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Subject Topic: Fridge running on battery. Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonLesleyprytherch
via mobile 14/3/2021 at 9:21am
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Sorry if this is a really basic question. I am very new to caravanning and just wondered if I went off grid how long it would take to flatten my 110ah battery if I ran my fridge. I have a 100w solar panel. Thanks everyone.

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Lesley's Maggie


Personbirdman101
via mobile 14/3/2021 at 9:40am
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Fridge will only run of battery with engine running. Will only run off gas or mains electric hook up when not being towed.

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2023 Swift Archway Woodford, MK3 Kuga ST Line X 190 ps AWD Auto
Now 52 years Caravanning completed.


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PersonPixie_Hez
14/3/2021 at 10:01am
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If you are off grid you can only run your fridge from gas. It will only run from the battery while hooked up to the car and even then, it only maintains the temperature rather than continuing to cool.

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Pixie


PersonLesleyprytherch
via mobile 14/3/2021 at 10:56am
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Thanks everyone. That shot that idea then.!!!!

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Lesley's Maggie


PersonColin21
14/3/2021 at 11:23am
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If it were possible to run a 3 way fridge off battery without the engine running, it would probably only last a few hours at best, which is why they can only be run from the car with the engine running. 12 volt running is only really designed to be used to maintain the temperature during the journey.

There are fridges that can be run from a battery for quite a bit longer, and they are compressor types, but those cannot be run off gas. They are also quite expensive.


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Best Regards,
Colin


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PersonFrancais
14/3/2021 at 1:17pm
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Firstly the last thing you want to do is flatten your leisure battery, if you want it to last a decent number of years.

To get the best life from your leisure battery you should not run it to below 50% capacity, unless it is a LiFeP04 battery in which case you can.

I did a somewhat less than scientific test with my portable Waeco CF25 fridge, it’s a compressor type as Colin mentions.

It ran for five days straight 24/7 from a cheapo 120Ah SFLA leisure battery, before the battery was down to 50% capacity, ambient temperature was around 18 C, and it kept the contents at a constant +4 C.

I am yet to do the same experiment with a 200 watt solar panel connected to my leisure battery via MPPT controller, which in theory might keep the fridge going indefinitely, based on the efficiency of the panel during summer in Northwest U.K.

Post last edited on 14/03/2021 13:43:39


PersonPickled Onion
14/3/2021 at 1:53pm
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Perhaps you already have the option to run it on gas? Most fairly modern caravans do.

As said previously the battery (12 volt DC) option is designed to keep the already cold fridge contents reasonably cold whilst travelling to your next destination, it uses so much current and isn't too efficient either.

Dave.

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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.


PersonColin21
14/3/2021 at 2:00pm
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I'm glad you said "fairly modern" there Dave, as even the 1988 Elddis Tornado that I had previously had a 3 way fridge from new.



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Best Regards,
Colin


PersonLesleyprytherch
via mobile 14/3/2021 at 2:07pm
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2001 Abi Manhattan 370-2
For some reason it won’t run on gas. I had no intention of using it on gas so never had it looked into. That’ll teach me. I’ll look into having it sorted. Works fantastic on electric.

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Lesley's Maggie


PersonFrancais
14/3/2021 at 3:01pm
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To be fair, I don’t get why they still fit 3 Way fridges in most caravans etc, in this modern age a compressor fridge should come as the standard option, and if you plan to spend time of grid, then a decent 100Ah LiFeP04 leisure battery or two and the odd solar panel, will provide all the electric power that you are most likely to need.

When my Dad got his caravan back in 1973 a Sprite Musketeer, the first thing he had done was to replace the gas lights in the van with 12v lights.


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Personlittler
14/3/2021 at 3:29pm
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sometimes it is only a blocked gas jet on the fridge as it is only like a pilot light jet and for some reason spiders love to live in them so can get blocked could be a very easy fix for a caravan technician good luck
             Bruce

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Beer is the answer...
but i can't remember the question !!!



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