. 😉