Driving with fridge on

Paul Norman
Paul Norman Forum Participant Posts: 6

Hi everybody, Being newbies to the motorhome community we were wondering if it is ok to leave the fridge running on 12v whilst driving.

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Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2019 #2

    Indeed it is and that would be the only time the fridge would run on 12 volt, if it ran otherwise it would flatten the battery in no time without the vehicle's alternator powering the battery

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #3

    Agree with ET,it should not be wired to run on 12volt unless engine is running,same with caravans 12volt is only available when connected to car and engine is running

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #4

    It’s what the 12v option is there for👍🏻👍🏻

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #5

    run it all the time while driving , that way I get ice cold Cider when I arrive on site cool

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #6

    Hello and welcome to CT and our great hobby.

    Yes your fridge should have a battery icon, click to that for 12v from the engine whilst driving. Don't forget to swop it onto gas or electric once the engine's off. It can happen embarassed

    You can pre chill your fridge if you keep it at home, the 12v isn't enough to bring the temperature right down. We have never had the luxury of pre chill and have never had an issue, frozen stuff still frozen - but you can always add an ice cube, in a container, if you're in any doubt. Fill your fridge as tightly as you can with already cooled food and frozen bits. You can even freeze cartons/bottles of milk/water/juice to fill in the gaps 😉. Shut and lock the door, if the door opens contents can join you up front embarassed. Open as little as possible, we still make lunch and drinks on route, as it becomes a cool box.

    Plenty of advice on hear dont be afraid to ask 😀

     

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,384
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    edited August 2019 #7

    Some fridges switch automatically to whatever power source there is. Check you handbook to see how it works.

    peedee

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #8

    On the milk bottles/containers we havee seen it says do not freezesurprised

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2019 #9
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • derekcyril
    derekcyril Forum Participant Posts: 408
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    edited August 2019 #10

    Always freeze blue top at home , sink of cold water to defrost never had a problem .Dont freeze tins of lager .yes they expand and burst ,hurts ears when told wife !!!

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2019 #11

    Blue top! That's the dead waterery one isn't it? 🤢

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited August 2019 #12

    I’ve frozen semi skimmed milk plenty of times with no issues at all👍🏻

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited August 2019 #13

    No, that's the liquid cholesterol one. Red Top is the skimmed.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited August 2019 #14

    +1, it coats your teeth in fat🤢

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #15

    Take them out thensurprised

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited August 2019 #16

    I never thought of that JV👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤣

  • Rubytuesday
    Rubytuesday Forum Participant Posts: 952
    edited August 2019 #17

    I have to say, you all have certainaly not lost your wonderful sence of humour , 😎

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
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    edited August 2019 #18

    I empty half the milk container into another and then freeze both. Plenty of room for the frozen milk to expand. Probably doesn't need that much room so you might want to experiment.

  • Paul Norman
    Paul Norman Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited August 2019 #19

    Thanks for the advice everybody. Some of it was very amusing. Its good to see CAMC'ers have got a sense of humour

     

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited August 2019 #20

    Aaaah, Things ain't what they used to be JVB frown !

    In my , admittedly distant, school days it was nothing to see a whole crate of 1/3 pint glass milk bottles with ' ice cream lollies ' sticking out of the top  tongue-out

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited August 2019 #21

     Oh, WELCOME HOME, Roobz  -- It's great to see you on here again !!smile

  • derekcyril
    derekcyril Forum Participant Posts: 408
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    edited August 2019 #22

    There is no cream in milk now ,full milk my a..e  when i was a milkman bottles of sterra ripped youre fingers apart ..put caps on milk so birds couldnt peck through ,, Sound like my dad now !!!

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2019 #23

    There is cream in milk now. But all the super market stuff is homogenised hence the lack of cream line. 

    And I've delivered a crate or three of milk myself wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #24

    Gold top is still alive and cholesterol full in good storescool

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2019 #25

    So is green top raw milk if you look ...

  • BlueVanMan
    BlueVanMan Forum Participant Posts: 382
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    edited August 2019 #26

    Sorry to butt in on the milk top discussion that this thread has become but a small point about the actual original query.laughing

    Some vans (especially camper vans) have a compressor fridge which is like a domestic fridge and runs on electricity all the time being 12v off the habitation battery which will normally be topped up by the alternator when the vehicle is running.

    The advice to read the vehicle handbook is good. A compressor fridge wont have a mode switch to select mains/gas/12v. Either way running on 12v on the move is fine.  

     

  • pete490194
    pete490194 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited August 2019 #27

    hi, if your fridge works on 12v via car, which is correct. please count your self lucky, mine won't run on 12v via car. I'm in the process to find out why. its fine on gas and 230v. I'm slowly running out of options reading various posts else where it seems the size of cable feeding the 12v side may be too small and can't supply the necessary current although I do have 12.5 volts at the fridge and I can measure a resistance across the element the fridge is a thetford and shows a "10" fault number.its the N series type fridge. anybody help....

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited August 2019 #28

    As you suggest, one possible cause is inadequate wiring if you have 12 volts to the fridge. Ideally your fridge supply should be a separate (fused) feed directly from your battery ... obviously via a relay and your caravan should have two separate 'earths'. Depending on where your trailer electrics were fitted, it does happen that they use the feed to the boot light as the feed fro the fridge/charging, which is obviously way too small.

  • derekcyril
    derekcyril Forum Participant Posts: 408
    100 Comments
    edited August 2019 #29

    Ive previously run a thicker earth wire direct of battery to socket ,works a treat

  • pete490194
    pete490194 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited August 2019 #30

    thank for your input, I was wondering if the power board was at fault but at a replacement of £115 I hope not but I get the same fault when running the fridge from the leisure battery which makes me wonder if it is the power board....the fault finding continues frown

     

  • Ph1lTurner
    Ph1lTurner Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited August 2019 #31

    May I ask a question in relation to this. I drove from the Devon to Abbey Wood (5 1/2 hours). I turned the fridge on for a good 15+ hours before and then connected to the car for the drive up. When we arrived the fridge had lost its coldness and warmed up.

    For it to work on battery setting did we need to turn the "Mains" switch to on as well - we left it off? If not would need to get checked at next service.

    Thanks

    Phil.