Is it possible to operate an RV refrigerator while driving?

Yes! If you have adequate battery power, you can use a battery to power a fridge while driving or camping off-grid, but there are a few things to take into account. While the type of refrigerator itself is a factor, you need also think about the solar and electrical systems that are already in your RV (or that need to be added or modified).

Let's recap

When not plugged into an electrical outlet, there are three ways to charge your RV’s batteries:

Solar panels can generate a charging current whenever they are illuminated by the sun, even on overcast days. They are passive and silent.

DC to DC Chargers: Compared to an engine trickle charge, these on-board chargers are far more efficient.

Generators: Gas generators are the compact gas-powered engine that creates a charging and operating current, while portable solar generators serve as a backup battery bank for your RV.

You may avoid worrying about food spoiling while traveling in your RV by running a refrigerator on battery, but it’s only one of the appliances you need to account for when planning a system to satisfy all of your electrical needs. Your RV, motorhome, or van probably has one of the following refrigerators, depending on its model and age.

Absorption vs. Compressor-Powered Fridge

A refrigerator that can be powered by either 12V (DC battery power) or 120V (AC shore power) is referred to as a 2-way refrigerator (compressor-powered). It uses a compressor, just like a personal fridge in your home, to chill down the appliance and maintain the coldness of your food.

Because it uses a compressor motor, it can cool more consistently and chill to low levels regardless of the ambient temperature outside.

These fridges may require additional solar power because they eventually utilize electricity to chill rather than gas. However, it can also be powered by LP gas, employing a heat exchange system to remove warm air and lower the interior temperature.

It’s crucial to remember that some people don’t advise using liquid propane gas in your refrigerator while driving. Although there is no explicit legislation or regulation, if you are driving along the road with an open flame, you are running the refrigerator on propane. Be careful to turn off the LP gas before entering a gas station, ferry, or long tunnel since some may demand it.

Although doing so implies using more propane, it is a more effective use of the fuel.

3-way refrigerators typically operate inefficiently and quickly deplete batteries when operating alone on 12V. DC to DC chargers and solar power to the rescue! The details are below.

They are typically only able to lower interior temperatures to a particular point below the ambient temperature rather than being able to attain the set exact temperature like a compressor refrigerator since they are more affected by ambient temperature. When compared to using solar-powered batteries, operating the 3-way on propane utilizes more fossil fuels.

Let’s look at the solar equipment you need to power your fridge off of a battery bank now that you know what kind of refrigerator you have.

How to Determine Your Energy Needs

Calculate how many watt-hours your refrigerator will require as a first step. The table below can also be used, but you’ll notice some substantial variances depending on whether you use AC, DC, or LP for the absorption fridge and/or the size and design of the compressor fridge. the best approach is to check your RV or vehicle manual for anticipated watts or amps.

Imagine you have a compressor-style refrigerator that is powered by 12V/DC power (straight from the battery). Remember that Watts = Volts x Amps. It will consume 102W using 12V power at an average rate of 8.5A. Although there are many considerations when deciding how many hours of the day the compressor will operate, let’s use six hours as an example.

Therefore, if your lead acid (flooded, Gel, or AGM) battery is full at the start of the day and you don’t have any other means of charging it (such as solar power or a DC to DC charger), it will be depleted of the energy needed by the refrigerator. However, if you utilize an LFP battery, you’ll still have around 348WH available for other electrical devices.

As previously mentioned, we strongly advise investing in high-quality, long-lasting Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries and installing a solar array if you intend to run your fridge off of a battery bank for longer than a day at a time and/or you want to boondock frequently. Explore this blog to learn how different deep-cycle batteries stack up against one another.

Overall

Overall, because the 7-way connector (yep, the one you put in that powers the RV’s outside lights, brakes, etc.) is constantly being recharged by your vehicle’s electrical system, the most effective time to use your RV battery bank to power your fridge is while you are driving. Although your alternator is only providing a trickle charge of about 5 amps, this will maintain a fully charged battery bank while you are driving.

However, if you’ve used your battery for off-grid camping (boondocking or dry camping), trickle charging from the alternator won’t help much, as many RV owners have discovered the hard way.

If you already use solar electricity, a DC to DC charger will supplement your solar system on days when there is little sunlight or while you are traveling at night. This specific battery powers our 12V ICECO refrigerator and freezer. We have used this portable chest fridge for more than two years and have never run out of battery power. It has completely changed the game.

A battery inverter is required to convert battery power from DC to AC if you want to use either type of refrigerator on AC power. As you might have suspected, there are numerous types and sizes of inverters; this blog will assist you in selecting and installing the inverter that best suits your requirements.

Conclusions:

Even though your refrigerator could use a lot of energy, you should think carefully before investing in any new equipment about which other appliances you plan to operate on batteries and for how long. Our Solar System Sizing Worksheet will take you through the entire procedure and act as a resource for you to learn about the various components of a fully solar-powered system and place an order for the necessary hardware.