3 way fridge cooling whilst driving.

[seesaw]

We are getting a new M/H at the start of next month and we were wondering how well the fridge keeps cold whilst travelling.
Reason I am asking is for my wife's medication which has to be stored at 4 degrees Celsius.
Had caravans for years and when travelling the fridge seemed to struggle to maintain temperature.
Is it the same in the M/H that it is being powered by the starter battery?
Cheers
Sid

 

[Larby]

Freeze some bottles of water overnight and place in fridge to keep it colder when travelling.

 

[Diabalo]

Probably best to run the fridge overnight or at leaste for a few hours before you set up as its for meds, these fridges take awhile to get down to tempreture. What Larby said does help.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We are getting a new M/H at the start of next month and we were wondering how well the fridge keeps cold whilst travelling.
Reason I am asking is for my wife's medication which has to be stored at 4 degrees Celsius.
Had caravans for years and when travelling the fridge seemed to struggle to maintain temperature.
Is it the same in the M/H that it is being powered by the starter battery?
Cheers
Sid

It should be fine, our 2014 vans fridge worked perfectly while driving. One time I put a digital thermometer in the freezer and from a warm start and 2 hour drive home the freezer was at minus 12°c

 

[Lenny HB]

Modern fridges have bigger 12v elements and are thermostaticly controlled and work far better than the older ones.

But 4° in any caravan or Motorhome fridge will be very difficult to maintain 6° is more the norm.

Probably safer to get one of these, also useful for the beer.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B091KWF7G9/?tag=mhf04-21

 

[tonka]

Maybe consider investing in a small 12v compressor fridge (not a cool box). They easily maintain the temperature, also cool down quickly.
Run from a 12v cigarette socket.

Back up for cold beers as well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BVDQV4DF/?tag=mhf04-21

 

[JockandRita]

We are getting a new M/H at the start of next month and we were wondering how well the fridge keeps cold whilst travelling.
Reason I am asking is for my wife's medication which has to be stored at 4 degrees Celsius.
Had caravans for years and when travelling the fridge seemed to struggle to maintain temperature.
Is it the same in the M/H that it is being powered by the starter battery?
Cheers
Sid

We've been carrying Rita's injection meds for several years now, which have to be stored at temperatures of anywhere from 2 - 7 degrees celcius. Since replacing the thermo gel behind the fridge fins, we are able to do that easily whilst travelling on the 12v setting.
We use a digital thermometer to give us an accurate fridge temperature, with the sensor attatched to a metal tin, rather than the plastic wall of the fridge. It was initially supplied by the medication providers, and we have since replaced it, like for like.

This particular thermometer has the advantage of a room sensor too, which I find handy first thing in the morning, ie, heating on or not.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[oldiesontour]

I have a 12v compressor cool box , happily stays at the chosen temperature,I run it as a freezer, leaving the new 3 way for a fridge,
Against the trend I removed and sold the 4 month old compressor fridge.I now have a choice.....In my opinion it doesn't matter how many or what type of batteries and solar you have under the wrong circumstances you can be at least inconvenienced by lack of volts.
I only have 640w solar and 250ah battery bank and b2b.
I'm sure others will be along to advise against 3way and much bigger(battery bank lithium)
and depending on the individual circumstances/need .. quite rightly.
Horses for courses

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[Guigsy]

3 way fridges running on electric can be a little under powered (and yet they pull tons of current). Bringing the temperature down can be difficult for them. So loading the fridge with pre-cooled items and running the fridge for a bit before you leave (from hook-up electric or gas if you can't) will give the fridge an easier time. Once cooled, it should maintain the temperature fine.

 

[seesaw]

Thanks for all the helpful comments, much appreciated.
Cheers
Sid

 

[gus-lopez]

When travelling in Spain in the summer with sun on the fridge side I just buy a bag of ice from any garage & lay it in the bottom having double bagged it. Works a treat

 

[VXman]

what make /model fridge is it? My Thetford N4000 series is excellent on 12v. Keeps it at 0 or 1 degree at the top of the fridge. As others have said you need to pre cool it on mains or gas first - I usually put it on 24 hours before I leave. But once it is there it stays there.

 

[cyberyacht]

When travelling in Spain in the summer with sun on the fridge side I just buy a bag of ice from any garage & lay it in the bottom having double bagged it. Works a treat

Wouldn't it be better at the top of the fridge as the cooler air drops.