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Subject Topic: Running 12v fridge Post Reply Post New Topic
17/7/2015 at 8:10am
 Location: Portsmouth
 Outfit: Autotrail Imala 625
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Ok I picked up my motorhome yesterday and something has been bugging me all night I no the dealer explained the fridge but I can't remember what he said I have an ace Napoli which on the board above the door I have a switch for the batteries top one is can battery middle position off and down for leisure batteries so my question is when running fridge on 12v which way do I have to have this switch sorry blonde moment


17/7/2015 at 10:13am
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Various tents
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It should be impossible to run the fridge on 12v unless the engine is running, as it would otherwise soon flatten a battery, so I guess the answer to your question is the top position?



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17/7/2015 at 4:41pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome
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I would have thought that the fridge would have been hard wired into the vehicle cab system so that it only works with the engine running. The switches you mention are usually to allow you to switch the 12v system from leisure battery to cab battery to run lights and pump etc.
David


17/7/2015 at 7:25pm
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
 Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
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Exactly right, David. The fridge will only run on 12V. when the engine is running, otherwise it would quickly flatten the battery.

As for switches, on my van there is a switch on the dashboard which also has to be switched on as well as 12V selected on the fridge itself.

The 3 way switch on the control panel doesn't affect the fridge, unless it has electronic ignition for the gas.

-------------
Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.


17/7/2015 at 7:42pm
 Location: Portsmouth
 Outfit: Autotrail Imala 625
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Thank you all that's what I thought I was just stressing over it


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17/7/2015 at 8:30pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome
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Just a point worth thinking about. We were on a site recently and a motorhomer had to call out the RAC because he had a flat battery. He had put the wrong switch on and taken his 12v power from the cab battery. Fortunately the RAC got him going and he manage to drive away. One possible insurance against this happening, at least whilst you are on a 230v electric hook-up, is to have something like a Battery Master fitted which charges the cab battery via the leisure battery whilst on site.

David


18/7/2015 at 10:18am
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Toyota Granvia (Wellhouse)
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Although, as has already said, the fridge should only work off 12v, with the engine running, interestingly I've read that with some new/current models they can/do run with the engine off..

Whether that's down to the van manufacturer or the fridge manufacturer's(Dometic?) brief, I have no idea..Seems daft to me though.(..and I've read  that owners pull a fuse to disable the "function"...) 

S & J ...

On a more general note(and back on topic ) it's also worth bearing in mind, that MHs do vary when it comes to the "..which switch selects what....and which battery gets charged when.?..." lark.   Our previous vans have all varied to some degree.

Some will charge the cab battery on hook-up, some won't, some will do it automatically, whilst another may have a *selector switch etc (*some may select which battery you DRAW from, others it's which battery gets CHARGED ).

Although they aren't always that "enlightening", it's worth sourcing a handbook/manual specific for your make model of van.

(..unfortunately, we've found that some "dealers" aren't always that clued up either, so you can't always take what they tell us as gospel).



Post last edited on 18/07/2015 10:24:23



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