fridge on while traveling across to Stander

[Billy192]

hi,
Are you able to leave the fridge on via an inverter during the 30hrs crossing?

Billy

 

[Richard n Ann]

What type of fridge is it?

 

[Badknee]

Freeze it down before you go. Leave frozen blocks in the fridge and it will be fine.
We make a pre cooked meal, freeze it and it will be nicely slow thawed and ready to eat on our arrival in Spain. The chilled food will not be harmed.

 

[Billy192]

dometic 3 way it only draws 55w so would be fine for 30hrs

 

[DBK]

dometic 3 way it only draws 55w so would be fine for 30hrs

If it's a 3 way fridge there is no chance it take only 55W when running on 240 volt. It's likely to something around 200W.

But as already mentioned you should be fine if you chill down before the journey and add some frozen stuff like milk.

 

[Riverbankannie]

dometic 3 way it only draws 55w so would be fine for 30hrs

Do you normally run it on the inverter ? Have you checked it will run for 30 hrs with no solar top up? I personally would not like to leave it on and risk battery discharge. As Badknee said, closed up, chilled contents will still be chilled if you add something frozen like blocks or pre-frozen bottles of water.

 

[Two on Tour]

dometic 3 way it only draws 55w so would be fine for 30hrs

The 240 volt heating element has a 125 or 190 watt draw and how are you intending to hook it up via your inverter ?

We freezer a 4 pinter bottle of milk and placed that in the fridge compartment which worked a treat in keeping it cool for the crossing.

 

[Neil S]

dometic 3 way it only draws 55w so would be fine for 30hrs

your leisure battery or batteries may well be exhausted long before you get to Santander if you run your 3 way fridge via an inverter

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[Billy192]

i have a switch over from shore to inverter. and my leisure is 300ah lithium, i shall do a test this week,

 

[Two on Tour]

i have a switch over from shore to inverter.

I would have thought that would only power your 240v sockets rather than your fridge as well.

 

[Riverbankannie]

i have a switch over from shore to inverter. and my leisure is 300ah lithium, i shall do a test this week,

That’s probably a good idea but only in the dark. ……
So your switch over comes before the fridge electrics and doesn’t just power your sockets?

 

[Riverbankannie]

I would have thought that would only power your 240v sockets rather than your fridge as well.

Oops writing at same time!

 

[Billy192]

i have it set up that the power going to the Sargent unit either comes from shore or inverter

 

[Billy192]

That’s probably a good idea but only in the dark. ……
So your switch over comes before the fridge electrics and doesn’t just power your sockets?

the hook up and inverter go into 32A 2 Pole 3 Position Changeover Switch
and out is the load to the 240 side of the van. the switch just passes from 1 = shore to 2 = inverter.

but only in the dark. … not sure what this means

32A 2 Pole 3 Position Changeover Switch IP65

Manually operated switch with 2 position and off facility

www.cef.co.uk

 

[autorouter]

I think the problem usually is that if it really simply switches so that the inverter powers everything, then the inverter will be powering the battery charger, which will be charging the batteries, which are powering the inverter...

However I have a similar arrangement - all loads powered by the inverter - but the inverter and charger are combined in one unit, so that loop doesn't happen. I think 300Ah is a bit marginal for a Santander crossing, but I suppose if the power runs out after 20 hours that's better than switching off right at the start of the crossing.

 

[Billy192]

I think the problem usually is that if it really simply switches so that the inverter powers everything, then the inverter will be powering the battery charger, which will be charging the batteries, which are powering the inverter...

However I have a similar arrangement - all loads powered by the inverter - but the inverter and charger are combined in one unit, so that loop doesn't happen. I think 300Ah is a bit marginal for a Santander crossing, but I suppose if the power runs out after 20 hours that's better than switching off right at the start of the crossing.

i have turned off the charger in the sargent so only supply van no loop

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[Spriddler]

Dup.

 

[Richard n Ann]

My charger is powered directly (via fused spur) by the ehu socket, avoiding the loop

 

[Richard n Ann]

The fridge will be fine switched off, just the freezer will defrost and you're not supposed to refreeze of course, having said that we did and were fine

 

[Billy192]

as i said just seeing what the art of poss is. its drawing 9.9amps. and as two on tour correctly said 132 w. (not sure where i saw 55)

how long will 300Ah lith last

 

[Lenny HB]

as i said just seeing what the art of poss is. its drawing 9.9amps. and as two on tour correctly said 132 w. (not sure where i saw 55)

how long will 300Ah lith last

View attachment 672874View attachment 672875View attachment 672876

Did you cover your solar panels or disconnect them before measuring?

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

If it's a 3 way fridge there is no chance it take only 55W when running on 240 volt. It's likely to something around 200W.

But as already mentioned you should be fine if you chill down before the journey and add some frozen stuff like milk.

Probably spot on
We returned home and the fridge was on battery as I turned the gas off at the tunnel.
Battery on 420 when we got home next day around lunchtime I went to empty out the van and it was less than 300ah!!

We have Portsmouth to Santander in May so will either turn it to low or stock it with frozen.

 

[Billy192]

Did you cover your solar panels or disconnect them before measuring?

yep

 

[Riverbankannie]

The OP has so much more information about his system than he divulged in that first teaser of a post! - still it has proved interesting.

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[Billy192]

The OP has so much more information about his system than he divulged in that first teaser of a post! - still it has proved interesting.

no just went and made sure the numbers were as i remembered, but i was way out on the watts
i will check at 10pm tomorrow night and see ( yes i will peep after work first)

 

[Lenny HB]

Your fridge will be running switching via the thermostat so will probably be on for 50 to 75% of the time it will depend on how hot is is on the car deck.
So at 75% you will have taken 222 ah out of your batteries. By the time you have boarded and disembarked and allowing an hour or two sails time variations, you will probably have a totally flat battery and Lithium's really don't like.

 

[Billy192]

no just went and made sure the numbers were as i remembered, but i was way out on the watts
i will check at 10pm tomorrow night and see ( yes i will peep after work first)

what i should have said in the first one was is it against any rules /laws

 

[Billy192]

Your fridge will be running switching via the thermostat so will probably be on for 50 to 75% of the time it will depend on how hot is is on the car deck.
So at 75% you will have taken 222 ah out of your batteries. By the time you have boarded and disembarked and allowing an hour or two sails time variations, you will probably have a totally flat battery and Lithium's really don't like.

ok thanks, freeze some milk then

 

[Lenny HB]

what i should have said in the first one was is it against any rules /laws

Running on gas is electric is fine.
Have you tried it on 12v smaller wattage element but should be OK and no inverter loses so will draw a lot less power.

 

[Billy192]

Running on gas is electric is fine.
Have you tried it on 12v smaller wattage element but should be OK and no inverter loses so will draw a lot less power.

how do i tell the fridge the engine is running lol