Operation of the fridge whilst towing

[alanmarklandhotmail.co.uk]

I own a SWIFT Challenger 500 and had my yearly service before Easter. My service guy has told me that when he checked the fridge operation using his test rig the only way the fridge would operate when connected to the towcar is with the switch on the electrics panel (in the caravan) set to "caravan" and would not operate when switched to "car". Does anyone have any solutions as to why this is so as my cocern is that with the switch in this position it may be possible for the leisure battery to run flat in the event of problems.
friendofplotter

 

[Damian]

Who was your service person?

Fridges:
The 12v operation of the fridge will only take place with the van connected to the car AND the engine running.
It will NOT work off the leisure battery.
A test rig will NOT supply enough power to trigger the relays, and can only be used to test the element by direct application of 12v .
The switch in the van should be se to the middle position. The relay in the car and the habitation relay take care of everything else.

The CAR position is for use if you stop and want to use the 12v lighting or toilet flush as everything is isolated by the habitation relay apart from the fridge supply and charging circuit for the leisure battery.

If you want to be sure your fridge does work properly, get one of these: http://www.maplin.co.uk/automotive-current-tester-217879
Remove the fridge blade fuse and insert it into this unit, plug the unit into the place the blade fuse came from, connect the car, select 12v on the fridge, start the car and see if it draws current.

 

[Taff]

I am going over to France for the first time next week. I was going to unplug the caravan from the car to ensure it does not drain the battery but from your reply above, I have nothing to worry about. I have a 2009 Coachman Amara.

 

[Damian]

Taff, you have nothing to worry about.
Your fridge will not work when the engine is switched off and as long as you have cooled the fridge it will stay cold during the journey on the ferry.

Please remember that it is illegal to operate any gas appliance when on board a ferry and that your gas cylinders MUST be turned off at the cylinder.
Crew members do check fridge exhaust vents en route and will take action if one is found to be using gas.

 

[Dustydog]

As an aside, I had trouble with the 12S plug and socket burning out some years ago. Thi slittle tip solved the problem. The current draw from the fridge on 12v is a lot.
http://www.towitall.co.uk/faq/1.aspx

 

[Lutz]

Taff, you have nothing to worry about.
Your fridge will not work when the engine is switched off and as long as you have cooled the fridge it will stay cold during the journey on the ferry.

A word of warning here if you own a Continental caravan. From my own experience, some, if not all of these, are wired to allow the fridge to run off the car battery even when the engine is turned off. In that case, the lead that is live only when engine is running is used to charge the caravan battery.

 

[Willi-Wonti]

Taff, you have nothing to worry about.
Your fridge will not work when the engine is switched off and as long as you have cooled the fridge it will stay cold during the journey on the ferry.

A word of warning here if you own a Continental caravan. From my own experience, some, if not all of these, are wired to allow the fridge to run off the car battery even when the engine is turned off. In that case, the lead that is live only when engine is running is used to charge the caravan battery.

For some reason my Burstner ran the fridge direct from the caravan battery & relied on the car charging it when towing.
Thankfully my dealer rewired the fridge to be powered by the car

 

[Damian]

The reply I gave to Taff was based on the fact that he has a Coachman Amara, which will be wired as per all UK built vans.

Burstner, Hobby, Fendt and other imports are wired differently and DO draw from the vehicle battery unless rewired to UK spec.

 

[Taff]

Thanks Damian for your advice. Puts my mind at rest.

 

[mealsonwheels]

Thanks for the helpful information in this post.