Propane refrigerator Q's

[Cord]

Does anybody know how hot the exhaust gets on a propane refrigerator? I have a off grid cabin that will have a propane fridge. The fridge has a vent going up the back and it ends inside the cabinet with a grate over the opening. I was thinking of trying to direct this exhaust outside through the cabin wall. I found a nice wall vent but it's pvc. PVC isn't my first choice for material, but just how hot will it get?

 

[Helitech]

The vent on almost all RV'S is made out of plastic.

 

[JPRambo]

My camper only has a flame of about the size of a Bic lighter on highest setting.

 

[Gunny]

Yep, a very low flame, but I'd have at least a short section of metal vent nearest the flame before I transitioned into PVC

 

[Cord]

On the RV fridges, what are they doing for back drafting? The vent that I was looking at is totally open, so even the slightest breeze could result in a back draft.

 

[Raspy]

The RV system is more like an open space with a vent near the top and bottom. Not only the flame heat gets vented, but the heat from the fridge gets vented too. There is not much back draft because the vents are on the same surface of the RV and can be exposed to highway speeds without a problem. They also sometimes install a small 12v fan to help ventilate the space behind the fridge.

The chimney on the flame is really the ammonia heat exchanger/phase change unit and it's temp is not high enough to burn wood. It won't backdraft because it's inside the enclosed space. Getting the waste heat to the outside is the bigger problem.

 

[Zerk]

Can you download a manual on one?

 

[Cord]

Not for this one. It's an old Servel.

 

[Barry 1]

One on Ebay for$29
1933-57 models

 

[orezok]

The boiler on a RV fridge operates at 350 degrees. I dont know what the temp is when exiting the flue, but it's a starting point.

 

[E/S]

I lived with one for many years, the flue temp is very low.
Dont vent it to the outside, every time the wind blows ( or you shut a door ) the flame will blow out.

E/S

 

[Cord]

I lived with one for many years, the flue temp is very low.
Dont vent it to the outside, every time the wind blows ( or you shut a door ) the flame will blow out.

E/S

Great advice, thank you. How significant are the carbon monoxide concerns with these units? If the flame is adjusted you're good to go, right?

 

[escavader]

I vented my servel to the outside its easy to do if its on an outside wall why wouldnt you?i have the original service manual and tons of burners and parts but it never fails to work

 

[escavader]

I lived with one for many years, the flue temp is very low. Dont vent it to the outside, every time the wind blows ( or you shut a door ) the flame will blow out. E/S

never had mine blow out ever i have a vent screen on mine.id never tell someone to not vent one carbon monoxide fumes are deadly

 

[PILOON]

never had mine blow out ever i have a vent screen on mine.id never tell someone to not vent one carbon monoxide fumes are deadly

When propane burns it creates water vapor rather than carbon monoxide.
You will actually see the condensation form on window panes.
It does however use up oxygen but I doubt if that is actually significant with that small flame.

 

[k0ua]

When propane burns it creates water vapor rather than carbon monoxide.
You will actually see the condensation form on window panes.
It does however use up oxygen but I doubt if that is actually significant with that small flame.

Actually a little more than just the water vapor... it also makes CO2 or carbon dioxide. As long as there is sufficient oxygen it should not make any carbon monoxide.


C3H8 + O2 = CO2 + H2O So the C3H8 is the propane, then ad the O2, free oxygen in earth atmosphere, and it produces CO2 and some water vapor.

if I remember correctly our old Servel from the 60's just had a flame the size of a pilot light. our little auxiliary heater has a pilot that size,

 

[Garycw]

Not sure about the back draft issue. I would think the heat would prevent that You diffinetly want it vented outside though.

 

[Norm W]

We had full sized refrigerators, when I was young, that were either gas or kerosene. Neither were vented to the outside. The flame on the kero model was a round wick about 2" in diameter. It was about the same size a table lamp. Most homes and campers are not tight enough to make those flames a problem.

 

[escavader]

Actually a little more than just the water vapor... it also makes CO2 or carbon dioxide. As long as there is sufficient oxygen it should not make any carbon monoxide. C3H8 + O2 = CO2 + H2O So the C3H8 is the propane, then ad the O2, free oxygen in earth atmosphere, and it produces CO2 and some water vapor. if I remember correctly our old Servel from the 60's just had a flame the size of a pilot light. our little auxiliary heater has a pilot that size,

my servel puts out a pretty good size flame id say like a propane torch not as long though the little button you hold that lights it is pilot lite size