Refrigerator switch

[nesty]

Hi

ok maybe a stupid question.

I am going camping for the 1st time in my T25 next week, but never until now explored the switches for camping etc.

On my dashboard I have a switch marked refrigerator. I take it common practice to do this. Would the switch activate the refrigerator to run off the leisure battery?

Nesty

[1664]

No. You can't run the fridge off the leisure battery. (well you can but it'll flatten it in next to no time as it pulls about 10amp)

I should imagine the switch is in place of a relay which will allow you to run the fridge via the alternator as you're driving along. Crap way of doing things 'cos if you forget to switch it off once you stop it'll flatten the leisure battery. It might even flatten the van battery too if they're not separated by a relay linked to the ignition.

[nesty]

The van does have split relay charge. I might as well run the fridge of the gas then.

[tonytech]

Dont run the fridge off gas while you are driving . A member here got quite severe burns, driving off with the fridge still lit caused a small fire in the back.

Accepted practice is to cool the fridge down at home, either using gas, mains or lemonade bottles of ice.
Switch to elec for driving.
Switch to gas on the camp site.

[Mocki]

it is common to find a switch for the fridge on the dash, its job is to activate the fridge when driving on 12v, all it does is switch the relay on so that the fridge works only when the engine is running.......

[Holydiver]

Dont run the fridge off gas while you are driving . A member here got quite severe burns, driving off with the fridge still lit caused a small fire in the back.


Why does it say in my westy handbook that it's safe to drive whilst running the fridge on gas??

[Mocki]

i dunno, but its not safe, and it is illegal too...........
i was there when that fridge and petrol fumes mixed, it was scary, and i was 20 yrds away....... imagine how scary it was for the occupants.......