Using refrigerator without electric hook-ups

[Big S]

We are new to caravanning this yearand have enjoyed it thoroughly in our 2001 Elddis Avante 475.

All of the sites we have been on this year have had electric hook-ups. However we are going to a CL in the October half-term for three nights visiting friends and the site doesn't have electric hook-ups. Will we encounter any problems with the leisure battery if the fridge is run off the battery along with the other electrical items in the van, especially at this time of year when the lights tend to be on more often than in the summer months. Any thoughts/tips /advice would be most appreciated.

 

[Clubman1]

With your 'van only 4 years old the fridge must surely be able to be run off the gas supply. You will not be able to run it off your 'van battery unless you rewire the fridge, or 'van!!?

 

[rayc]

Steve, the 12v supply to the fridge is for travelling only and gets its power from the car supply on pins 6+ and 7- of the 12S socket. It draws about 7 amps and would run the van battery down very quickly if you were to connect it. You will have to run the fridge from the gas supply. Ray

 

[Big S]

Thanks very much. This is just the sort of information I was after. Much appreciated.

Steve

 

[MikeP]

Gas consumption is usually in the range 300-400g per hour. So a 7kg Calor will keep the fridge going for around 20 days. Cheaper than a hook-up!

 

[MikeP]

Gas consumption is usually in the range 300-400g per hour. So a 7kg Calor will keep the fridge going for around 20 days. Cheaper than a hook-up!

Doh, 300-400g per 24 hours.

 

[RichL812]

Gas consumption is usually in the range 300-400g per hour. So a 7kg Calor will keep the fridge going for around 20 days. Cheaper than a hook-up!

Steve

My new to us van also has a 3 way fridge - 12v whilst towing / EHU and gas. I would suggest before you go away you test the fridge thoroughly as mine didnt work and needed servicing, cleaning and a new thermostat - all under warranty.

The fridge wont get that cold without contents so after mine came back from the dealer they recommended putting stuff inside the fridge but also to put either ice trays or a 1 litre bottle of water in the freezer compartment and check that it froze to my satisfaction. We have just come back after using it on the gas for the first time and it was fine. Keep an eye on the temperature dial as it is possible for your milk and beer to start freezing as we found out!!

Good luck - CL's are brilliant, we use them nearly always as they are cheaper, more relaxing and no lines upon lines of caravans.

 

[RichL812]

My new to us van also has a 3 way fridge - 12v whilst towing / EHU and gas. I would suggest before you go away you test the fridge thoroughly as mine didnt work and needed servicing, cleaning and a new thermostat - all under warranty.

The fridge wont get that cold without contents so after mine came back from the dealer they recommended putting stuff inside the fridge but also to put either ice trays or a 1 litre bottle of water in the freezer compartment and check that it froze to my satisfaction. We have just come back after using it on the gas for the first time and it was fine. Keep an eye on the temperature dial as it is possible for your milk and beer to start freezing as we found out!!

Good luck - CL's are brilliant, we use them nearly always as they are cheaper, more relaxing and no lines upon lines of caravans.

 

[CliveV]

We were also amazed at how efficient the fridge is on gas. We used ours on gas for the first time for a week this July, worked really well - frozen milk on day three was a bit of a surprise. Ours did seem to take a few days to really get going.

One point of interest - we were told the previous October that the fridge would not light on gas by the people we had service our 'van. We were told iot would be about