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Subject Topic: 3 way fridge problem Post Reply Post New Topic
19/2/2017 at 5:41pm
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View Jimmygunn's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jimmygunn Reply   Quote Jimmygunn Quote  
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Hi all, probably stupid question of the year here but:
Been camping many years, we're newbies to caravaning, bought an old Swift to try out for the summer to see if we fancy converting full time,
The three way fridge is a bit of a problem, it will not work on 230v, it works fine on the gas, the 12v is wired to the second plug that leads to the car, but my car doesn't have the second socket.
SO:
Can I connect the 12v directly to the leisure battery? I realise it would drain the leisure battery, but I plan on being hooked up to electrics on campsites, is this plausible or am I just trying to kill myself?


19/2/2017 at 5:49pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
 Outfit:  A full biohazard su
View moppetsdad's Profile View Profile   Reply to moppetsdad Reply   Quote moppetsdad Quote  
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Why not chill it at home for a day or two before you set off and as long as its cold before you go and assuming you are not travelling hundreds of miles it will still be cold when you get there, save a lot of fafing about that way.
Also bung a couple of ice packs in it if you have then or a frozen bottle of water.


-------------
David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


19/2/2017 at 5:56pm
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if I read this correctly you are planning that by connecting the 12v directly to the battery you could run the fridge permanently when on site using that? the answer is no, 12v is only a maintanence thing, it wouldn't cool the fridge down at all, it provides barely enough power just to keep it ticking over


19/2/2017 at 8:18pm
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Fridge probably needs a new 240v element. Cost about £40 for the part. Diy job for anybody capable of removing fridge & doing simple electrical work. Otherwise probably 2hrs labour at commercial rates.


19/2/2017 at 8:18pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Even if the fridge is connected to the towing vehicle's electric supply the fridge won't get cold at all. The fridge has to be pre-cooled first either by gas or 240 volt mains electric then the 12 volt supply maintains the temperature inside the fridge whilst in tow and that's all it does. Therefore by connecting a leisure battery will not achieve the aim of cooling the fridge merely because as the fridge consumes the battery power the volts will slowly decrease which the results will be a warm fridge. The 12 volt power from the towcar comes from the vehicle's alternator which the current produced is around 13.8 volts whilst the engine is running which is required to effectively run a refridgerator in transit.


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19/2/2017 at 10:25pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
 Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H
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Once again, no, not a good idea to connect your fridge directly to your leisure battery it would still drain your 12 volt battery much faster than you could charge it even though you are connected to a mains hook-up.
BTW, there is no such thing as a stupid question, without asking it you will never know the answer.

Dave.

-------------
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.


19/2/2017 at 10:49pm
 Location: Preston. Lancashire.
 Outfit: 9x9 Brit & French Army F1 2 Man Tent.
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Quote: Originally posted by Pickled Onion on 19/2/2017

BTW, there is no such thing as a stupid question, without asking it you will never know the answer.

Dave.



It's the stupid answers you have to watch out for.


-------------
If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If it is in English, thank a soldier.

Supporting "Combat Stress", the veterans mental health charity.

"They fight our wars,.....we fight theirs"


20/2/2017 at 2:00am
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011
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The 12volt side is for use only when towing. The fridge thermostat does not function on 12v, so it runs continuously so long as power is available. A car is fitted with a battery sensitive control unit that cuts power to the fridge of the cars battery charge falls below a given voltage, but the caravan is not designed to do this

On 12v the fridge will cool down eventually. However, pre cooling on mains is done to avoid food warming up during th e delay


21/2/2017 at 12:35pm
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View Jimmygunn's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jimmygunn Reply   Quote Jimmygunn Quote  
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Superb, thanks for the advice folks, if you don't ask, you'll never know as they say



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