The fan simply pulls some of the heat generated from behind the fridge, down through the exhaust hose, and out the bottom of the TM. The TM 3-way fridge is an absorption fridge, a design that requires a source heat to work. You probably already know that the fridge has 3 heaters -- one for each of the 3-ways -- gas, 12VDC, and 120VAC. Though they consume different forms of energy to create heat, the heaters simply create heat -- nothing else. After that, for the most part, the fridge operates the same regardless of which mode it is operating in.
Since the vent panels are blocked when the TM is folded, you need some other way of getting the heat out from behind the fridge. Excess heat of course could theoretically be a fire hazard, but at the very least, it will make your fridge less efficient, which may end up meaning a warm fridge.
So ordinarily, you probably turn the exhaust fan on when running the fridge on 12VDC and towing. If you do, then you should also run it while running on propane, for the same reason.
The fan doesn't consume very much power -- maybe 0.5A IIRC. Even on a 6 hour trip, that's only 3Ah, or the equivalent of running the fridge on DC for 20 minutes. I doubt you'd even notice it. If you do, you've got other problems.
Dave
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2000 2720SL & 2007 3124KB
2005 Toyota Sequoia
Twin Battle Born 12v 100Ah LiFePO4 (BBGC2) batteries, 300W solar on rear shell, Link 10, Lift kit, Maxxis 8008 225 75/R15 E tires
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