Club 80-90 Forums

Just wondered if there is a way of running a 12V fridge through some transformer/inverter when your hooked up to 240V at a campsite or from a genny.

I guess there must be something as obviously you can do it the other way round with an inverter to run 240v from 12v.

Also does the van need to be level for operating the fridge on 12v like it has to for gas?

Thanks

Simon

I have alway thought an easy option would be a good size car battery charger.

Needs to turn out around 10 amps though, depending on the fridge I guess.

Would seem to be a dual purpose bit of kit.

Mike

hightower wrote:Just wondered if there is a way of running a 12V fridge through some transformer/inverter when your hooked up to 240V at a campsite or from a genny.

like you put a transformer would be your best bet it would only run from a battery for a couple of hours tops before the battery would be totally flat and had it!!!!

i have a 12v box which plugs into 240 v, i use it to run my coolbox when on hookup. Got it from halfords. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... ryId_33951 kathy

I`ve also got one of those transformers for a coolbox. You need to check how many amps it will put out if you are thinking of running a 12V fridge off it. The usual 12V fridge element is around 85Watts, so that`s drawing over 7amps, which is pretty high. That`s why a 12V battery doesn`t last long on a fridge if not hooked up to a charger.

just remembered i have one of those coolbox transformers too , i may have to do some digging through Maplins website/catalogue to see what sort of amps/wattage they go upto.

just thought it would be a good idea if already using an electric hookup on a campsite or at home to pre-cool the fridge rather than use the gas.

I'm sure in due course i will probably upgrade to a 3 way fridge but would be useful for this season as a couple of campsites we are going to use include hookup in the pitch fee.

Should have the elctrical info on a label on the unit.

What fridge is it? If it's an absorption fridge it must be level or within 3 degrees irrespective of whether it is on gas, 12V or 240V. On 12V the vehicle is expected to be in motion and this helps to maintain circulation.
Compressor fridges are not tilt sensitive.

If you have a Dometic/Electrolux two way fridge (Gas/12V) and want to use it on 240V then I would change the 12V element for a 95W 240V element and run it off an Inverter when your driving. Just switch it off occaisionaly to stop it over freezing.

http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/carava ... idges.aspx

Yes its a 2 way Electrolux absorption type. its probably the same age as the van (24 years) so will probably be due for changing in the near future.

Is there some fancy gadget that shows how far out from the 3 degrees your van is parked or do you just use a 2 way spirit level and hope for the best?

hightower wrote:
Is there some fancy gadget that shows how far out from the 3 degrees your van is parked or do you just use a 2 way spirit level and hope for the best?

Glass of beer set on the top/worktop perhaps

Mike

Diddy spirit level fine, glass of beer even better but check its level before you drink it, after a few everything will be skewiff and you won't give a damn!

Don't know what type of fridge you have but I'm looking at my westy fridge manual and it says it should work on a slope of up to 15 degrees.

I have no idea what the westy has fitted, thought that they all used Dometic/Electrolux. After 1986, Electrolux described the new models as 'Tilt Tolerant'. The figure of 3 degrees I suspect is the one that the fridge will continue to work efficiently at. Over 3 degrees (6 degrees on the later models) the efficiency starts to fall. The problem is when circulation stops due to the incline and the ammonia solution begins to overheat. It could well be a max 15 degrees, that is the one figure I have never seen printed, not by Electrolux anyway. Have to say that I have used my fridge at inclines over 3 degrees and it worked but may be not as well as it could.

I picked up a an 8amp battery charger from a car boot for £2.50 then fitted a female lighter socket onto it, runs a coolerbox fine (note that most chargers are only 4amps) It chargers around 14.5 volts but then so do most modern cars and these cooler boxes are designed to run in situe with the car running.
Mines like the bottom one on this link, if you go this route then go 8amp minimum.
http://www.motoristwebshop.co.uk/acatal ... RGERS.html
Martin