Club 80-90 Forums

Hello there, I'm new on here and about to go on my first weekend outing in our lovely new-to-us 1985 high top, Devon conversion. We are so excited!
My husband and I are new to all this and were wondering how best to run fridge efficiently. A friend said we should get it properly cold before we leave otherwise it won't stay cold enough..? Can anyone tell me the best plan of action?
We have gas and electric as far as I know...
Many thanks in advance.

Absorption fridges (if that's what it is?) have the ability to cool down to around 20 degrees less than ambient so their effectiveness is directly proportional to the surrounding temperature.
To give it the best possible chance, start it on gas or mains the night before, transfer pre-chilled food & drink from your house fridge directly into the camper. Try not to load it with warm stuff on site (only one beer at a time) as the unit will struggle to pull the temp down with larger volumes of 'warm stuffs.
Run on gas unless you have access to mains electric.
Don't use it on 12 volts unless you are travelling.
Shut the door immediately.

Martin

The fridge will freeze beer in a can, so it's very capable of sub zero temps.
our weather at the moment means it can reduce temperatures to - 3 to -10 at night.
so if you need the milk for tea in the morning don't run it on it's highest setting at night.

use it on gas, it's ace.
make sure you're quite level or it's not so efficient

Have a Carbon Monoxide alarm in the van. NOT a stupid card disc ... they tell the emergency services what killed you.

Ian

Excellent, thank you all.

...and Ian, thanks for tip. Will purchase alarm today. As a member of the emergency services you mention, I most definitely take your advice. I'm sure my colleagues will appreciate the gesture!

Annandamide wrote: As a member of the emergency services you mention, I most definitely take your advice. I'm sure my colleagues will appreciate the gesture!

Hi , my fridge doesn't run super cool, so to help it along I usually freeze a 1 litre or 2x half litre plastic milk cartons which help keep it cool and have the double advantage of making the milk last longer and I use it once defrosted. Works for me!

Hope you have a good first trip away.

Julia

Thank you! We just got back! Fridge worked really well. Thanks for your advice.
We love our van so much! So snug.

My fridge only works on electric so gonna have to see why it wont run on gas.
another job for the winter.

Mine appears only to run on gas. I need to check the 12v feed. Only supplies via relay when ignition is on (ie van is running). Might need a thermometer.

ScienceBoy wrote:. Only supplies via relay when ignition is on (ie van is running). Might need a thermometer.

Which is correct.

Badly written. Let me rephrase. That's how it's set up but I'm not sure the fridge itself is working off 12v.

ScienceBoy wrote:Badly written. Let me rephrase. That's how it's set up but I'm not sure the fridge itself is working off 12v.

OK so how long did you try it with the engine running for?

That's the thing, I haven't really taken notice since working out what the relay does, but I've never seen any ice or notice it was appreciably cold in there after a run. Hence the thermometer. I could see. Can't remember if I tested the power output from the relay either.

How long do need to run to feel a difference?

ScienceBoy wrote:That's the thing, I haven't really taken notice since working out what the relay does, but I've never seen any ice or notice it was appreciably cold in there after a run. Hence the thermometer. I could see. Can't remember if I tested the power output from the relay either.

How long do need to run to feel a difference?

At least an hour.