camper electrical: 12v fridge wiring

Post by **wookey** » 16 Apr 2007, 13:31

Im about to wire in my fridge to the 12v.

After reading around I want to be able to rund the fridge from the van battery when engine is running, then switch to the lesure battery when stopped.

The relay I have is a NO/NC 30A jobbie. can I use this?

the obvious terminals are ground, control (from the alt charging wire blue).

So if 87 Is the normally open terminal 87a is normally closed, Can I connect +12v from the van battery to 87, +12v from the leisure battery to 87a and the fridge to 30?

will this work? just testing before i do it for real!

Post by **Horza** » 16 Apr 2007, 13:41

In my humble opinion you don't want to run the fridge from any battery when the engine isn't running and if you already have a split charge relay then the van and leisure batterys are basically the same thing while the engine is running in that they are connected at both poles.

So connect the fridge to the NO contact and the battery to the common so it is connected when the relay is triggered and not conected when it isn't.

If you run your fridge off the battery when not charging the the battery wont last very long at all. Also if it's a standard three or two way frige there is no thermostat on 12v and the fridge will just get colder and colder till your beer freezes.

Post by **Mocki** » 16 Apr 2007, 13:47

what he said!^^^^^^ cos i wasnt trying fast enough
if you run the fridge from the leisure battery when the engine isnt running the leisure battery will be flat in less than 2 hours.......

you should treat the fridge as a leisure battery when wiring it up, exactly the wiring as a split charge, but where the battery is in your diagram, the fridge will be.....

Post by **wookey** » 16 Apr 2007, 13:52

Horza wrote:In my humble opinion you don't want to run the fridge from any battery when the engine isn't running and if you already have a split charge relay then the van and leisure batterys are basically the same thing while the engine is running in that they are connected at both poles.

So connect the fridge to the NO contact and the battery to the common so it is connected when the relay is triggered and not conected when it isn't.

If you run your fridge off the battery when not charging the the battery wont last very long at all. Also if it's a standard three or two way frige there is no thermostat on 12v and the fridge will just get colder and colder till your beer freezes.

Its only a 12v/gas fridge and will run on 12v only(not cutting any more holes in my van!).

could do with a 3way one eventually, can you even get 240 ac - 12v dc 20amp converters?! think the fridge is rated at 15 or so amps

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 16 Apr 2007, 14:13

wookey wrote: Its only a 12v/gas fridge and will run on 12v only(not cutting any more holes in my van!).

Will still drain your fridge running off the 12v without the engine running

Post by **wookey** » 16 Apr 2007, 14:22

yeah I know. Not sure whats the long term fix for this. but my 75A/hr should give me at least 4 hours. hopefully the run will cool everything down plus 4 hours will keep the beer cool. Just need a high output 240/12 converter or something..

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 16 Apr 2007, 15:06

12v when on the go, engine running, switch over to gas when stopped. That`s the idea with the fridge anyway.

Post by **wookey** » 16 Apr 2007, 15:11

Westy.Club.Joker wrote:12v when on the go, engine running, switch over to gas when stopped. That`s the idea with the fridge anyway.

yeah I know but There is no way Im cutting anymore holes in my van just spent an age getting rid of them

guess its back to plan b

..plan b, park right next to the pub mm cold beer

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 17 Apr 2007, 21:39

Aren't you going to have to cut some holes anyway to put fridge vents in the side of your van (in which case, may as well put a flue[?] in as well), or is the fridge one of those with vents above and below at the front of the fridge?

Tony