Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

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Topic: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door (Read 223 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from leaking at holding ta...

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Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

January 07, 2024, 03:37:43 am

OK; I have to backtrack on the refrigerator remote control. When power is removed it will shut off. But when powered back up, it won't come back on by itself. A solution to that would be to power up an inverter at gasoline stops, to have the refrigerator switch to 110VAC. When that task was completed and you are back on the road, the inverter could be powered off, and the fridge would switch to propane. An inverter capable of running the fridge would have to be about 400W, and would draw about 35 Amps. More than the remote relay can handle. This model can handle 40 Amps. DC 12V 40A Relay Remote Control Switch, 1CH Universal 433Mhz Remote Control...
Presently the charge line from the alternator isn't being used, but it goes to the vicinity of the battery box. It could run the inverter during travel, and the Lithium batteries could run it while stopped getting gas. RonB

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Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #1 – January 07, 2024, 02:57:58 pm

Ron,

While on the road, I run the LD fridge via the inverter and my lithium batteries. My propane valve is turned off at its tank.

When I pull into a gas station, I always turn off the fridge prior to getting gasoline. Is this necessary since my fridge is not running via the propane?

If not then my fridge can continue to operate and it would be one less thing to remember to do while on the road.

Kent

Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #2 – January 07, 2024, 03:30:35 pm

"Is this necessary since my fridge is not running via the propane?"

The way I understand the danger and the resultant warning is that fumes from the gasoline pump may ignite if they encounter a nearby spark, i.e. from a fridge, the one thing that might cycle during the time you are pumping fuel.

Personally, with the vapor recovery systems, both RV and commercial fuel pumps, I see very little to be concerned about... particularly to those of us who's fridge is on the off-side of the fuel intake!

Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #3 – January 07, 2024, 06:30:12 pm

I run our fridge on a dedicated inverter, automatically, while driving. However, it will switch back to propane with the engine off, so I have about 30 seconds to get out of the drivers seat and turn it off manually after pulling up to the pump.

Steve

Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #4 – January 07, 2024, 08:01:33 pm

"I used a different approach to avoid running wires to control the water pump from the kitchen, bathroom, and cabover bed: a relay controlled by small "key fob" transmitters that switch the relay on and off."

Anyone know if this relay could be used with the hot water heater to turn it on or off from the over cab bed?

JohnF

Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #5 – January 07, 2024, 08:09:46 pm

"While on the road, I run the LD fridge via the inverter and my lithium batteries. My propane valve is turned off at its tank."

That being the case, there is no chance of your fridge's propane ignitor sparking, so no need to turn it off when gassing up.

Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #6 – January 07, 2024, 09:48:50 pm

Quote from: JohnF - January 07, 2024, 08:01:33 pm

Anyone know if this relay could be used with the hot water heater to turn it on or off from the over-cab bed?

The remote relay could be wired in series with the power wire. It would require leaving the water heater switch ON and controlling the operation with the remote switch. It could also be wired in parallel with the power switch to act as an alternative to the stock switch. It might get confusing to figure out what is controlling what.

We have a remote power switch for the furnace up in the bunk. The furnace can be turned on on cold mornings without getting out of bed. Nice.

Larry

Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #7 – January 08, 2024, 06:40:00 am

This discussion is an example of a discussion getting side tracked and not seemingly having a relevance to the original post. Surprising that some of the moderators didn't steer the discussion back to the original issue or start a new thread. But what do I know?

Steve K (just an innocent observer)

Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #8 – January 08, 2024, 12:15:35 pm

Hi Steve K.; Topics and conversations often meander and drift on to other 'sub' categories. Without distinct diversion points it is difficult to make a new topic decision. I wandered off the water pump internal valve leak subject the worst. So I split it there. RonB

Re: Remote controls for water pump, heater, reefer.Re: leaking at holding tank door

Reply #9 – January 08, 2024, 12:36:55 pm

As a reply to Kent. If you leave the refrigerator on 110VAC via inverter, you can leave it on. Turning off the power, with the refrigerator in 'Auto', the 'fridge will revert to propane and try to light the pilot several times before going into check mode. Even without the propane tank turned off there will be enough propane in the lines to light the pilot/burner on the fridge, and run it for a few minutes if not longer. With your batteries and inverter, best to leave the fridge on electric. Internal relays and switches might not be ignition sources (internal sparks) to outside gasoline fumes.
Much of the hazard from a lit propane refrigerator used to be fumes released into the atmosphere from other gas tanks being filled. Controlling those fumes by modern filler nozzles that recycle back into the tank (in the ground) is good. There are still filler nozzles in older gas stations out there that don't recycle fumes. In addition though, there are spills, defects in automobiles, Toy hauler/trailer gas tanks, and people filling gas 'cans' that don't control vapors. Spills even quite a distance up wind, could still be lit-off by your sparks!
If it is windy enough, or I am far enough away from any other vehicles or activity, I leave the fridge on. It is on the opposite side from my gas filler. But of course it could suddenly be on the same side of another persons vehicle. As usual situations vary. I can just see some out of control vehicle running into a pump, despite those steel poles, shearing off a pump, sparking a fire, and me being blamed because my refrigerator was running. RonB

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