Fridges & Leisure Batteries

Post by **happypixie** » 13 May 2007, 20:34

Hi, I have looked through previous posts about this but i'm not quite clear and also have another question about it...

I recently had a leisure battery fitted and wired to the fridge to run off the 12v as where i'm going wont have the hook up facilities...

firstly...the fridge isn't making a noise so i'm not sure if its actually coming on...should it be making a noise or is that normal?

secondly...am i in danger of having a flat main battery as i intend to camp and have it running from just the leisure...is it totally separate, will i still be able to start the van at the end of my trip?

and thirdly? how many hours would i actually get out of it, i was hoping for at least a couple of days?

i'd be grateful for any help

thankyou

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 13 May 2007, 21:04

Electric fridge isn`t supposed to be wired to the LB. It`s usually wired to the main engine battery, through a relay so it only draws current when the engine is running, or it flattens the battrey double-quick. The heating element in the system is 85 watts, so if you divide 85W by 12V so that`s about how many amps it`s drawing from the battery (7 amps) If you have a 70 amp battery divide that by the current draw of the fridge (7 amps) that will give you the time the fridge should work before flattening the battery (10 hours). In the real world, it only takes a few volts drop to stop it working so expect to get a lot less than 10 hours.

3 way fridges are made the way they are because-
If on hook-up - use 240V
If NO hook-up - use gas
When travelling - use 12V

Mine doesn`t make any sort of noise when working, if I turn the thermostat switch down to zero then back up I can hear something click, so that`s when I know it`s working (not when on 12V though, thermo knob only works when on gas or 240V hook-up) Dioes it get cold? Is it a 3-way fridge?

Post by **happypixie** » 13 May 2007, 21:19

Hi,

well i had it fitted and am under the impression that the main battery charges the leisure which is wired to the fridge and doesn't draw anything from the main battery when the engine is switched off.

it doesn't seem to be getting cold but it does click so maybe i should leave it for longer than half hour and see...

yes it is a 3 way fridge, so is gas the best way to go?

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 13 May 2007, 22:48

As above. That`s the designed idea.

Post by **Other-Power** » 13 May 2007, 23:25

Run them on gas and they turn into a freezer lol.

Think the fan comes on when they are working really hard. ie when its really hot outside. Well mine does

Jon

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 14 May 2007, 06:32

happypixie wrote:yes it is a 3 way fridge, so is gas the best way to go?

Yes, definitely. If you're not driving around and you're camping somewhere without 240V hook-up then run the fridge on gas and avoid a flat battery.

Are you sure that its been wired up to run off the leisure battery?!

Tony

Website · Post by **dbroada** » 14 May 2007, 06:35

the information above is true - they draw too much current to work off 12v unless you have a LOT of batteries. About 2 or 3 a day!

They also need to be very level to work. Newer ones are less level sensitive than older ones but still don't like slopes. That (and to make the bed flat) is the main reason for those yellow wedges people use under the wheels. There would appear to be a big variation on how well they work on 12v anyway. Some people complain of them icing up, others complain that they don't get cold. Its best to think of the 12v as a maintain temperature mode.

They should be totally silent in all three modes.

Post by **happypixie** » 14 May 2007, 07:47

Yeah...it has been wired up to the leisure battery....

i'm kinda wondering why tho? was this a pointless thing? or is there a perfectly good reason for it?

Website · Post by **dbroada** » 14 May 2007, 08:27

As you now know you shouldn't run that fridge on 12v without the van engine. Many fridges are connected to the LB as people have assumed it can be run from a batery and that would seem the most appropriate one. At least you will only flatten the LB. If you were to have it connected to the main battery and left it on you would'nt get the van started. Does it go through a relay to prevent it being used when not driving? As my memory is not what it should be I can't rely on me throwing a switch so I use a relay. If you have a good memory you will be OK if you always remember to turn it off.

Post by **happypixie** » 14 May 2007, 08:36

i wasn't told about any switches so i presume that it does.

so in light of this...does anyone know where i could take it to get the fridge/cooker going?

Not quite sure if they even work or how they work with the gas, how to wire it all up etc, and the guy i got it from said to get the gas checked over first before i use it?

P.S. Thanks for the help everyone...i really appreaciate it!

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 14 May 2007, 08:37

Is it ok to run a fridge off gas whilst hooked up to 240v? Obviously with the fridge switched to gas

Post by **shepster** » 14 May 2007, 09:37

Post by **T'Onion** » 14 May 2007, 09:56

righto

12 volts = use while you are driving along , wired to the alternator via a split charger/zig/switch

240 volts = needs to be plugged into the main , so either at home ,genny or site (or the neighbours

) , or via a very long cable if you forget to un-plug it

Gas = when every your not driving or hooked up

only use one energy source at a time

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 14 May 2007, 10:00

shepster wrote:Yes.

Cheers, nice to meet you Shepster by the way

T'Onion, you say Gas to be used when not on Hook Up, do you mean running the fridge on hook up or just hooked up?

Need to check as we are away next week and the element is b*ggered on the fridge but the gas works fine.

Post by **T'Onion** » 14 May 2007, 10:27

Owen , if you are hooked up to the mains then you don't need to use gas to power the fridge .. you will however need to use the gas to cook on but not for the grill

your fridge is 3 way isnt it ?