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quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 13:37
by cholmes
Hi,
We've just bought a T25 (which we love!). I have a quick basic question I was hoping someone could help with:
When driving is it best to run the fridge off of the leasure battery or lpg? or does it not matter?
Any advice much appreciated
Thank you,
Chris
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 15:06
by lloydy
Leccie, as gas should be isolated when moving. Fridge will be connected to starter battery, and will only work when engine is running. That s if its wired up correctly

Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 17:11
by Oldiebut goodie
I have always run mine off gas. A lot of people do - some camper manuals state that you can.
Elf and safety can get stuffed - there is more risk from a tank of petrol under your backside! If I am cooking something in the oven I don't turn the gas off just because I am moving.
I live in the real world not the namby pamby nanny state.

Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 17:13
by Plasticman
Again its preference to me . I do and switch it off for filling up (oiler so not often) and I too have stuff in the oven doing for when we arrive,
mike
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 18:40
by geordie skydiver
I drove all around on our Scandopian adventure with the fridge running on gas for 3 weeks.
Cold beer every night!
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 18:53
by Mr Bean
The actual risk is liquid gas getting into the regulator as it swills around under driving conditions and then through to the burner jet where instead of getting a little blue flame you could get a large yellow flame thrower type of effort. This is the same effect seen in parafin or petrol stoves when you pump them before the burner is preheated. In my opinion this is a significant hazard. Considering the simplicity of a relay interlocked feed to the fridge so as only to power the fridge while the alternator is running I think this is a no brainer. Unless of course the gas equipment suppliers would underwrite the practice.
Cheers
Wolfie
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 19:17
by Oldiebut goodie
"liquid gas" = oxymoron

Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 20:05
by bigherb
Oldiebut goodie wrote:I have always run mine off gas. A lot of people do - some camper manuals state that you can.
Elf and safety can get stuffed - there is more risk from a tank of petrol under your backside! If I am cooking something in the oven I don't turn the gas off just because I am moving.
I live in the real world not the namby pamby nanny state.

Hope I'm not next to you when I'm filling up in a petrol station.
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 21:14
by Oldiebut goodie
Duh, it's turned off before you enter - use your common sense. Same as metalmickey.
I hope that I am not next to you if you cannot understand the basics of safety.

Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 22:00
by ajp
The other problem with running your fridge on gas when your driving is that its highly unlikely that the flue will draw properly and you will just slowly fill the back of the van with CO. Not that great a problem on nice days when the windows are open but when its raining it may have one or two fatal side affects
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 22:25
by Plasticman
pure conjecture,opinion or proven fact
mike

Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 22:39
by lhd
ajp wrote:The other problem with running your fridge on gas when your driving is that its highly unlikely that the flue will draw properly and you will just slowly fill the back of the van with CO. Not that great a problem on nice days when the windows are open but when its raining it may have one or two fatal side affects
I totally agree with the oldie but nice guy.
When your driving the air outside is moving so therefore has less air pressure than the air in your van, law of physics says that while you are moving the exhaust gas from the fridge will actually be being sucked out.
I'm sure Westfalia wouldn't have printed in their manual that it's ok to drive whilst on gas if it wasn't.....
I have never had any problems and have an up to date British gas CO detector which has never gone off.
I always turn it off before refilling not only for fire risk but also as the filling tanks usually blow loads of ssshit into your reg, thus fridge jet.
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 22:49
by Plasticman
Thanks for putting my mind at rest Rob, I sure dont want to risk dying
mike
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 23:03
by ajp
Boilers and fire flues in areas of very high winds often won't draw without special cowls. Why would the van flue at speed be any different? You choice, personally couldn't care less how you run your fridge but the original question asked for advice. So I gave my opinion.
Re: quick ques: running fridge off battery or lpg when driving
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 23:07
by jed the spread
lhd wrote:ajp wrote:The other problem with running your fridge on gas when your driving is that its highly unlikely that the flue will draw properly and you will just slowly fill the back of the van with CO. Not that great a problem on nice days when the windows are open but when its raining it may have one or two fatal side affects
I totally agree with the oldie but nice guy.
When your driving the air outside is moving so therefore has less air pressure than the air in your van, law of physics says that while you are moving the exhaust gas from the fridge will actually be being sucked out.
I'm sure Westfalia wouldn't have printed in their manual that it's ok to drive whilst on gas if it wasn't.....
I have never had any problems and have an up to date British gas CO detector which has never gone off.
I always turn it off before refilling not only for fire risk but also as the filling tanks usually blow loads of ssshit into your reg, thus fridge jet.
Gunna argue with you here mofo. Didnt westfalia say its ok to use the gas while driving? I drive my van on the odd jaunty angle and if the fridge works perfectly well in these conditions
Bit steeper than a road with tar mac &
Bit of mud I would say its ok especially on calm roads if mine will work with its ar*e in the air
jed