Fridge

Yetiowner
Yetiowner Forum Participant Posts: 48
edited April 2017 in Motorhomes #1

Hi. We have a 2012 Bailey 740. We are undertaking a long journey of some 350 miles. I understand the fridge/freezer can be switched to the leisure battery for traveling to maintain temperature. Will there be a significant drain on the battery or is the battery charge topped up whilst traveling? Thanks

 

Comments

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #2

    If you store where you can use electric prechill the fridge. We can't and have never had an issue. Pack your fridge and freezer, if you have one, tightly. Include packing spaces with small cartons of juice or bottles of water freeze milk if you have enough time room. Keep the fridge door closed as much as possible. I don't think you'll have a problem people do this and travel overnight on ferries with no power. I can't say about battery drain but we always have our fridge on battery on engine battery for any journey, we are a motorhome, a nd haven't had an issue. 

    Actually 350 miles isn't too far maybe you needn't pack fridge with frozen bits but it's all stick and useful 😉

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #3

    When used on 12v the supply comes from the vehicle alternator so there is no battery drain at all on the leisure batteries.  The fridge will only come on when the vehicle is started and supplied with 12v current.

    Make sure you chill the fridge down thoroughly before travelling (esp in hot weather) and as Bakers says keep opening of fridge to a  minimum and you will be fine.  Few years ago we traveled to Corsica over channel on a ferry down to Nice then overnight ferry to Corsica and still had frozen stuff in the freezer on arrival.  Just kept fridge cold on gas when stopping for any length of time and overnight.

  • anglian
    anglian Forum Participant Posts: 46
    edited May 2017 #4

    This is a general question regarding freezer temperatures in a Dometic fridge freezer, 12 months old.

    The caravan has been back to the  dealers twice as our freezer never gets higher than -2, and usually hovers around 0. This means that the frozen food melts down after a couple of days. They have tested it and it shows a range of -4 to 0 over a course of 36hours. Is this what you would expect? We have had bailey caravans before this Elddis one, which was new last year, and the freezer always kept the food well frozen. The fridge is on its highest setting and seems ok. Are our expectations too high?

  • ForestR
    ForestR Forum Participant Posts: 326
    100 Comments
    edited May 2017 #5

    Hi Anglian

    Have a look on the Dometic web site for your particular model. In general the details for most models indicate a freezer temperature of down to -12C at an ambient temperature of up to 32C. Our Thetford fridge freezer compartment certainly keeps food frozen.

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
    500 Comments
    edited May 2017 #6

    The fridge should be between Zero and +5

    The freezer should be at least -18

    If it doesn't operate at those temperatures it is not working correctly and any good dealer should be able to sort it out or replace it.

  • anglian
    anglian Forum Participant Posts: 46
    edited May 2017 #7

    Thank you for the replies. it is certainly useful for us to be able to go back again! to the dealers.