refrigerator won't work on LP when using inverter

tofran · 06-28-2008, 08:59 AM

Hi Folks.....On our '03 Journey the refrigerator will beep showing loss of LP connection when the inverter is on.You cannot get it to run on LP
when using the inverter. Just recently removed the inverter & sent it in for a repair. Thought I had replaced it properly...Everything else seems to be functioning correctly. Really don't know if the refrigerator worked on LP previous to the repair as we had never tried it. Anyone else have this problem and, if so, what's the fix?

tofran · 06-28-2008, 08:59 AM

Hi Folks.....On our '03 Journey the refrigerator will beep showing loss of LP connection when the inverter is on.You cannot get it to run on LP
when using the inverter. Just recently removed the inverter & sent it in for a repair. Thought I had replaced it properly...Everything else seems to be functioning correctly. Really don't know if the refrigerator worked on LP previous to the repair as we had never tried it. Anyone else have this problem and, if so, what's the fix?

Harry B · 06-28-2008, 10:30 AM

Does it work at all on propane? When you operate the refrigerator on propane, 120 volts AC is not needed or used. It only uses 12 volts when operating on propane. Check and see if you have 12 volts going to control board mounted on the back of the refrigerator and check fuses associated with the refrigerator.

If the inverter is not supplying the fridge with 120 VAC, the message would be that it has no AC available.

ichn2go · 06-28-2008, 10:31 AM

Does the rifrigerator work with just the inverter? You have to have the Refrig on AC for it to work off the inverter. If I am correct the inverter is furnishing AC to the Refrig so therefore it does not need to work off of propane. Try cutting the inverter off and then setting the refrig to propane and see if it works. On my 03 Horizon diesel, the refrig (when not plugged into AC) would run from the propane or if the inverter was on and you switched to AC the refrig ran off of the inverter. Not all Winnies will run the frig off of the inverter. Why use propane going down the road if the frig will work off of the inverter/AC??? Good Luck

porscheracer · 06-28-2008, 05:39 PM

The LP mode requires 12VDC to the refrigerator. I suspect that one of your 12V breakers may be tripped - either on the inverter (doubtful) or on the 12V breaker panel.

FleetMan · 06-28-2008, 06:40 PM

Are your batteries charging properly, assuming you have an inverter charger? We had a similar problem last year - ours has a converter charger. The refrigerator would not operate on either electric or propane when in the AUTO mode. It ran as advertised in manual on propane only. The Parallax 7455T converter/charger was bad and was not charging the batteries or supplying the proper power to the reefer in the AUTO mode. The Parallax unit was replaced by Winnebago under warranty and subsequently replaced by a PD9260 by me.

NoMoreAZ · 06-29-2008, 02:24 PM

If you have a modified sine wave inverter, such as the Demented Inverter installed by 'Bago, the Norcold refer will not operate on LP if the inverter is in use. The modified sine wave inverter is a noise generator. The electrical noise generated is making the AC relays in the refer 'chatter'.

The refer will operate on LP if the Demented Inverter is not in use (standby = ok). If you need to use the microwave off the inverter, turn off the refer completely. When done with microwave, turn on refer again. Isn't this fun! Do not repair your inverter. It is working as designed!

Permanent fix = replace existing inverter with a pure sine wave inverter, like I did. Would recommend a Xantrex RS2000 (or RS3000 if you have the ampacity and need 3KW of power).

tofran · 06-30-2008, 07:33 AM

Hey Guys, Thanks for the info. about my inverter & refrig. I actually have the Xantrex 1500. Is it not a pure sine wave inverter. Do any of you have this unit; and, if so, can you use the refrigerator while using the inverter? I'm wondering if it's just part of the design?

03 CORVETTE · 06-30-2008, 08:16 AM

Is your house battery switch on??????

Harry B · 06-30-2008, 09:16 AM

The refrigerator consumes about 550 watts of power, which is not a problem for your 1500 watt inverter.

If not wired so allready, you would have to add an outlet tied into the inverter output circuit. ( another outlet that is wired to the inverter nearby will do)

Our coach was wired to by the factory to run the refrigerator off of the inverter. This saves propane as you can continue to let it run on AC while driving.
Our coach has a 2000 watt modified sine wave inverter and this combination has worked without any problems.

There is one issue you have to watch with running the refrigerator via inverter and that is if you leave the coach for a while and the refrigerator is set on automatic, it will continue to run via the converter when you shut down the engine which is now not charging your batteries anymore and drain your house batteries quickly. When leaving the coach, you need to remember to turn off the inverter so that the refrigerator will switch to propane if set to the automatic setting.