Propane mini refrigerator?

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workinwifdakids
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Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by workinwifdakids »

So, would a propane mini (dorm) refrigerator be a bad idea for a power outage 3 days or longer? I've heard the combo doesn't take up too much fuel. I can't find more than one or two online. Can anyone point me somewhere I can browse a variety of them and order online?
And may I say, from a moral point of view, I think there can be no justification for shoving snack cakes up your action.
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Aesop
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by Aesop »

"There are four types of homicide: felonious, accidental, justifiable, and praiseworthy." -Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
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g-man
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by g-man »

Warning: They're not cheap. The smallest ones at CampingWorld are in the $500+ range, and for a 'normal' sized RV fridge (think 7ish cubic feet) you're looking more like $1k+ However, they do sip the propane, and will run for quite some time on a gas-grill sized bottle, assuming you have 12v to run the controls. I need to figure out some solar panels to keep the RV batteries up, but other than that ours is great.
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workinwifdakids
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by workinwifdakids »

So what do you do with batteries then? Is that for when you don't have propane? If love to do up a mini fridge with solar panels charging batteries, but I figured that'd be crazy amounts of panels and batteries.
And may I say, from a moral point of view, I think there can be no justification for shoving snack cakes up your action.
--Weetabix
Aesop
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by Aesop »

I defer to RV appliance experts, but unless gas pressure provides ignition/utilization by some sort of flywheel deal, I think you need electrical power (a small amount) to utilize the propane. Those who know more'n that, chime right on in.
"There are four types of homicide: felonious, accidental, justifiable, and praiseworthy." -Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
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workinwifdakids
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by workinwifdakids »

Thanks Aesop. Kind of running blind.
And may I say, from a moral point of view, I think there can be no justification for shoving snack cakes up your action.
--Weetabix
Old Grafton
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by Old Grafton »

I've had one for several years, the Coleman Survivor(made by Dometic for Coleman). It'll run on 12vdc, 120vac, or propane. It's an ammonia/absorption cycle unit like larger RV units, and requires no electricity to operate. It has a piezo-igniter that lights the pilot/operating flame, and after that you just ignore it unless you run out of propane (a little over a day on a 1 lb. cylinder, about 2-1/2 weeks on a 20 pounder). It'll hold 50 12-oz. bee....ahhh....sodas. :roll: I bought it used on Craigslist for $40 (no, really, honest!). Downside: I've never seen another for sale under $350. Or I'd have bought it. Right NOW. We use it when trailer-camping as the beverages fridge on either AC or propane; I've never tried the 12v. I have an idea that the batteries on the diesel would be dead right quick if the truck wasn't running.
I'm not old--It's too early to be this late.
Old Grafton
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by Old Grafton »

The newer large RV fridges have gone all high-tech with computerized this and that and require 12vdc for control circuitry but if you watch you can find the small ones torn out of obsolete pop-ups, old hardshell campers, etc. and they'll run on propane with no electric power required and usually also on 120vac as well. You might have to light the pilot with a match but they can often be found fairly cheap.
I'm not old--It's too early to be this late.
Precision
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by Precision »

find the local cannabalizer of OLD RV's and make a deal with them on a used one. There is a guy about an hour from me who always has a dozen or more of them. There are two main brands. One works great and does not need to be plumb and level. The other brand sucks if it isn't plumb and level. Norcold and Dometic IIRC but I don't remember which is which.
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rightisright
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Re: Propane mini refrigerator?

Post by rightisright »

A decent cooler is also suitable for short term (7 days or less). But you have to pre-plan the ice...

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-best-hard-cooler/

I have one of those and have used it for three days of Indian summer camping w. very little loss of ice.
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