Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all,

Need a guide here. Have a friend with a two way fridge (Devon Conversion) who is looking to run it off mains hook up. The van does not currently have any form of charging via hookup (another issue being fixed).

My understanding of the camping wiring is that the fridge is wired to the leisure batt which is fine when in motion but not great when stopped (at least not if you want lights). My question is this once the batt charger is in place would it be bad for the charger and batt if the fridge takes its power from the leisure batt and thus indirectly the mains?

Ta for the input.

No sorry
A two way fridge is what it is.
Gas or 12 volt (on the move)

Your theory would not work as the charger simply couldn't supply enough power.

Running the heating element in the fridge draws a lot of amps. The alternator is the only thing that can power it long enough to be of any use.

Use gas - you need 12 Amps or so for the fridge. You are looking for a 12V power supply rather than a battery charger if you want to run it off 230v hook up.

Wow...12 amps....that seems a little on the high side to me.

The Dometic RM122/123 and Electrolux RM122/123 are all fairly typical camping fridges and are rated at 75 watts, thats around 6 amps at 12.5 volts. Older units might be a little higher but not by much. You need to do a Google on your fridge and find it's 12volt rating, if it's as I suspect there is no real reason why it couldn't run through the leisure as long as the charger is rated several amps higher eg; 10 amp charger if the fridge is rated at 6 amps, 12 amp charger if the fridge is rated at 8 amps.
You don't want to be running the charger at 100% so a good rating higher than the likely discharge is advisable.


http://www.jacksons-camping.co.uk/cool/30,60,.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Amperor do an 18amp charger (MV3/180) for around £70.00 which would manage a fridge and camping electrics with ease.
I wouldn't want to be putting this sort of activity through a small battery though, 85ah or higher would be best.

Martin

So there you have it..
Your existing set up is not suitable.

But by spending a lot of money you will get it to work. Thanks martin

It seems simpler/easier to use the gas.

I have a RM212 and the measured current was 8.5 amps

Si_P wrote:My question is this once the batt charger is in place would it be bad for the charger and batt if the fridge takes its power from the leisure batt and thus indirectly the mains?

From the above info....a charger was planned....so if he wants it to run from 12 volts he will need to buy a sufficiently powerful charger to cope with the draw without running it at 100%.

As Kev has said....gas might be best.

Martin

Cheers for all the input it has been enlightening.

I agree that gas sounds like the more economic solution.

A fundamental change in electronics has been proposed over the winter Zig units etc a three way fridge may be on the cards.

you don't need to to buy a zig unit specifically

Hard wire a phased battery charger in (like the Lidl one £15) a maplin split charge relay with fridge terminal £7.00 and a 230V RCD unit for the hook up (few quid)
Just a thought