12v fridge
Hi
Looking for advice on getting our fridge to temperature before we leave I get confused with what I read stating it will only run when connected to the car ? can it be run the day before from the battery it is 110 amp and I have a 140 wat solar panel on the roof if that helps with advice
Thanks Alan
Comments
-
The usual type of absorption fridge fitted to Cvans and MHs will only run on the 12v vehicle battery when the engine is running. It does not take its power from the leisure battery other than for the feed to the control panel and interior light. The draw is too great for it to run from the leisure battery whereas the alternator will charge the vehicle battery.
Your other options will be gas or a 240v hook up.
0 -
When we had a caravan it was kept in storage and it wasn’t possible to pre cool the fridge. Use of gas would be a definite no, no, in the storage compound. We used to pack the cold stuff and some frozen in insulated bags, with cold packs and transport them on the floor of the caravan. As long as the journey was a few hours the fridge used to cool down a fair bit on the journey ( running off the vehicle battery while the engine was running) and we could load it once it was connected to electric and cooling properly on site.
1 -
Thanks for the reply now I know for sure it cant be done will have to speak to the storage compound to see if we can turn gas on the day before (not sure if it is allowed?) unfortunately we live down a narrow twisty lane so cant get the Cvan home to plug in !
Thanks Alan
0 -
Cooling an empty fridge is a slow process. If you get some 5 litre supermarket water bottles and refil them with tap water and freeze them at home you could stick them in the fridge the day before. It will be well cooled before you set off, perhaps cold enough to put the coolbag stuff in.
1 -
Similarly with us there just wasn’t room to get our caravan home.
Our storage has a sign that all gas bottles have to be turned off. I would think given the close spacing not many would want a gas appliance left running. Fortunately now we have a MH I can get it to the house for pre-cooling..1 -
I'd just load it up and go without pre-chilling the fridge. Your food will presumably be already chilled in your fridge at home and your van fridge will act as an insulated box to keep it that way until it’s own chilling process kicks in.
Years ago we managed quite well before cvans had fridges so you'll cope. You could set off with just the bare essentials and shop when you arrive. That'll help the economy of the area you visit.
1 -
Thank all for the advise, very helpful we will have to invest in a couple of insulated boxes as suggested with cool pack (we have two dogs that are raw fed so we need to keep it frozen) we humans can survive ha-ha
Thanks Alan
0 -
Years ago we managed quite well before cvans had fridges
Ah - yes. The "O-so-kool"!
0 -
What's that?🤔
0 -
For anyone who cannot pre-cool their fridge, take your refrigerated food from the home fridge in a cooler bag with a couple of litre cartons of long life milk frozen. The frozen milk in the caravan fridge will cool it right down and your food will be fine. On site you can consume the milk.
0 -
I bought a 240/12 volt cool box from Aldi and all the chilled food I take away goes in this box plugged into the 12v socket in the boot of the car. When on site the box goes in the awning plugged into the external 240v socket to keep the drinks cool.
0 -
Oh, no! You don't use lekky in the awning, surely!😱🤣🤣🤣
1 -
Well at least the heat generated by my cool box does keep the awning toasty warm
1 -
And no curtain twitchers complain👍🤣🤣
0 -
In days of yore when I had a caravan without mains supply, we loaded the fridge as normal, including some frozen items spread among them, travelled overnight on the ferry and drove for a day to the campsite. The only power that the fridge had in that 24 hour period was the fifteen minute drive to the ferry and eight hours or so en route to our destination. The frozen stuff was still 70% frozen upon arrival.
PS. Might be worth changing your user name to something less cumbersome unless you want to be known as Double O thirty seven.
0 -
Agreed, even tho the van sits on the drive, we never pre-cool the fridge.
It works remarkably well on all power sources, including 12v, and we just load up the fridge/freezer as the last thing before departure and off we go.
On arrival, fridge cool, contents fine, hassle free.
0 -
With the 13 pin plug and socket ,on caravan/towcar according to a Dometic engineer, it will only maintain the fridge temp, it will not cool it if not already cold ,Normally on motor caravans the commercial base vehicle has a higher output alternator and the wiring is also of heavier also a shorter run , so can cool a fridge
0 -
After pre-cooling for 15 years, it should be fine.
4 -
On 12v, it will draw around 120w, so the battery will not last long. The 12v setting is only intended to maintain the fridge cool, when on the move it will auto-disconnect when the engine is stationary. When stationary the gas or better 240v setting needs to be used on EHU.
I switch mine to 240v the day before we go away, parked on my drive, to cool down and allow it to be filled up. On not too far trips, I don't bother, but on longer drives to site I switch it to 12v to keep it cooled.
0
