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Subject Topic: gas powered fridge Post Reply Post New Topic
evelet
29/6/2009 at 6:02pm
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We are experienced campers but have always roughed it a bit without any luxuries and never used EHU. Now we've got two little kids the thought of a fridge is really tempting but we're booked for two sites with no EHU available (Buckle Holiday Park in Seaford and Hollins Farm near Whitby). I met a chap at a site in Filey who had a gas fridge last year. Can anyone (a) rcommend one and (b) explain to me how you operate it? Do you have to leave it plugged into the gas all the time? How much gas does it use?

Thanks!


PersonFormer Scout
29/6/2009 at 8:04pm
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I have the Dometic (formerly Electrolux) 1600. It's a 3-way fridge which means that it can be powered by gas, mains AC or car DC. You do plug them in to the gas all the time and, therefore, you don't have them in the living area of a SIG tent. Ours is either in the cook tent or under the extension.

Consumption depends on how warm the weather is. Last year (cool summer) it took about three weeks to use up a 907.

They are great, especially due to the freedom they give. However, because they don't have a pump you MUST have them absolutely level (take a spirit level on camp). Also they don't have a thermostat. So I have a fridge thermometer inside and increase the power setting when it's warm and reduce it when it's cool.

They come with different ratings, with the ability to cool 20 degrees celsius below ambient temperature, 25 and 30 degrees below. Mine is the more powerful 30 degrees below and is essential in warm weather (if the temperature is 32 cesius and you have one that is only able to cool 20 celsiu below ambient then the content could get to 12 celsius....too warm to be safe.)

They are not cheap. I scanned ebay from several weeks, saw the going rate and got one that was less than a year old and used only once at less than half price.


evelet
29/6/2009 at 8:46pm
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Thanks for your response. I dunno if I'll go for a gas fridge or not or whether I'll stick to my coolbox full of many icepacks...

Can I ask what SIG means?

We do have a porch extension now so we could keep a fridge in there. But i'm having horrible visions of the children crashing into it or something and it leaking gas everywhere. also, i suppose i'd need a separate gas for the cooker wouldn't I?

hmm. lots to think about now...


PersonFormer Scout
29/6/2009 at 8:59pm
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SIG = Sewn-In-Groundsheet. I don't use any burner device within my SIG tent because of the potential build-up of fumes/poisonous gas.

When we are camping just for a few days or there is just me and my two boys, we don't bother with the kitchen tent. The extension to the Minnesota is wide enough to have the burners and fridge on one side leaving enough space for people to get in and out of the tent.

There is no reason why you can't have two appliances running of the one gas cylinder and, if I were using a 4.5Kg or larger calor gas bottle I might do so. (All it needs is a metal T-bar so that one pipe frpm the cylinder goes into the T-bar and two pipes leading to the two appliances come out.) But as I use 907s I have one cylinder to each appliance. Partly so that if one runs out I can switch them over as and when I need a burner until I have replaced the empty one.


Personglen_p
29/6/2009 at 9:01pm
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The 3-way fridges are pretty safe (with the proviso about adequate ventilation).

An SIG is a Sewn In Groundsheet. You could use a fridge if you've got one but you would have to leave zips open at low level to ensure an airflow so not really ideal.

You can put a t-piece in the gas hose so you can run both the fridge and the cooker off the same bottle, but bear in mind if you've only got one bottle it's bound to run out in the middle of cooking the bacon!

Glen


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Personnapoleongsolo
29/6/2009 at 9:50pm
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Agree with all that's been said. They are brilliant and have made a huge impact on our camping holidays.

All I would add is that cooker and fridge tend to chew gas at different rates. So, if you use separate 907's on each you can get a situation where 3/4's way through your vacation, one bottle will be empty whilst the other will have plenty of gas. Therefore, I have always swapped my bottles around at end of week one of 2 week holiday. Will be doing this in France from next week but after this trip I plan on going the 'T' piece route and run both fridge and cooker from one bottle at a time.

Also, 12v is really only for traveling as a) it doesn't get anywhere near as cold as when running on gas or on mains and b) it'll chew your car/leisure battery long before it's chilled your Pimms :)


evelet
30/6/2009 at 9:52am
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I will have to go and do some research now. See if I can get one on Ebay. Any tips on the best make/model?



Post last edited on 30/06/2009 10:06:11


evelet
30/6/2009 at 9:53am
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also - how do you keep your fridge perfectly level? Do you use a piece of wood as a base or something?



Post last edited on 30/06/2009 10:07:12


Personanorak
30/6/2009 at 11:07am
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We have a combicool and have used it on gas and electric. It gets cooler on gas though, we don't always have it perfectly level just go by sight and it works ok. The only problem I have is the size of it. Before we had a border collie we used to stick it in the boot of the car, but now she travels in there we struggle. It won't fit between the kids on the back seat so we have to leave other stuff out of the trailer.
We have gone back to just using a normal cool box with a frozen pop bottle of water in for weekend breaks.


PersonMike Richardson
30/6/2009 at 12:27pm
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We have a Waeco and they are fantastic. I agree with Anorak, they do not have to be perfectly level and they do usually get colder on gas than 240. Ours has a 1 to 7 thermostat setting for use on 240 and we find that between 4 and 5 is cold enough in most conditions.

Have a look here for various models.

http://www.minicoolers.co.uk/index.htm?url=products/index.htm&gclid=CMnwwILwsZsCFY4U4wodjT6QQQ

Mike



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PersonHartley Hare
30/6/2009 at 1:45pm
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Another shout for Waeco, expensive but bulit to last and they get cold, really cold. Keep it clean, turn it upside down for a few hours a few days before using after long storage and then cool it 24 hours at home in the mains before your trip and keep it level on the campsite and cold beers will be your tipple for as long as gas or mains keep coming.


PersonZorro01
01/7/2009 at 3:33pm
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Hi

Thanks for all the info above.

Another question - does anyone have any views on whether it is better to run these on Propane or Butane ?

cheers
Z


PersonFormer Scout
01/7/2009 at 4:45pm
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I can't imagine that there is any difference apart from the usual advantages/disadvantages between the two.


Personhlk01
01/7/2009 at 7:02pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Mike Richardson on 30/6/2009

We have a Waeco and they are fantastic. I agree with Anorak, they do not have to be perfectly level and they do usually get colder on gas than 240. Ours has a 1 to 7 thermostat setting for use on 240 and we find that between 4 and 5 is cold enough in most conditions.

Have a look here for various models.

http://www.minicoolers.co.uk/index.htm?url=products/index.htm&gclid=CMnwwILwsZsCFY4U4wodjT6QQQ

Mike

For info the CAB40 shown on their website is actually this years model of RC1700 same price £165 delivered which is fantastic price for this model whicj is 32c below ambient temp.

http://www.minicoolers.co.uk/products/waeco/cab40.htm

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Persondmacalpine
01/7/2009 at 9:52pm
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I've been looking at 3-way fridges and it appears that there isn't anything smaller than the CAB40 on the market.

Is this true, or is there a smaller fridge to be had?

 

Cheers

Don


PersonRockford
02/7/2009 at 5:12pm
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I don't think there's anything smaller. For you information, I've got a Combicool A40 and the gas consumption on that is listed as a maximum of 18g/hr.
Based on a 4.5kg butane cylinder, that's 250 hours or over ten days. :)



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