How Much Electricity Does A Travel Trailer Fridge Use?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The small RV refrigerator ended up using about

5 kWh of power per day

. Our entire battery bank is about 24 kWh. This means that nearly every day about 20% to 25% of all our usable battery power would need to go to powering the refrigerator.

How much power does a 12 Volt RV refrigerator use?

According to the manufacturer, this Dometic 12V fridge consumes

1.5Ah/h

(1.5 amp-hours per hour).

How much power does a RV refrigerator draw?

Load Watts Amps @12V 12V Stereo Head 7-50 0.5-3.5 12V Outlet, Socket 120-130 10 12V Outlet, USB 25 2.1 AC/DC RV Fridge

50-180


4-13.5

Should I leave my RV refrigerator on?


You don’t need to leave your RV fridge on all the time

. This will not extend its life. However, before going on a camping trip, you must turn on your RV refrigerator within 24 hours. This will allow your refrigerator to cool down in time for your trip.

How many hours does a RV fridge run per day?

Compression fridges or “residential” fridges tend to run for much longer on battery –

up to 12 hours

– compared to absorption fridges that usually last around 3 hours. Another thing to consider is what kind of battery you have. Some RVs run off of a single 12-volt battery, while others run off of four 6-volt batteries.

How much propane does an RV Fridge use?

Generally, a 10 to 12 cubic foot RV fridge will burn about

1.5 pounds of propane per day

.

Do RV refrigerators use a lot of electricity?

The small RV refrigerator ended up using

about 5 kWh of power per day

. Our entire battery bank is about 24 kWh. This means that nearly every day about 20% to 25% of all our usable battery power would need to go to powering the refrigerator.

Will RV fridge run off battery while driving?


Yes, you can certainly run your RV refrigerator while driving

. But you will need to decide on the level of RV travel safety risk you are willing to take.

How long can you run a refrigerator on a car battery?

A typical car battery has a capacity of 60 AH and 12 V for the power of 720 Watt – hours. A small refrigerator can launch 100 W during the race. Of course, it works intermittently then maybe an average of 50 W if it does not open the door. So, in the end, probably just hit the refrigerator for

12 hours

.

How much power does RV Fridge use on gas?

RV Propane Refrigerator. The Dometic RV fridge with 8 cubic feet of internal space is rated at 1500 BTUs (British thermal units) per hour.

One gallon of propane has 91,502 BTUs

. So essentially you could run your fridge for roughly 61 hours off 1 gallon of propane.

How much power does a 12v Dometic fridge use?

Under normal conditions the 75DZW’s power consumption is modest (

1.3 amps per hour

), however, used in high ambient temps or without pre-cooling, the fridge can put a big drain on your battery.

How long do RV fridges last?

RV refrigerators typically last

10 to 18 years

, and the average life of a refrigerator is 14 years. Many factors influence the life of fridges, including the type of refrigerator and environmental factors.

Why do RV refrigerators catch fire?

Fires are allegedly caused when

defects in the Dometic refrigerator design release flammable gases

, which can then explosively ignite and spread quickly through the refrigerator compartment and into the passenger area of the RV.

Can you run RV fridge on 110?


An RV refrigerator can operate an electric 110 power

, propane (LP gas), or (on some models) 12 volt power. Most RV refrigerators have a display on the front upper portion of the refrigerator. When using an RV refrigerator you have the option to run it in LP mode or auto mode.

How long will a 20 lb propane tank run a refrigerator?

If you’re using a standard 20-lb propane tank, you can expect it to last around

11 days

(non-stop) before needing to replace or refill it.

Does a RV propane fridge need electricity?

The process is triggered by a propane flame, which is why these refrigerators are called propane refrigerators. The main advantages of a propane RV fridge are obvious:

There is no need for electricity

.

Does an RV fridge need power to run on propane?

To run on propane (LP),

an RV fridge does not require battery power

, but it does require battery power to open the gas valve and fire the igniter. The front panel LEDs and thermostat are also powered by RV batteries. RV refrigerators commonly use a gas absorption cooling system.

Is it better to run RV fridge on propane or electric?

Many agree that

RV refrigerators work better on electricity

, as it keeps the food fresh and cold for a longer period. On the other hand, a gas RV fridge will cool faster and stay colder even in high temperatures.

Why are RV refrigerators so expensive?

These particular units are pricey

due to their utilitarian design

. They are capable of running on electric power and on gas power. This makes it easy to load your fridge with food before your trip and keep it cool while you are traveling down the highway. Unfortunately, this functionality comes at a cost!

Can I drive my RV with the propane on?


You can run your RV fridge on propane while driving, but there are some risks associated with it

. The most obvious risk is that there could be a fire or explosion that comes as a result of the propane. This risk mostly exists if something were to go wrong while you were driving.

How much electricity does an RV use per day?

How much electricity does an RV use? Average use for a typical RVer is around

20 kWh a day

. This comes out to about 608 kWh a month or 7,300 kWh a year. Usage will be lower during fair weather and higher during heating and cooling seasons.

How do I keep my RV fridge cold while driving?

  1. Lower the Fridge Temp Before Leaving. …
  2. Refrigerate Items at Home Before Loading Them into Your Fridge. …
  3. Consider what you pack in your fridge. …
  4. Place Ice Packs in Your Fridge. …
  5. Avoid Opening the Fridge While Traveling. …
  6. Use a Fridge Fan Inside Your RV Fridge.

Can you run the AC in an RV while driving?

Can you run an RV air conditioner while driving? Your RV’s generator can power your RV’s rooftop air conditioner. So,

you can run your air conditioner if your generator is on while you’re driving

. Just keep your fuel tank’s capacity in mind and turn off your AC before turning your generator off.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.