Running Fridge on gas, whilst driving.

Post by **ols** » 25 Jul 2006, 13:16

Another fridge question, I know.

I want to ask if it is completely crazy to run my fridge off gas whilst I am driving? Are you not supposed to do that?

Thing is I do, but if I open a window, even the quarterlight, then the fridge stops working and I have to stop and relight the beast. If I keep the windows closed the fridge stays on and my beer remains cold.

Is something blowing out?

Post by **OLD ONE** » 25 Jul 2006, 13:34

Post by **T2Andy** » 25 Jul 2006, 13:37

You are supposed to put it on 12v while driving, must admit when I am running on gas I usually remember to switch to 12v before leaving the camp site and then I tend to stick it back on gas at a car park if we are going to be longer than half hour and have many times forgot to switch back to 12v and have arrived back at camp site and it is still running on the gas ok.

I use to run the one in my old T2 Westy on gas all the time while driving as the 12v wasn't working too well.

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 25 Jul 2006, 13:42

Post by **Tex Ritter** » 26 Jul 2006, 15:58

ols wrote:Another fridge question, I know.

I want to ask if it is completely crazy to run my fridge off gas whilst I am driving? Are you not supposed to do that?

Thing is I do, but if I open a window, even the quarterlight, then the fridge stops working and I have to stop and relight the beast. If I keep the windows closed the fridge stays on and my beer remains cold.

Is something blowing out?

Good Heavens, definately a big NO NO!

Long shopping spree parking or waiting for the ferry is OK (once on board, your gas has to be turned off completely).

What's wrong with using your 12volt split relay system then? that's what it's for.

TR

Post by **TYG** » 27 Jul 2006, 10:06

Speak to Matt or Jen about forgetting to turn the gas off

nearly cost them EVERTHING and i mean everything ..

i must admit i do forget to turn it off , once left it on for 4 days

.. i could do with a sensor or something to tell el'thicko that its still alight

Post by **Horza** » 27 Jul 2006, 11:28

Good gravey!! Naked flames in Motor Vehicles being driven on the public highway! Other than lighting a fag you shouldn't do it.

In theory if the flame on your fridge is blown out the fridge should stop releasing gas due to the little thermowhatsit. In practice some of these fridges are a bit old and the thermowhatsit doesn't always failsafe.

Matt and Jen were very lucky IMHO, still an unfortunate incident! Don't push your luck. Good practice is to isolate your gas bottle before driving, usually at the regulator or the bottle. This means that if you have an accident you are much less likely to blow up!!

Post by **T2Andy** » 27 Jul 2006, 13:39

TheTick wrote:Speak to Matt or Jen about forgetting to turn the gas off nearly cost them EVERTHING and i mean everything ..

i must admit i do forget to turn it off , once left it on for 4 days .. i could do with a sensor or something to tell el'thicko that its still alight

My Westy has a little light on the control panel that tells you its on gas, the problem is that you have to swicth the control panel on to see it. Could do with something taken from that link to display up front when you turn the ignition on.

Mmmmm, will have to have a look in to that.

Post by **ols** » 27 Jul 2006, 15:58

So I'm thinking I should investigate this 12V relay business and view the gas being blown out as an act of providence.

...

Can someone explain to me what this 12V relay business is about?

The fridge is your standard 84 Westy, three-way thing, I'm guessing selecting the battery option is the best for driving but what does the relay do?

Post by **Grun** » 27 Jul 2006, 16:43

ols,
This is a good thread to take a look at.

Here

Mike

Post by **HarryMann** » 27 Jul 2006, 16:46

The relay is simply a high-current switch triggered by a low current source.
The trip current is from the generator charge light connection usually, so that as soon as you start up and she starts generating, the relay is switched closed, so providing current to the charging circuits or in this case your fridge. Whent he charging voltage disappears from the relays trip circuit, the relay is switched open circuit, stopping the battery being drained.
The high current switch side of the relay is connected to your main battery power feed in the van, via a suitably rated fuse... and then onto the fridge or whatever needs thje power.

A cheap setup like this (15A) could be bought from a MotoShop for less than a tenner, often ostensibly for split-charging a caravan battery. Better ones would be rated at 30A. Make sure you use adequately sized cable and fuse the main battery power feed into the relay.

See the Wiki...

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 27 Jul 2006, 16:47

OLS as yours is a 3 way Westy fridge, then your fridge is designed to work on the 12v whilst driving along and the Zig Unit (black box under the seat) will charege up the battery whilst you drive. Having the gas on whilst driving is not only very dangerous is stupendoulsy illegal!

I've got an 83 Westy and the fridge works fine on 12v whilst driving, especially if its a long journey (over an hour). A good way to kick start the cooling is to pop in a coulpe of freezer blocks.

Where are you in London?

Post by **Tex Ritter** » 27 Jul 2006, 18:46

I've put an additional light on my dash to tell me that the fridge is running on 12v whilst on the move, I kept fogetting to switch power source but not now.....now I just wonder "what's that light for again?"

Tex Ritter

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Running Fridge on gas, whilst driving.

Running Fridge on gas, whilst driving.

Running Fridge on gas, whilst driving

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