Interior Dometic fridge on Gas

[Seanm5253]

Can anyone give me some info on how heavy on gas are the Dometic fridges (150 L )
got a trip coming up where we will be off the grid for a couple of days
ive tried DC overnight which wasn't very successful as the fridge didn't maintain a cold temp.
Cheers Sean

 

[achjimmy]

We had the 150l Dometic in the Expanda I think I worked out it would struggle to make more than 30days on a 9 kg bottle of LPG

That's all you should run it in off the grid. The 12v is only for towing.

 

[Bluey]

Can anyone give me some info on how heavy on gas are the Dometic fridges (150 L )
got a trip coming up where we will be off the grid for a couple of days
ive tried DC overnight which wasn't very successful as the fridge didn't maintain a cold temp.
Cheers Sean

they run best on gas better than AC sorry cant say how much gas they use but someone will

 

[Seanm5253]

We had the 150l Dometic in the Expanda I think I worked out it would struggle to make more than 30days on a 9 kg bottle of LPG

That's all you should run it in off the grid. The 12v is only for towing.

30 days is pretty damn good
Found out the hard way about DC
Thanks everyone

 

[relgate]

As an indicator we free camped for 2 weeks in mid summer with fridge on gas as well as hot water, bbq and cook top. Used just over 1 9kg bottle for the 2 weeks.
The fridges are very efficient on gas!

 

[twscoot]

The 150 litre uses around 400grams of gas a day. Which equates with what others have said.

 

[MDS69]

with a bit of gas cooking and sparking up the HWS every now and then we got around 11 days running our 150L.

 

[msmith24]

Have the 150L Dometic in ours, did a 4 week trip off grid, which included a bit of cooking on the gas and the fridge running the whole time on gas. The bottle was just about empty at the end of the trip.

 

[Zimbo]

Got 12 days on 9kg bottle running fridge, short showers + use of cook top & baby Q. Pretty good really - this was up north with day time temp +-35 deg every day

 

[ShaneT]

and for something to compare it to, with 2 adults and 2 kids, a compressor fridge, hot water nearly every night (New van so forgot to turn the water heater off a few times ), gas top and oven we got just over 2 months out of a cylinder.

 

[Zimbo]

Sounds like the compressor fridge is the way to go then - 2 months vs. 2 weeks is definitely a fair difference

 

[millers]

Not knocking the compressor fridge (as I think it is the way to go) but you need to add the solar system required to keep it going for a fair comparasion (or if a generator was used as well).

 

[Drover]

Compressor fridge with the neccessary extra solar panel and batteries, cheaper and easier to chuck in another bottle. I carry 2 bottles so thats 2 months, no way I'd be out on my pat malone in the boonies for that long. Been there done that and I was getting paid for it then.

 

[achjimmy]

I looked seriously at compressor fridges on our first new van. As you slept next to it I was worried about the noise and this ultimately turned me off. Yes I know there not real noisy but some places you stay an ant farting is noisy? They are definetly more efficient and if I was looking at spending time in the tropics would consider one again. But as others you need more solar and more batteries to run them and that chews up your payload. So since then I hedge my bets and carry a 40l engel in the tug and have the absorption in the van. The other thing to check is that enviaribly the fridges aren't installed correctly and this effects there performance! So rectifying this improves the performance imensily.

I have found the thetfords use more gas but also seem to get colder quicker than the dometics.

 

[Drover]

I think you've hit the crux of the matter @achjimmy ,

The other thing to check is that enviaribly the fridges aren't installed correctly and this effects there performance!

Mine's performance improved immensely once I'd fitted it correctly.

 

[Dajotrad]

hey guys how are they not installed / fitted correctly ?

 

[achjimmy]

hey guys how are they not installed / fitted correctly ?

Download the installation manual for your fridge and then take the panels of the back of your Jayco and have a look. In the case of the 150litre Dometic in our Expanda it was installed correctly but the wiring was hopelseesy undersize compared to the manual. On the starcraft the Thetford was not sealed on top, had too much space between the fins and the wall. The flue was not ducted outside but left loose so it could vent back inside! And the wiring although heavier is not what thetford list. All gleaned from the manual provided by the thetford , not made up.

 

[Drover]

My Dometic vented into the space above the fridge and the cable runs were left open into the other cupboards so the hot air would just circulate around and it couldn't cool down plus the wiring ran thru and over the very hot ammonia pipes. I read the instalation manual and fitted mine the way it should have been in the factory which was as @achjimmy described, blocked off the cable runs, re-ran the wires and insulated and closed off the space above the fridge adding a panel which directed the air thru the fins and then outside I also fitted a couple of old computer fans to move the air better and now if I turn it past 5 it will be a freezer.

 

[McKenzie]

I just came across this site just now. Looks useful in regards to correct venting of the fridge.
http://www.fridge-and-solar.net/fridge_vent.htm

also in regards to wiring

 

[Drover]

Have read that ages ago, it explains it all really, need to keep hold of that link so when the next person asks the question.
If folks read the manual which comes with the fridge it describes how they should be fitted and a quick look behind the vent will soon show if it is or not.
Good find @McKenzie .