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Subject Topic: fridge problem. Post Reply Post New Topic
Personrichiec
06/2/2016 at 8:56pm
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why doesn't my fridge work on the 12 volt battery? Every thing else does. please help!


Personmoppetsdad
06/2/2016 at 8:58pm
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It will only work on 12 volts when towing never the caravan battery they are not wired that way because it would flaten the battery in next to no time.

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David

    

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


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Personnavver
06/2/2016 at 10:23pm
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A fully charged battery would last about an hour.


PersonOpensauce
07/2/2016 at 8:07am
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Do you understand how caravan fridges work? They are 3 way fridges. On campsite EHU they operate on 230v mains electric. On non EHU site you can operate them on gas. The 12v operation is only while caravan is being towed & is the least efficient mode.

Provided you have both leads plugged into car or on more modern caravan, single 13pin plug into car with fully wired 13pin socket then caravan fridge will operate on 12v direct from car battery, never from caravan leisure battery.

To avoid flattening car battery when outfit is parked the fridge only gets 12v supply from car while engine is actually running.


Personmr blueskylight
07/2/2016 at 9:09am
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You do have to be careful though because in theory if you stop for any length of time on your journey then your fridge could potentially flatten your car battery. Or so I am told!


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PersonInner Zone
07/2/2016 at 9:34am
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Quote: Originally posted by mr blueskylight on 07/2/2016
You do have to be careful though because in theory if you stop for any length of time on your journey then your fridge could potentially flatten your car battery. Or so I am told!


Not if the car is correctly wired as the supply will go through a relay.


PersonOpensauce
07/2/2016 at 10:04am
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Forums educate blue, you were told wrong. As pointed out 12v power is only supplied to fridge when engine runs at fast tickover or above. Engine off & power to fridge is cut.


PersonHairywol
07/2/2016 at 11:19am
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As I understand it the 12v maintains rather than achieves cold temperatures since it is much less powerful than 240v or gas.

My handbook recommends getting the fridge down to temp then using 12v to keep it cool while in transit.

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Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.


PersonOctavia4x4
07/2/2016 at 11:51am
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What confuses people, there is a 12v volt supply to the fridge from the caravan battery, this supplies power to the fridge light and other fridge electronice i.e. for the gas ignition. When the car engine starts the caravan habition relay trips that out and the rest of the 12v system and then the only power to the frige cooling element is from the car as stated.

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Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4 (2012) towing a Compass Omega 482 (2014)


PersonGERONA
07/2/2016 at 2:44pm
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Your caravan fridge will only work as a cooler while driving along, that's why if you freeze it down first on mains or gas it will keep the fridge going for a fair few hours.
Read your handbook it will say the same.
Even if it was wired direct to the battery the fridge would never freeze down on the 12volt element it would just drain the battery.


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Personnaturlist123
07/2/2016 at 5:04pm
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Sorry to contadict but some of the early thetford fridges would freeze down while being towed using 12 volt supply from the tow vehicle as there was no thermostat on the 12 volt side.
Drove from Aintree Grand national country to Gretna Green towing a 1971 ABI 4 berth. stopped at Gretna to make a bite and cuppa before travelling on to Loch Lomond. The boiled ham was nearly frozen solid and there was frost in the Fridge had to settle for jam on bread (no butter) and a cup of tea. No motorways that way except Preston byepass (m6) till the A6/ M6 and A74 was improved.


PersonGERONA
07/2/2016 at 5:16pm
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I bet the horse was knackered by the time you got to Gretna.
Fare play yes but I was assuming it was a reasonably modern caravan.


Personnaturlist123
08/2/2016 at 2:22pm
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1966 c reg moggi 1000 estate fitted with 1300 wolsey engine and gear box G800 radial cushion tyres. home made towbar and loom so 13 horses actualy cant remember weight of van about 1100MTPLM or less


PersonJax365
10/2/2016 at 10:43am
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I have never bothered with the 12v system... I simply freeze a few items for the next day (soups, milk, etc) and add a few freezer blocks for good measure. Everything stays cold until I get where I'm going without the 12v, I just turn the fridge into a freezer box!

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