You’re refrigerator is running! - Montana Owners Club

MARK A · 08-22-2018, 01:10 PM

OK, I have owned several RV’s and have always returned home, emptied out the refrigerator, propped the doors open.... never a problem. I do leave the propane turned on, because I’ve seen the gas side corrode to the point of not working. But lately I’ve heard folks leave their refrigerator running all the time, even when parked. What say all of you?

Mark

**DQDick** · 08-22-2018, 01:21 PM

Before we went full time we shut everything off and propped the doors open. Then we went full time for six years and it worked fine the whole time.

BB_TX · 08-22-2018, 01:30 PM

We are some timers. Always turn fridge off upon returning home and into storage. The one time I left it on for an extended period I had a lot of ice build up in the freezer. But I don’t have a residential fridge.

And once I forgot to open the doors and mold formed inside.

1retired06 · 08-22-2018, 01:39 PM

Off when not using. Off when not level.

richfaa · 08-22-2018, 02:39 PM

We are long timers . The RV is except when pulling on the road plugged into 50 amp.
The fridge has been left on in both our Montana's since 2006 and is only powered down for defrosting and cleaning. The fridge is on 99% of the time 24/7/365.

**AZ Traveler** · 08-22-2018, 03:09 PM

As you can read above, it depends on how you use your rig.

mtlakejim · 08-22-2018, 05:15 PM

Also depends on where you store your rig. We park ours at home where we have full hookups (sewer,water 50amp) and our fridge is residential so I leave it running because I think it may be about as long lived on all the time as cycling it on and off. It also keeps ice maker going and the unit cool and ready for our multiple summer weekends. With just 2-3 months during the winter when it is a bit too cold for camping (if you don’t count deer hunting) just makes more sense for us to leave it running 24/7/365

BUT if I had a gas fired fridge at a public storage no way I am leaving the gas on for anything. How often have you smelled gasoline fumes at one of those places due to someone’s leaking fuel tank or can? Yep gas fumes in enclosed building and an open flame sound like an issue??

The alternative is to run an extension cord to your unit. Good idea to keep a trickle charger on the batteries anyway....,

MARK A · 08-22-2018, 05:57 PM

Ya, looks like 50/50 I think I’ll keep doing what I have in the past, and turn it off.

Mark

Randy E · 08-22-2018, 06:10 PM

Hi all,

We have a residential fridge that runs on electric only. When we first got it, we could not figure out how to turn it off. There are no OFF switches. Flipping the breaker still didn't do a thing, the fridge stayed ON. It finally dawned on me that the power inverter in the basement was still supplying voltage to the fridge from the batteries. The batteries were staying charged because we are always plugged in at home to shore power. I now turn off the inverter simply by pushing the button on the face of it. Then I flip the breaker in the electrical panel. inside the coach. WaLa the fridge is OFF. We leave the doors open as well, unless it's in storage for the winter. Then we close up the doors and add baking soda inside both the fridge and freezer.

mtlakejim · 08-22-2018, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy E

Hi all,

We have a residential fridge that runs on electric only. When we first got it, we could not figure out how to turn it off. There are no OFF switches. Flipping the breaker still didn't do a thing, the fridge stayed ON. It finally dawned on me that the power inverter in the basement was still supplying voltage to the fridge from the batteries. The batteries were staying charged because we are always plugged in at home to shore power. I now turn off the inverter simply by pushing the button on the face of it. Then I flip the breaker in the electrical panel. inside the coach. WaLa the fridge is OFF. We leave the doors open as well, unless it's in storage for the winter. Then we close up the doors and add baking soda inside both the fridge and freezer.

If yours is like mine there should also be a large switch near the battery on the positive (red) cable leading to the inverter that will also turn it off. I find that slightly easier than finding the small button on front of inverter.....

vacationer · 08-23-2018, 12:06 PM

plug mine into 30 amp and leave it going . Why would anyone want to empty and then week later load it again

MARK A · 08-23-2018, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vacationer

plug mine into 30 amp and leave it going . Why would anyone want to empty and then week later load it again

I’ve been married 37 yrs, and that would be an argument with the DW that I chose not to have long long ago. If she wants to wear out her shoes packing back and forth... pack away! 😁

Mark

mtlakejim · 08-23-2018, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARK A

I’ve been married 37 yrs, and that would be an argument with the DW that I chose not to have long long ago. If she wants to wear out her shoes packing back and forth... pack away! 😁

Mark

My wife is just the opposite

team bradfield · 08-23-2018, 06:00 PM

up here nearer to the arctic circle, if we are not leaving the heat on, we have to shut the fridge down, refrigerators don't work so well near 0. as soon as things thaw, its turned on and stocked, nice having the extra cold storage

Woodyswanch · 08-24-2018, 08:48 AM

If you have a residential unit, hold the freezer and power freezer button simultaneously, this will turn the fridge off but leave it in a demo mode. Lights work but cooling doesn't. the temp readouts will both show zero. to turn back on, repeat process.

masterdrago · 08-24-2018, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodyswanch

If you have a residential unit, hold the freezer and power freezer button simultaneously, this will turn the fridge off but leave it in a demo mode. Lights work but cooling doesn't. the temp readouts will both show zero. to turn back on, repeat process.

And with the doors left open, the lights will go out in about 10 minutes.