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RV fridges are unique appliances that are just different enough from our regular fridges to create some questions. How can you keep your RV fridge running if you’re boondocking or driving far distances? Will all your perishables go bad?
You may not be sure how they get their power to keep your food cold. Could it be propane? Batteries? A generator? And in truth, it can be all of the above.
I know what you might be thinking, an RV inverter could help you maintain a cold fridge when you’re not hooked up to shore power or a generator and it would help cut down on propane usage.
But can you run an RV fridge on an inventor?
Regardless of what kind of fridge you have in your RV, it can be run on an inverter. The inverter will convert the power from your RV battery to the AC power that your fridge needs in order to run. An inverter is also safe and effective to use while driving.
RV inverters can be a bit hard to understand at first and knowing which one to get for your RV fridge can be a little overwhelming. This article will break it down for you so you can be confident about using an inverter with your RV fridge.
Can I Run My RV Fridge On An Inverter?
You can run your RV fridge on an inverter, though it makes the most sense to run it on propane when you are plugged into shore power.
If you are using a residential fridge in your RV, then you might not have any other choice but to run your fridge off of an inverter. Your RV fridge, if it’s a newer model, might have an inverter built in, as well as your RV itself. If this is the case, using the inverter is an easy task.
You might not have an inverter installed though, and that might be an expensive project since the inverter does need to be hardwired into your RV’s electrical system. Depending on who you are and the type of camping you do, it might be well worth the price tag.
You can do it yourself, but as with any electrical project, if you aren’t confident in your abilities, then you should call in a professional.
If you like to camp off-grid a lot, but don’t want to give up conveniences like your fridge, then an inverter is probably going to be worth it. If you plan to be hooked up to shore power regularly but not when you’re driving, then you’re probably fine turning off your fridge while you travel.
What Is an RV Inverter?
An RV inverter converts direct current (or DC) to alternating current (or AC). This is necessary because your RV battery stores and supplies DC electricity but most of your appliances and even your wall plugs will need AC electricity to work.
Using an RV inverter means that your fridge and other appliances that need AC power will draw power from the RV batteries when you aren’t plugged into shore power.
Inverters are often built into newer RV models, but not every RV has one built in. If your RV doesn’t have one already built-in, you will need to have an inverter hardwired into your RV’s electrical system.
Running your RV fridge inverter will draw a lot more electricity than it does when it’s running on propane. You would need an inverter that is rated for 1500 watts of continuous power and 300 watts of surge power to run a 16 cubic foot fridge.
Keep in mind, the inverter is drawing power from your RV batteries. You might need to keep extra, fully charged batteries on hand in order to swap them out if you drain them with the inverter.
What Type of Fridge Do You Have In Your RV?
There are essentially two types of RV fridges. Two-way and three-way fridges. A two-way RV fridge can run on two types of power, typically propane and AC power. A three-way RV fridge can run on three types of power, propane, AC, and DC power.
You can also have a residential fridge in your RV or a standard two or three way RV fridge. Which one you have will help you determine what kind of inverter you need and how much wattage it will have to be rated for in order to work.
A residential fridge will give you the benefit of added space, and they will typically only run on AC power, so you don’t need to worry about propane which can get pricey and has added risks. They are usually better at maintaining the desired temperature than other RV fridges.
The benefit of a larger capacity fridge needs to be weighed against the fact that a residential fridge in an RV will usually need a pure sine wave inverter that will need to be on at all times. This can drain power quite a bit, and put a potential strain on your batteries.
A standard RV fridge will give you the most flexibility in how to power it. Because they will have the option to run on DC power, AC power, or by using propane, they are more energy efficient since you can switch between these power sources.
The biggest drawbacks to these types of fridges are that they have a smaller capacity than a residential fridge will and they don’t maintain their temperature very well. This can be especially difficult if you are traveling in extreme weather conditions such as high heat, extreme cold, or even humid environments.
How Much Power Does Your RV Fridge Need?
The amount of power your RV fridge will need is going to be determined by the size of your fridge. As I mentioned earlier, an example of this is that a 16 cubic foot fridge will need an inverter that is rated for 1500 watts of continuous power and approximately 3000 watts of surge power.
Continuous and surge power refers to the wattage that an appliance needs to be first turned on and then continuously run throughout the day. The surge watts will turn the appliance on initially, and the continuous watts are what is required for it to run after that initial start.
This sounds a bit more complicated than it actually is and figuring out how much power your RV fridge needs is usually pretty simple.
There is usually a sticker on the inside of your fridge that will detail the power ratings for your fridge. If you don’t find it there, then it’s time to pull out your owner’s manual. The manual should list the surge and continuous wattage necessary to run your RV fridge. This information will be necessary to find the right inverter for your fridge.
How to Choose an RV Inverter
You need to find an inverter that is rated to supply enough power to your RV fridge. It’s not a bad idea to add extra wattage on top for some wiggle room just in case. That will help ensure that your inverter won’t end up overloaded when your fridge turns on.
For example, if your fridge says that it needs 3000 watts of surge power, you might want to consider looking for an inverter that is rated for 3500 watts to allow for that wiggle room.
There are three types of RV inverters to consider when buying one. They are a pure sine wave inverter, a modified sine wave inverter, and a square wave inverter.
A rule of thumb to go by when figuring out what kind of inverter to buy is that if your RV fridge runs on AC power only, then it will require a pure sine wave inverter. A standard RV fridge will be able to work with a modified sine wave inverter or a square wave inverter. It’s important to note that the second two types are not as efficient as a pure sine wave inverter.
How to Install an RV Inverter
This is a job I would recommend outsourcing to a professional. If you choose to do it yourself, be careful as you will be making changes to your RV’s electrical system, which can be dangerous to your physical health and cause damage to your RV.
Essentially you would be connecting your batteries to your inverter and connecting that to your RV fridge. The power that comes from the battery will go through the inverter and be converted from DC to AC power, which will work to power your fridge.
Admittedly, it doesn’t sound too complicated on paper, but it can be an easy process to mess up when you don’t know what you’re doing.
Once your RV fridge is installed, whether you’ve braved the challenge to do it yourself or hired a professional, you need to make sure you test that the system is running correctly. You should test it by turning on your RV fridge and switching it over to AC power.
This step isn’t necessary if you have a residential fridge or if your RV fridge runs on AC power all of the time. Leave it on for a couple of hours to make sure that it’s cooled down to the correct temperature and that it’s working alright.
I would definitely steer you in the direction of hiring a professional for this job. There are plenty of things I believe in doing yourself and think that YouTube can teach you how to do, but this isn’t one of them. It might cost you more money upfront, but it will save you from potentially damaging your entire RV electrical system.
Can I Run an RV Fridge on an Inverter While Driving?
Your standard RV fridge is going to run on propane when you aren’t plugged into shore power. Propane is a great option when you are not connected to power because it doesn’t use much DC power to run it.
An RV fridge can be run on an inverter as an alternative to propane. This is a good option if you are going to be off-grid for a while or if you are traveling between campgrounds.
Running your RV fridge off of an inverter while driving is the safer option. If you try to move your RV while your RV fridge is hooked up to propane and on, it can result in an explosion if you end up in an accident. I don’t know about you, but keeping my food cool isn’t worth that risk.
Your RV fridge might even have an inverter built-in, as many newer models do. It’s even possible that your RV fridge is programmed to know when to start utilizing power from the inverter if propane is running low.
If you have an older RV fridge model that doesn’t have this feature, you can purchase an inverter, but you need to ensure that it’s compatible with the appliance before buying it.
The video below dives into the question of if you should run your fridge on an inverter while driving or not.
Running your RV fridge on an inverter while driving is a great option for keeping your food cold and yourself and your family safe as opposed to running your fridge on propane while driving.
Alternatives to Using an Inverter
There are plenty of reasons why you might not want to use an RV inverter. It’s possible that your RV is not equipped with one and the cost of having that installed is just too hefty for you right now.
Maybe you don’t do much travel where you aren’t hooked up to shore power so you don’t need to worry about how your RV fridge gets its power, or you don’t mind using tons of propane. Whatever your reason, there are alternatives to inverters, such as powering your fridge with a generator.
Generators are usually only a good option for shorter periods of time, and some campsites will have noise regulations that will keep you from using them. It can be a good solution for cutting down on propane use. Even just using a generator to power your fridge for a couple of hours in the morning and at the end of the day will help you save on propane.
Generators can be great if you are boondocking but want some modern conveniences. Even boondocking though, you want to be mindful of the sound levels your generator is giving off.
If you don’t have an inverter and are worried about noise complaints with a generator, you can conserve power and propane by turning your fridge off while you drive. This will depend on how far you’re going, but a few hours with your fridge off typically won’t spoil any food. Just make sure it’s nice and cool before turning it off and don’t open it until it’s on again to keep it as cool as possible.
Conclusion
Running your RV fridge off of an inverter is a great option and can make travel a lot more convenient than it might be otherwise. Most RV fridges are designed to run on two or more power sources, making it easy and versatile for any kind of travel that you plan on doing.
If you don’t already have an inverter, you can purchase the correct one and have it installed by a professional for the best results.
An inverter can be used to run your RV fridge from your RV batteries instead of propane, which can be costly. It’s also much safer to run your RV fridge off of an inverter while driving than propane, which I would not recommend to anyone.
At the end of the day, it’s a safe and practical alternative that everyone should have in their RV.