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Post Info TOPIC: Dometic fridge - gas or electric in a heatwave…


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Dometic fridge - gas or electric in a heatwave…


we experienced a few hot days , first time for us in the van in such heat, is it best to run the fridge on gas or 240v.



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If you are talking about mains power 240 volts why would you use gas?

Cheaper than gas

More efficient

Laurie



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I think it's a good question. I don't know the answer, but someone who wants to calculate the energy provided by the 240v element vs the energy from LPG would have a better chance. In my case the element is 325 watts and gas input is 1.7MJ/Hour.


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325W = 1.17MJ/h



-- Edited by kgarnett on Tuesday 24th of December 2024 03:05:32 PM

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Thanks, so I think that tells me gas provides more power , and therefore would be best in 40+ degree heatwave.



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Unless your fridge is "Tropical" model it won't cope with heatwave - T on serial number.

Ensure your fridge door remains closed ie don't open and ponder. Ensure fridge side of van shaded and well ventilated. Buy ice to cool beer/wine in esky.

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Whatever you use if it pits the dummy when ambient temperature is too high, turn the fridge setting a little warmer. An absobson fridge will only reduce temperature by a certain number of degrees then stops, spits the dummy.
Had several decades with a kero fridge is my expirence and the chemistry has at changed

Neil

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Our Dometic 3 way fridge cooled better on gas than 240v in really hot weather, though it still couldn't always cope. We eventually changed it to a compressor fridge which works so much better.


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My kero fridge up in the cabin at Drake NSW, works exceptionally well in 40 C weather, way better then the gas only fridge ever did in similar weather. The gas fridge is up in the barn, and is used by the caretaker as his back up, and also when we have parties up there. Since I have gotten old, I can't handle the heat anymore, need AC, so don't go to the cabin, or camp anywhere in summer at all.



-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Wednesday 25th of December 2024 02:50:30 PM

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Ric - The Eccentric One



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If you have electricity use it. A shade awning on the fridge side of your van will with the fridge  as well as keeping the van cooler



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RE: fridge


If its a 3 way I looked it up my self and they work more efficient on gas

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RE: Dometic fridge - gas or electric in a heatwave…


Thanks cookie much appreciated 



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G'day all

We've had our MH now for 20 yrs and over those yrs it's / we've been thru many heat waves + a few cold-waves ! as well

We have found that the only way to keep ice-cream solid is when using gas. Dunno why
240v couldn't keep it frozen, 12v is pretty basic for on-the-road stuff and then "it ain't much chop" ... but in a 40+/- deg hot day, only the gas will do it all

Hope this helps
Phil

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I have a 3 way S Tropical 190lt single door, run it on 240, it struggled in hot weather till I took out the freezer section 2 minute job, and works much better now as just a dedicated lower section fridge, plenty of room for cold beer. I bought a 40LT Engel and use that as a dedicated freezer, just fits in one side if the front boot and runs on 240 and 12v plus solar.



-- Edited by Bulldozer on Monday 6th of January 2025 04:24:37 PM

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