Amperor Battery Charger/Fridge Feed

[Chunksta]

Hiya folks,

In my journey of building Betty The Bus, one of the things I wanted to do was either replace the fridge for a three way version, i.e 240v/12v/gas, or get a charger/transformer.

The second option seemed for viable cost wise.

Just wondering if anyone else has tried the same, or maybe even fitted one of these units?

http://www.amperor-research.co.uk/batterychargers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mocki]

I don't quite understand what you are asking?
If you are suggesting using your fridge on 12v via a power supply unit whilst on mains hook up, then you will need a minimum of a 10amp supply just for the fridge , and if you we're going to spend that sort of cash, you may as well use it to power all your 12v stuff when you are hooked up too.

I have a similar one to this in my van, which takes over totally from the leisure battery as soon as the hook up is plugged in .
http://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/amateur-ra ... r-spa-8230" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ringo]

I too don't understand your problem. Is your fridge 12v only?
I'm not sure how it ever runs if you haven't got a battery charger fitted.

Anyway, I have an 18a amperor charger in my van and it works well at charging up my leisure batteries as soon as I plug in to the mains. I've had it for approx 2.5 years and zero issues.

Ringo

[Chunksta]

Steve,

The unit I posted looks like you can charge a battery and run a fridge at the same time from separate outputs, current drawing up to 18amp, good point about using all 12v stuff on there.

If all of my 12v stuff is wired back to the leisure battery, how does the unit divert the accumulated load away from the battery, or does it just keep the battery topped up while you use your 12v stuff?

I was thinking that given the fridge is such a heavy load (i normally only run it on 12v when the engine is running, it's wired into the main battery presently) it would make sense to add another switch to the feed cable to divert it to the charger output, but I've just had a lightbulb moment, I wouldn't need to if I fitted a split charge relay in as I could still turn the fridge on while on the move but feed it from the leisure battery instead!

[Chunksta]

Thanks Ringo,

The fridge is an old 12v/gas jobbie.

It works really well on either feeds.

If I get a split charge relay, as well as the Amperor, I can wire the fridge back to the leisure battery.

I need to go out and polish my Golf ready for Dubs At The Hall, and rest my dim brain.....

[Mocki]

It don't quite work like that, but with a couple of automotive relays you could get it to auto switch when you are hooked up and still run from the main battery as it should only when the engine is running .....

[ringo]

No need for all that. Wire the fridge up to the leisure battery permanently.

Wire the amperor up to the leisure battery. It charges the battery which in turn runs the fridge.

Ringo

[California Dreamin]

No need for all that. Wire the fridge up to the leisure battery permanently.

Wire the amperor up to the leisure battery. It charges the battery which in turn runs the fridge.

Ringo

Absolutely, until one day when you haven't got mains hookup you forget to swap the fridge over onto gas

Martin

[ringo]

Hmm. Good point.

I missed the bit about gas. Ignore me. Mocki's suggestion is the one I would go for.....

Ringo

[Chunksta]

No need for all that. Wire the fridge up to the leisure battery permanently.

Wire the amperor up to the leisure battery. It charges the battery which in turn runs the fridge.

Ringo

Absolutely, until one day when you haven't got mains hookup you forget to swap the fridge over onto gas

Martin

Thanks guys,

Yep I know what you mean, and there is a switch on the kitchen interior to switch the fridge on and off the electric.

Sussed a wiring route from leisure battery too.