Leisure battery, fridge, confused.....

[munnyella]

Hi all

I know this has more than likely been asked before, but I can't find the answer on wiki or a search, close, but not close enough.

Can I run my fridge directly from the leisure battery, or will i have pinched all the goodness out of it (the battery) on the journey so I cant use my lights when camping?

I am not averse to giving the old beer cooler his own relay if needed, but I am running out of wire!

Also, I have 2 wires coming out of the 12v bit, one blue, one black which is + and -?. I don't want to B-lls it up!

Take it as read that all will be fused up like mad!

I am going for an 85ah leisure battery, in the buddy seat, leaving under the passenger seat vacant, is there any benefit in having two `driving batteries' in parallel? (i have a spare one sitting down doing nothing!)

Looking forward to any info.

Less than a week now till the thing is taxed and driven......all exited!!

Cheers

Munnyella

[kevtherev]

Can I run my fridge directly from the leisure battery,

No

[kevtherev]

replace the leisure battery with the Fridge

taken from the wiki

[munnyella]

Thanks guys

I found the diagram on wiki, and have worked to it, what is the reason for not running the fridge directly from the LB. It was wired like that when I bought it, although I never tried to use it, the previous owner said it worked, But then again, he said a lot worked that didn't!

Cheers

Munnyella

[shepster]

'cos it will be flat in about 4 hrs!

[munnyella]

I will only use the 12v whilst driving, gas or hook up when parked up.

Cheers

Munnyella

[Mocki]

if you connect the fridge to the leisure battery, when the engine is running the charge will come from the alternator, to the main battery, then to the leisure battery, and then, about a week too late to the fridge........
well, thats the theory , owever what really happens is that the main battery gets what it needs, the leisure battery however has to share its amps with the fridge, and wont get enough to charge effectively...and you will end up not putting enough back into the leisure battery to what you are taking out, because the fridge will be zapping it........

mine is wired with the feed that normally comes off the main battery wired direct to the alternator, but only coz the alternator was closer than the battery!

[cumbriankeith]

Fridges draw about 8 amps so you do the maths on how long the LB will last... and there's no thermostat on 12v - it's either on or off.
I have separate relays for supplying charge to the LB and power to the fridge when driving - and I have switches so I can control it all from the drivers seat according to what other demands are being made at the time and also the temperature in the fridge - eg if it's a cold day and the fridge is already nice and cold from running on gas while parked up then I'll leave the fridge off when driving, but say the LB is a bit down then that gets a charge up for a while till the fridge gets above say 8 degs when I put it on as well. A voltmeter gives you some idea of the state of play.

[wookey]

ok i've just done this.. Heres my findings (Yes I know it's all been done but i didnt listen! ) running on my 75A /hr battery gives me 4 1/2 hours of beer cooling goodness. great. but like said before its not thermostatic.

The manual on my electrolux says it will draw upto 16Amps (not sure how this works as the boiler is ment to be 85W but 17Amp wire was only £1 more and i really didnt want to do the job again! )so be where lots of split chargers circuits are only 5 amp wire.

So potentially it could draw the full 16A, and since most batterys topping up draw about 4 amp (hence 5amp wire) you'll drain the LB faster than it charges

I have therefore I wired it up likethe diagram above giving its own relay/circuit etc drawing from the alternator.

Next will be to cut another hole in my baby and set it to run from gas. Like someone said, they are two way for a reason!

Oh finally, check, but my electrlux manual says it dont matter which way you wire it up, the boiler still works.

cheers
wookey

[munnyella]

Cheers again folks...

Thats the fridge sorted then.. another relay circuit on the go tomorrow!

Any thoughts on the piggy back starter battery, or should I piggy back the LB? or keep it in the shed and store stuff onder the seat?

Cheers

Munnyella

[cumbriankeith]

I'd leave it in the shed for now and see how your power use pans out - you can always add it later if you find it is needed.
Just do a bit of monthly checking and charging while it's in store to keep it happy.

[wookey]

LB = stereo/tv, lights, water pump etc . keep it

[Mocki]

there is apsolutely no point in having two driving batterys, but it will mean even less chance of any of them charging properly from the alternator, it takes a min of 30 mins driving to put the charge back in the main battery that you have used starting the engine, before you charge the leisure battery. OR RUN THE FRIDGE, whbich is why Mr Leisuredrive made both the fridge and the split charge switchable from the drivers seat........

the 12v wires from the fridge have no polarity so it matters not which way you connect them.
just like a bulb if you like.


posted mobile using windows mobile 5

[munnyella]

Thanks Mocki, particularly about the fridge wire colours, I now shall `go live' tomorrow, 3 ways. and only panic a bit.

Thanks to everyone who has added to this thread.

I feel now that I can draw a line under it.(unless anyone else has more suggestions before 9am)

Munnyella
(again)