Do you leave 12v on when traveling

n8ess

n8ess

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Do you have to leave the 12v on when traveling, the question is mainly aimed at powering the fridge when the setting is on the cab battery?
 
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Verteuil Man said:
The refrigerator should only be powered by a feed from the alternator when travelling.
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I would say that the fridge is usually powered from a battery, could be leisure or could be starter, all the alternator does is send a signal that the fridge can run on 12v and then it supports it with a charge, some fridges will run on 12v when you switch it manually and then doesn’t need the alternator, I suppose I am talking about AES fridges.
 
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I think in most cases you don't have to leave the 12v on when travelling, though it shouldn't matter if you do.

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With my AES Dometic,I have to turn dial to 12v,or to Auto,but I do not need to leave the main hab control panel switched on.
 
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On our Hymer the 12v control panel - on or off - has no effect on the fridge running on 12 v battery while driving. Usually run with it off, in case I have left a light on somewhere.
 
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Our UK Motorhome sorts out the fridge’s 12v supply when engine is on.
Rest of habitat electrics are isolated with the ignition engaged.
Never needed the habitat area powered when driving so handy that the fridge is on its own circuit
 
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Folkranger said:
Don't know any reason to turn off 12v when travelling.
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Neither do I , so dont. The Fridge is on auto so does its thing. Most of what ive added (BMV712, Water Leds, Arduino, additional USB,12V sockets etc are powered from my additional fuse boxes (one lesuire one cab ))
 
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Folkranger said:
Don't know any reason to turn off 12v when travelling.
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the1andonly said:
Neither do I , so dont. The Fridge is on auto so does its thing. Most of what ive added (BMV712, Water Leds, Arduino, additional USB,12V sockets etc are powered from my additional fuse boxes (one lesuire one cab ))
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What’s needed to be on in the back area when driving? 🤔
 
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Verteuil Man said:
The refrigerator should only be powered by a feed from the alternator when travelling.
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Why? A Brit thing again, every van we have had you can have the fridge running of the hab battery.
If it was only powered by the alternator there would be no point in have the S+ connection on the fridge for running the fridge of 12v when there is plenty of solar avaliable, which is what we do.

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Lenny HB said:
Why? A Brit thing again, every van we have had you can have the fridge running of the hab battery.
If it was only powered by the alternator there would be no point in have the S+ connection on the fridge for running the fridge of 12v when there is plenty of solar avaliable, which is what we do.
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Mine is a 2003 Hymer Dometic 3 way fridge, l understand it needs to run on 12v & gas off grid, but l don’t quite understand how it charges from the battery alone, if that was the case, could l just leave the 12v on whilst travelling as it would be topped up by the solar?
 
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Always leave the control panel turned permanently on, only turn it off when working on the electrics.
I just turn the fridge off on the fridge control panel.

I occasionally turn the panel off if we are away without the van but only if I remember.
 
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n8ess said:
Mine is a 2003 Hymer Dometic 3 way fridge, l understand it needs to run on 12v & gas off grid, but l don’t quite understand how it charges from the battery alone, if that was the case, could l just leave the 12v on whilst travelling as it would be topped up by the solar?
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With the year of your van I'm not sure if your van will be wired with a perminant high power feed to the fridge.
 
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the1andonly said:
Control systems for starters, and any thing else that might require power , charging stuff ,slow cooker.
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Thanks for the feedback.
Never having a Motorhome that didn’t isolate the 12v with the ignition on, we just don’t have stuff that needs to be on while moving. Certainly nothing cooking 👀👍🏻
When we stop for a break in the journey, we do have to nip out to turn the gas on for the fridge tho. 🤣
 
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Power to the MiFi is handy while traveling.

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I'm with Lenny HB in that my 12V is permamently on except when working on it and switch off at fridge. My van is kept 3 steps ( dont even need slippers) from my front porch and at night i want to open hab door flick light switch and be in doing whatever. My power system can more than make up for my foibles. If i had a British van i would soon be asking how to disable the disabling method.
What i could do with is a method to disable the CBE LEDs to have a totaly dark system except when wanting otherwise. Currently have to use a blackout blind to lift up.
 
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Ours disarms itself when the engine is started. Fridge is then fed directly from the alternator.

I installed extra USB sockets to use when the engine is running and others when we’ve stopped and turned on the 12v again.
 
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In my Swift , the only things that work on 12v when the ignition is on in the hab area are the fridge and 2x spotlights above the travel seats . All other 12v power is disabled.
 
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I honestly cannot remember the last time I switched off my control panel. Fridge yes as I leave it vented but cp panel n all that are on and ready to be used as soon as I walk in. I only switch off in the winter if it gets cold enough as I drain down the water and leave the taps open. Then I have a sign on the control panel to remind me taps open so I can close them before switching on panel. 👍🏻
 
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Zigisla said:
I honestly cannot remember the last time I switched off my control panel. Fridge yes as I leave it vented but cp panel n all that are on and ready to be used as soon as I walk in. I only switch off in the winter if it gets cold enough as I drain down the water and leave the taps open. Then I have a sign on the control panel to remind me taps open so I can close them before switching on panel. 👍🏻
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I can't remember the last time I turned it off either.......saying that though I don't remember that last time I turned it on either.
I must be getting old.
 
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Panel off when the van's not in use, this allows the taps to be left open and vent the feed pipes. I don't know, but assume the over wintering scenario is also appropriate for the summer as well when any moisture left in the pipes is more likely to turn to unwanted deposits on the pipe inner surface a lot quicker ? 🤷‍♂️
Mike.
 
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Always leave mine on..my WiFi router plugs iron it and my radio is an android unit that uses the internet for my listening when driving.
Then sometimes I'm charging my laptop or my better halves leccy bike
 
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Turning off the 12v when the engine is running is a UK thing because it is a requirement of the NCC (the middle C stands for Caravan). That is why most, if not all, UK converters do so. It may be sensible for a caravan, with nobody in it while the tow car engine is on, but daft for a motorhome IMHO. Our previous Adria and present Hymer keep the 12v on until we choose to switch it off. That enables us to charge stuff while we drive along. And we can keep the Alde heating on using the engine heat exchanger to keep all of the motorhome warm and have hot water when we stop.
 
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