here is the plan, can anything foreseen go wrong ?

suavecarve

suavecarve

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We have a new van but unfortunately the fridge on gas is a disaster.
That is a separate issue which is "being resolved"
It wont be resolved before our next holiday at end of August.
We normally only use aires and normally free ones

Plan A involves campsites using ACSI and costing 400 euros for 20 nights or similar
Plan B involves aires and trusting we can get there in time to get one of the leccy posts and paying x euros per night but obviously limiting where we can go
Plan C involves Plan A and Plan B

Plan D. Currently have 220 amps of Gel. 370 watts of solar and a B2B which is lithium ready as is the solar. I have access to a 12 volt freezer. I have several ice blocks possibly 24 but can increase. The plan includes buying 200 amps of lithium for 649 pounds off amazon (2 year warranty 7 positive reviews no negatives and appears genuine). Thinking buying the lithium which is more or less a drop in (width of battery slightly too big but easily rectifiable) then feeding via the inverter into the mains (have the lead) and topping up at intervals (couple of hours at a time) and in between using half the ice blocks to keep fridge level down but keeping the ice blocks in the 12 volt freezer. Battery also required for E bikes and have easily recharged both on a daily basis from the 220 amps of Gel without denting the batteries.
Checked today and took 2 hours for 240 volts to bring fridge down to 3.9 from 17. Using ice blocks overnight (with no power source) to see how temperature holds

My thoughts are I could be spending 100-400 nicker on electricity beyond what we normally pay, and that could be put towards the lithium (which is in the planning and not a problem financially just preferred not to do it yet)

Can anyone see fault with the plan or has a further cunning plan (I dont really want to wire it up the fridge permanently to 240 via inverter from batteries as this is a temporary thing)

Cheers
 
That must be some gas problem if it can't be fixed before the end of August!
 
Nigel Bayley said:
The only comment I would make is why is the fridge a problem on gas? We regularly use our Dometic tower jobby on gas and it is better than hook up.
Click to expand...

dunnah01 said:
That must be some gas problem if it can't be fixed before the end of August!
Click to expand...
VXman had similar problems with his Thetford fridge took over a year to get sorted.
 
That's very cheap for a 200 amp lithium and also a very short warranty 🤷

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We have been on a few Aires in France and most had no electric ,some had free electric but not many and some pay electric but expensive
Those with electric sometimes don't have any spare outlets ,all being taken by folks on there already..
It would be better to fix your fridge,if it works on electric should work on gas ok. And plenty of refillable LPG in France and Spain.
 
Nigel Bayley said:
The only comment I would make is why is the fridge a problem on gas? We regularly use our Dometic tower jobby on gas and it is better than hook up.
Click to expand...

Simple -Because it has a fault affecting the gas system.
 
dunnah01 said:
That must be some gas problem if it can't be fixed before the end of August!
Click to expand...
We have a magnificent flame. Truly beautiful.
It works fantastically on 240 and adequately on 12.
The burner was changed and it worked...for a fortnight.
Thetford are scratching their heads and next plan is either to change baffle or fridge. If former and it doesn't work then latter is in the pipeline, but work cannot be completed before August owing to staff holidays.
It is what it is hence a temporary solution.
We suspect same issue as VXman

Itsmcb it is very cheap and would prefer longer warranty but I like my money !!! Dodgy or not ?


12V Lifepo4 Battery, 200AH Series/Parallel Lithium Batteries, Upgraded BMS, Lighweight Small Size Perfect for RV, Marine, Trolling Motor, Solar, Van Life, Back Up Power & Off Grid Applications https://amzn.eu/d/h4z7No9
 
suavecarve said:
We have a new van but unfortunately the fridge on gas is a disaster.
That is a separate issue which is "being resolved"
It wont be resolved before our next holiday at end of August.
We normally only use aires and normally free ones

Plan A involves campsites using ACSI and costing 400 euros for 20 nights or similar
Plan B involves aires and trusting we can get there in time to get one of the leccy posts and paying x euros per night but obviously limiting where we can go
Plan C involves Plan A and Plan B

Plan D. Currently have 220 amps of Gel. 370 watts of solar and a B2B which is lithium ready as is the solar. I have access to a 12 volt freezer. I have several ice blocks possibly 24 but can increase. The plan includes buying 200 amps of lithium for 649 pounds off amazon (2 year warranty 7 positive reviews no negatives and appears genuine). Thinking buying the lithium which is more or less a drop in (width of battery slightly too big but easily rectifiable) then feeding via the inverter into the mains (have the lead) and topping up at intervals (couple of hours at a time) and in between using half the ice blocks to keep fridge level down but keeping the ice blocks in the 12 volt freezer. Battery also required for E bikes and have easily recharged both on a daily basis from the 220 amps of Gel without denting the batteries.
Checked today and took 2 hours for 240 volts to bring fridge down to 3.9 from 17. Using ice blocks overnight (with no power source) to see how temperature holds

My thoughts are I could be spending 100-400 nicker on electricity beyond what we normally pay, and that could be put towards the lithium (which is in the planning and not a problem financially just preferred not to do it yet)

Can anyone see fault with the plan or has a further cunning plan (I dont really want to wire it up the fridge permanently to 240 via inverter from batteries as this is a temporary thing)

Cheers
Click to expand...

We had a similar problem with our brand new Thetford fridge. Mainly due to the incompetent dealer it took us a year to resolve. We did 2 months in France and Spain last year without it working on Gas. We survived by using campsites with EHU but we did manage 2/3 nights off grid with the use of cool packs frozen in the freezer when on grid and then transfer to the fridge when off grid.

For our last trip before we finally got a new fridge we did buy a inverter/extra battery (3 in total plus a solar panel) and used that to power the fridge (EHU off the inverter) We couldn't leave it on permanently but it did work for a few hours at a time - keeping an eye on the batteries. I didn't mind spending that money as I viewed it as a useful addition for the long term. So I think your Lithium route might be a wise one.

We are trying to get the dealer to refund us the cost of our battery/inverter as a gesture of goodwill. ::bigsmile: Not much response at the moment. :rolleyes:
 
A thing to look for on some of the more smaller French sites is the EHU has a very low amp supply. Many nly supply 4 or 6amp and you have to pay more for say 10 or 12 amp.

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suavecarve said:
We have a magnificent flame. Truly beautiful.
It works fantastically on 240 and adequately on 12.
The burner was changed and it worked...for a fortnight.
Thetford are scratching their heads and next plan is either to change baffle or fridge. If former and it doesn't work then latter is in the pipeline, but work cannot be completed before August owing to staff holidays.
It is what it is hence a temporary solution.
We suspect same issue as VXman

Itsmcb it is very cheap and would prefer longer warranty but I like my money !!! Dodgy or not ?


12V Lifepo4 Battery, 200AH Series/Parallel Lithium Batteries, Upgraded BMS, Lighweight Small Size Perfect for RV, Marine, Trolling Motor, Solar, Van Life, Back Up Power & Off Grid Applications https://amzn.eu/d/h4z7No9
Click to expand...

Interesting - sounds so much like ours. Wonder if this is a bigger problem with Thetford. What model fridge? Ours is/was the N4142E+
 
VXman said:
We are trying to get the dealer to refund us the cost of our battery/inverter as a gesture of goodwill. ::bigsmile: Not much response at the moment. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Fully aware of your issue and followed closely, nice effort in getting dealer goodwill gesture, as you know, havent gone through dealer with mine owing to geography but a very good Thetford approved local repairman, who has to take the advice given to him by Thetford.

Nice to hear yours is up and running, I m only on 3 months and no real rush after the next holiday.
 
VXman said:
Interesting - sounds so much like ours. Wonder if this is a bigger problem with Thetford. What model fridge? Ours is/was the N4142E+
Click to expand...
It is the N4000 series. Supposed to be all singing all dancing but unfortunately no music !

It is the big fridge with the pull out draw at the bottom and internal freezer at the top, came without fans (which are now fitted to top vent).

I certainly made reference to the repairman about your fridge and the baffle issue (which they (thetford) arent admitting) *baffle issue is some were made and they forgot to put it in. My man cant get his camera down there to check without removal of fridge
 
I suggest a compressor cool box. They are not cheap although someone posted here about one which was a lot less than the Dometic ones.

We have the Dometic CDF26 which sits behind the passenger seat when travelling then I move it to between the front seats when we stop. You can get bigger ones but they......take up more space. :)

I use ours all the time, running it off a transformer in my office as a booze 'fridge.

Amazon UK are selling them a little under £400 but I fear they will cost more in France.
 
You could consider Camping Car Park Aires.

They have EHU and are abt 1/2 price of ACSI.

Perhaps use your freezer blocks to freeze when you have ehu and keep fridge cool when not?

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Last edited:
What about one of the compressor portable fridges a few Funster have bought recently I think they were £130, your Gels & solar should cope with that.

Edit:
DBK a bit quicker than me tonight.
 
Last edited:
I think I would go with plan D but without the lithium. Your plan of using ice blocks overnight to keep fridge cool seems reasonable and you have the whopping amount of solar in the day to keep topping up the batteries with the fridge on 240 through inverter.
Only drive to sunny places 🙂
If it all goes wrong there is always the fall back of a campsite.
I couldn’t work out if the lithiums you describe are your permanent final choice or some sort of stop gap.
 
DBK said:
I suggest a compressor cool box. They are not cheap although someone posted here about one which was a lot less than the Dometic ones.

We have the Dometic CDF26 which sits behind the passenger seat when travelling then I move it to between the front seats when we stop. You can get bigger ones but they......take up more space. :)

I use ours all the time, running it off a transformer in my office as a booze 'fridge.

Amazon UK are selling them a little under £400 but I fear they will cost more in France.
Click to expand...
FiL has one but its the freezer version and thats what we will use to keep the ice blocks frozen and act as the quick freeze for beer and keeping ice cream. Fits between and under the beds with permanent 12 volt supply from bedroom telly socket
 
From any other supplier I might be very reluctant to buy something so much cheaper than any others but Amazon customer service is really very good and you could easily get your money refunded if the battery was faulty in any way.

Do you actually need the 12v freezer I wonder? How long would that battery power your existing fridge running via an inverter? Would your solar keep it charged up considering there are around 16 hours of daylight at this time of year? Possibly with the occasional night on EHU to fully recharge.

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Riverbankannie said:
I think I would go with plan D but without the lithium. Your plan of using ice blocks overnight to keep fridge cool seems reasonable and you have the whopping amount of solar in the day to keep topping up the batteries with the fridge on 240 through inverter.
Only drive to sunny places 🙂
If it all goes wrong there is always the fall back of a campsite.
I couldn’t work out if the lithiums you describe are your permanent final choice or some sort of stop gap.
Click to expand...
When putting in all our new stuff I upgraded the wires etc so that in due course Lithium would be the option.
I was waiting for the price drop to come and was in the draw for that 100 ah of lithium for 699 at the start of the year.
The plan was to go for Lithium at some stage and now seems to be that appropriate time.
If the fridge were working, I would probably not go for it now and wait a little longer, but that price has caught my eye and if changing sometime, then why not now.
The way my brain works is paying out for electric is wasted money (possibly about 200 euros worth) and in my mind I take that off the price of the Lithium
So it s a sort of stop gap with permanency
 
suavecarve said:
When putting in all our new stuff I upgraded the wires etc so that in due course Lithium would be the option.
I was waiting for the price drop to come and was in the draw for that 100 ah of lithium for 699 at the start of the year.
The plan was to go for Lithium at some stage and now seems to be that appropriate time.
If the fridge were working, I would probably not go for it now and wait a little longer, but that price has caught my eye and if changing sometime, then why not now.
The way my brain works is paying out for electric is wasted money (possibly about 200 euros worth) and in my mind I take that off the price of the Lithium
So it s a sort of stop gap with permanency
Click to expand...
Well go for the lithiums now while your gels are relatively new and sell them and get a good price, even more towards your lithium pot.
 
+1 on the compressor fridge / freezer option. I have just been looking to get one for when it is "hot" as our Dometic can't cool well when over 30-35c. Depending on size required they are between £200-£500 for a good one and only pull between 3 & 5A when running and they don't run all the time. My thoughts are the cooler box can go with us on days out in the car and away in the van for a "beer fridge", a "pre cool fridge" post shopping or "the main fridge" if temps hit 35C for a while. It will also go with us to our next van if we wish to change. This one suits our space in the floor so it is out of view and we won't hear it running. Amazon product ASIN B001TPN3TA
 
Itsmcb said:
From any other supplier I might be very reluctant to buy something so much cheaper than any others but Amazon customer service is really very good and you could easily get your money refunded if the battery was faulty in any way.

Do you actually need the 12v freezer I wonder? How long would that battery power your existing fridge running via an inverter? Would your solar keep it charged up considering there are around 16 hours of daylight at this time of year? Possibly with the occasional night on EHU to fully recharge.
Click to expand...
Van is on drive at the moment, so stuck it on the 240 today and pleasantly surprised how quickly fridge (and freezer) dropped.
So we are going to monitor and practice before we go on holiday.
The blocks (at the moment) are coming out of our home freezer and if they do what we hope they do then we will try freezing them from the actual freezer and as you point out this will negate the 12 volt freezer.

Your thoughts on amazon are similar to mine

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Vansflyer said:
+1 on the compressor fridge / freezer option. I have just been looking to get one for when it is "hot" as our Dometic can't cool well when over 30-35c. Depending on size required they are between £200-£500 for a good one and only pull between 3 & 5A when running and they don't run all the time. My thoughts are the cooler box can go with us on days out in the car and away in the van for a "beer fridge", a "pre cool fridge" post shopping or "the main fridge" if temps hit 35C for a while. It will also go with us to our next van if we wish to change. This one suits our space in the floor so it is out of view and we won't hear it running. Amazon product ASIN B001TPN3TA
Click to expand...
I m into borrowing the father in laws for nothing but totally get your game plan.

I was also thinking of a generator which would have an alternative use this winter if things go pear shaped
 
Also your fridge engineer should treat himself to an endoscope that connects to a phone. I bet he could look down the flue with one.
 
Itsmcb said:
suavecarve have you seen this ? https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...ridge-gas-pipe-and-should-it-be-there.267415/
Click to expand...
I hadnt but our flame beyond the point of the filter is very strong so suspect a different issue. I suppose there might be a "filter" beyond the flame !

Fridge engineer has the endoscope however it is impossible put it down the flue without taking the fridge out

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