12 Volt Fridge Wire

[BarryfromPooleDorset]

I have just purchased a Bailey Pagent Vendee Caravan, and I am amazed to find that the 12V fridge connection only works when connected to the towcar and the engine running.

If I get to a ferry port 2 Hrs before the ferry and the crossing takes 6 Hrs the fridge will defrost.

Why cannot I connect the fridge 12V supply to the van Battery?

Barry

 

[Paul_5074021]

Cos the Fridge will take a lot of current and run your battery down pretty quickly.

Paul

 

[Lutz]

Whether the fridge is connected in such a way that it only gets a 12v supply with the engine running or permanently from the car battery, it would be unwise to leave the fridge on while on the ferry, especially after standing for 2 hours and then a 6 hour crossing. As likely as not, you may find that the car won't start when you want to get off the ferry, because of a flat battery. It's happened to me because of an oversight and believe me, it's embarrassing when you're near the front of the queue and can't start and everyone behind you is getting impatient.

 

[Lutz]

Whether the fridge is connected in such a way that it only gets a 12v supply with the engine running or permanently from the car battery, it would be unwise to leave the fridge on while on the ferry, especially after standing for 2 hours and then a 6 hour crossing. As likely as not, you may find that the car won't start when you want to get off the ferry, because of a flat battery. It's happened to me because of an oversight and believe me, it's embarrassing when you're near the front of the queue and can't start and everyone behind you is getting impatient.

Sorry, I misread your suggestion. I was of course talking about running the fridge off the car battery but whichever battery you use, it'll probably be flat when you get off the ferry.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Barry,

As the other respondents have pointed out, the 12V dc circuit of a fridge dos use a lot of current, and it will flatten even a big battery in a matter of hours.

However there should not be a major problem with fridge, provided it is well stocked and the door is not opened until the power is restored. It should keep food chilled for several hours provided it is not disturbed.

As for frozen food, the majority of caravan fridges only have a very small freezing compartment, and it is not designed to be a deep freeze. So you should not be storing frozen foods for any great length of time.

Just as a thought, most destinations have a supermarket on hand, so why carry large amounts of food when you can usually purchase it locally to your

 

[trucker]

Barry, what we do on a long jouney or crossing is 3/4 fill 2 2ltr bottles, freeze them down and pop them in the fridge before setting off, they keep the fridge nice and cold for the journey and you have icy water when you get to your destination.

12v will not bring the fridge down to a normal fridge temp it will only hold the fridge at the temp you have before hand. Put the fridge on mains 2 days before going use Ice and all will be well.

Kevin

 

[BarryfromPooleDorset]

Hello Barry,

As the other respondents have pointed out, the 12V dc circuit of a fridge dos use a lot of current, and it will flatten even a big battery in a matter of hours.

However there should not be a major problem with fridge, provided it is well stocked and the door is not opened until the power is restored. It should keep food chilled for several hours provided it is not disturbed.

As for frozen food, the majority of caravan fridges only have a very small freezing compartment, and it is not designed to be a deep freeze. So you should not be storing frozen foods for any great length of time.

Just as a thought, most destinations have a supermarket on hand, so why carry large amounts of food when you can usually purchase it locally to your

Thanks Does anybody know how much current is drawn, I cannot see it on the thetford website

 

[norniron]

Barry, what we do on a long jouney or crossing is 3/4 fill 2 2ltr bottles, freeze them down and pop them in the fridge before setting off, they keep the fridge nice and cold for the journey and you have icy water when you get to your destination.

12v will not bring the fridge down to a normal fridge temp it will only hold the fridge at the temp you have before hand. Put the fridge on mains 2 days before going use Ice and all will be well.

Kevin

nice tip trucker

 

[Damian]

Barry, if the fridge is using a 125w element then it will draw about 10 amps, which is why it must not be left on unattended on a ferry, and it must not be directly wired to the van battery or car battery.

The 12v system is designed to ONLY be operative when the car is running.

 

[BarryfromPooleDorset]

Barry, if the fridge is using a 125w element then it will draw about 10 amps, which is why it must not be left on unattended on a ferry, and it must not be directly wired to the van battery or car battery.

The 12v system is designed to ONLY be operative when the car is running.

10A Is a lot! In my last motorvan I had a 12V only (Compressor) fridge that ran for 4 days on a 75 AH battery!.

 

[Tankie]

We always freeze 2 x 2ltr cartons of milk to keep the fridge cool, obviously it has to be used soon after thawing.

Tankie

 

[SBS]

Run it on gas while waiting at the dockside?

Mike

 

[CheapnCheerful]

Although I am unlikely to use a ferry in the near future I have often wondered why it is not possible to run the fridge from the caravan battery only when required. Even at a 10 amp drain the battery will last several hours, and even if it did run flat, you would have an inoperable fridge for say just one hour instead of six (if it is a long ferry crossing) , and unless your campsite happens to be right outside the port, you would have some time for the car to recharge the caravan battery before reaching your campsite, even if it is not fully charged there should be enough in it to tide you over. So unless you are doing something close to the extremes noted above, you probably would not notice much difference by the time you got to site.

 

[gary]

If only, 10A from a 12v car battery is a hell of a lot and a 50-60Ahr car battery would need to be in perfect condition and fully charged to last waiting on a dock side and still start the car, nevermind the crossing.

That's to say nothing of the losses between battery and fridge and that 12v without the help of 13v+ from the alternator won't be doing much if anything to keep the fridge cool anyway!!

 

[CheapnCheerful]

If only, 10A from a 12v car battery is a hell of a lot and a 50-60Ahr car battery would need to be in perfect condition and fully charged to last waiting on a dock side and still start the car, nevermind the crossing.

That's to say nothing of the losses between battery and fridge and that 12v without the help of 13v+ from the alternator won't be doing much if anything to keep the fridge cool anyway!!

Since when do you use the caravan battery to start the car? The car battery is used to start the car, the caravan battery will be rewired to power the fridge. It does not matter if the caravan battery is completely flat, since you do not use it to start the car! And unless you decide to leave the car with the keys in the ignition, the caravan battery will not be connected to the car, so will not be able to affect the car battery at all and hence no starting issues. - do remember we are talking about altering the wiring to ensure this is the case!

 

[CheapnCheerful]

Since when do you use the caravan battery to start the car? The car battery is used to start the car, the caravan battery will be rewired to power the fridge. It does not matter if the caravan battery is completely flat, since you do not use it to start the car! And unless you decide to leave the car with the keys in the ignition, the caravan battery will not be connected to the car, so will not be able to affect the car battery at all and hence no starting issues. - do remember we are talking about altering the wiring to ensure this is the case!

 

[BarryfromPooleDorset]

Since when do you use the caravan battery to start the car? The car battery is used to start the car, the caravan battery will be rewired to power the fridge. It does not matter if the caravan battery is completely flat, since you do not use it to start the car! And unless you decide to leave the car with the keys in the ignition, the caravan battery will not be connected to the car, so will not be able to affect the car battery at all and hence no starting issues. - do remember we are talking about altering the wiring to ensure this is the case!

Thanks I am with you on this, so what if the van battery (110 AH) goes flat, it can always be recharged.

Barry