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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Propane Fridge Cool down Time
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cspot
Member
# Posted: 17 Apr 2018 18:44
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I didn't want to derail ADK Don's thread but had a question for those that use propane refrigerator's. We have a recreational cabin that mostly gets used on weekends. From what I have been reading it takes a while for a propane fridge to get cold? I am wondering because if we get their Friday and it takes a day to get cold then we are already half-way thru the weekend. How long does it take them to cold especially during the hot summer? Is there certain makes/models that would be better suited to get colder quicker? Thanks.

treetech
Member
# Posted: 17 Apr 2018 18:59
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HI When we get to our cottage we light the fridge, put all our cold items from the cooler into the fridge. We put a bag of ice in the freezer and it cools off in no time. The ice never melts.

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 17 Apr 2018 19:52
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I do about the same, but if I have an extra block of ice I put it in the fridge in a ziplock bag. We usually arrive about 10pm on a fri night. By sat morning the fridge is cold and the freezer is making ice. I find the freezer gets cold the fastest, so I put my ice in the fridge and ice cube trays in the freezer. cubes are frozen by morning.

bobrok
Member
# Posted: 17 Apr 2018 20:28
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Agree with the above posts. I've developed a time saving technique (actually just following the owner's manual instructions) by putting all ice and frozen foods in the freezer first thing. I turn the fridge to the highest setting at this point. The freezer compartment usually chills to freezing temperature within 1/2 hour or so (depending on the ambient temperature in the room...might take a bit longer if warmer weather).

Once the freezer is appropriately chilled I move all of its contents, even ice, to the refrigerator section and turn the temperature setting to the recommended. In my case normal setting is no higher than 1-1/2 on the settings scale of 1 - 4.

This cabinet takes a lot longer to reach temperature than does the freezer so I nudge it along by cramming it full of the frozen foods and ice. The freezer, once chilled, will not warm even if emptied, so there is no loss of temperature to it.

Using this method I'm able to chill my unit to operating temperature within only a couple of hours.

One thing to remember is this: do not put all your food into the refrigerator at one time when you turn it on. I put in only the frozen stuff, meat, and liquids at first. Don't put fresh veggies, fruit, etc into the fridge until it achieves operating temps. Overstuffing will cause it to overwork and defeat it's purpose.

beachman
Member
# Posted: 17 Apr 2018 20:46
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Bobrok makes good points. I do the same but now leave the fridge on from about mid June to mid September. It uses a little fuel but we can leave stuff there during the week and beer is cold when we arrive. It gets very hot during the summer but I have never had problems.

bobrok
Member
# Posted: 17 Apr 2018 21:00
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Quoting: beachman
leave the fridge on from about mid June to mid September. It uses a little fuel but we can leave stuff there


We tried that once, and returned after only 2 weeks to a CO reading of 700 PPM (yes, no exaggerating), a lot of rotting food and an almost ruined refrigerator. It took a very long time to rid the interior of the fridge of the stench.

This being said, I heartily refer readers to the original thread prior to this one. Maintenance and cleaning is key, although in our case the service tech actually had to replace the burner jewel because the minute amount of dirt that clogged it simply couldn't be cleaned out.

cspot
Member
# Posted: 17 Apr 2018 21:16
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Thanks for the info everyone. Anyone have a recommendation on brand? Place to buy in SE Ohio?

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