Newbie fridge question

[Poppy and Hamish]

Probably an easy question, but I am new and haven't figured this out yet.

I have a 3 way fridge. I usually just run it on EHU on sites. Was out for the day today, and put it on leisure battery, but it kept beeping and had the hazard light lit on my return. From reading other threads, is it correct you can't use leisure battery mode when parked up, even when it's a three way fridge?

Can I put it in leisure battery mode when driving?

Sorry for the probably basic questions

 

[Plumberz]

Hi you can only use leisure battery when driving or if stationary its gas if hooked up 240v.

 

[Poppy and Hamish]

Hi you can only use leisure battery when driving or if stationary its gas if hooked up 240v.

Brilliant thanks. I didn't know I could use it when driving so that's so helpful!! Especially when driving long distances.

 

[monzer]

Not meaning to add confusion but are you sure it's the leisure battery it draws power from? It's (usually) the engine battery. Theory being that you'll never run the battery flat as it'll always be getting used only while driving.

Also what hazard light is coming on? Any pics?

 

[Blackadder]

Without checking in the manual I can't be sure but I thought 12v for the fridge came from the starter battery - hence it won't work unless the engine is running (if it worked whilst parked then you could inadvertently flatten the battery with inconvenient results)
If you can arrange an EHU at home (ours works from an outside 13A socket via an adapter) then its very helpful to turn the fridge on the evening before you travel. Next day you can put frozen stuff in it with no risk of partial thawing and consequent health risks

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[Lenny HB]

You have a Brit van so the fridge will only work on 12v with the engine running. Our German van the fridge can run off the leisure battery when stationary.

 

[Poppy and Hamish]

The warning triangle at the end of the temperature gauge on the right. Presumably it was too warm? I didn't realise it was on the starter battery, I just assumed it was the leisure battery.

I am on site and on EHU now.

It makes sense about the starter battery now. Thanks for the replies. It's a lot to learn when you are new.

 

[maison]

If your fridge has an Automatic setting it will switch between gas, EHU, or Battery as required.

All of the previous replies give good advice.

 

[Poppy and Hamish]

Without checking in the manual I can't be sure but I thought 12v for the fridge came from the starter battery - hence it won't work unless the engine is running (if it worked whilst parked then you could inadvertently flatten the battery with inconvenient results)
If you can arrange an EHU at home (ours works from an outside 13A socket via an adapter) then its very helpful to turn the fridge on the evening before you travel. Next day you can put frozen stuff in it with no risk of partial thawing and consequent health risks

Very helpful answer thank you

Yes, I plan to ask my electrician to install an EHU at home as I keep the van on my drive. I wouldn't have thought it would be terribly expensive to do this. Even though I have a solar battery, I think it will be a good idea to plug it in every so often if not used in the winter, plus as you say, I can turn the fridge on before traveling.

 

[Poppy and Hamish]

If your fridge has an Automatic setting it will switch between gas, EHU, or Battery as required.

All of the previous replies give good advice.

Sadly not, but that does sound like a really handy feature!

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[Lenny HB]

View attachment 663225The warning triangle at the end of the temperature gauge on the right. Presumably it was too warm? I didn't realise it was on the starter battery, I just assumed it was the leisure battery.

I am on site and on EHU now.

It makes sense about the starter battery now. Thanks for the replies. It's a lot to learn when you are new.

The warning was because you switched it to 12v and there was no power available, it will also flash when on other power sources if no power available.

 

[Poppy and Hamish]

The warning was because you switched it to 12v and there was no power available, it will also flash when on other power sources if no power available.

Thanks! At least I know what to do in the future now

 

[Blackadder]

Yes, I plan to ask my electrician to install an EHU at home as I keep the van on my drive. I wouldn't have thought it would be terribly expensive to do this. Even though I have a solar battery, I think it will be a good idea to plug it in every so often if not used in the winter, plus as you say, I can turn the fridge on before traveling.

Something you may wish to consider. When we did the same I got the electrician to feed the socket via a time switch inside the house (the garage in our case). It's programmed to switch on for a few hours every Sunday (to replace any charge lost through leakages and alarms) and I can overide it manually it to run the fridge the day before travelling. The outside socket is a normal waterproof 13A and I use an adapter to connect the EHU lead - that way I can also use the socket for a leaf blower - not for blowing leaves but to blow-dry my motorcycle!
btw, I checked the book and our German van runs the fridge off the starter battery so it's not unique to the Brits ...

 

[Plumberz]

Hi you can only use leisure battery when driving or if stationary its gas if hooked up 240v.

Yes correct but if german vans use leisure other van battery when ignition is started the battery light on fridge normally turn green if youve turned it to battery symbol.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes correct but if german vans use leisure other van battery when ignition is started the battery light on fridge normally turn green if youve turned it to battery symbol.

Nope, just blue battery symbol regardless of which battery its running from. Can't see the symbols with the fridge closed anyway.

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[tonka]

Also be aware that usually when the fridge is on 12v this is only to help maintain the temperature once the fridge is already cold.
Ideal when you are traveling and you have already cooled the fridge at home or on a site.

 

[Billylou]

You have a Brit van so the fridge will only work on 12v with the engine running. Our German van the fridge can run off the leisure battery when stationary.

Hi Lenny HB, we are picking up a van with a 3 way fridge (German). I’m keen to run the fridge off 12v as we should have just short of 400kw of solar. Assuming we can run it off 12v will the fridge operate similar to a compressor fridge in terms of keeping cool during hot weather and most importantly is this an efficient way to run the fridge. Ta

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hi you can only use leisure battery when driving or if stationary its gas if hooked up 240v.

Not meaning to add confusion but are you sure it's the leisure battery it draws power from? It's (usually) the engine battery. Theory being that you'll never run the battery flat as it'll always be getting used only while driving.

Also what hazard light is coming on? Any pics?

Without checking in the manual I can't be sure but I thought 12v for the fridge came from the starter battery - hence it won't work unless the engine is running (if it worked whilst parked then you could inadvertently flatten the battery with inconvenient results)
If you can arrange an EHU at home (ours works from an outside 13A socket via an adapter) then its very helpful to turn the fridge on the evening before you travel. Next day you can put frozen stuff in it with no risk of partial thawing and consequent health risks

You have a Brit van so the fridge will only work on 12v with the engine running. Our German van the fridge can run off the leisure battery when stationary.

Its depends on the whole electrical system, how its all wired and managed.

As an example: On some Elektroblok management systems, a 3-way absorption fridge can be configured to run on the Leisure batteries/solar installation.

However, A, you require a lot of batter capacity and B, its usually only for short periods. For example, a 2-4 hour ferry trip. Most installations I have seen, like Lenny states, are on continental motorhomes. That and usually, the fuse that allows this function will be absent from the EB.

See "15a kühlschrank" on this example
................................................................................................................................... ⤵⤵

 

[Billylou]

Its depends on the whole electrical system, how its all wired and managed.

As an example: On some Elektroblok management systems, a 3-way absorption fridge can be configured to run on the Leisure batteries/solar installation.

However, A, you require a lot of batter capacity and B, its usually only for short periods. For example, a 2-4 hour ferry trip. Most installations I have seen, like Lenny states, are on continental motorhomes. That and usually, the fuse that allows this function will be absent from the EB.

See "15a kühlschrank" on this example
................................................................................................................................... ⤵⤵
View attachment 714745

Many thanks EuroTrotters

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Lenny HB, we are picking up a van with a 3 way fridge (German). I’m keen to run the fridge off 12v as we should have just short of 400kw of solar. Assuming we can run it off 12v will the fridge operate similar to a compressor fridge in terms of keeping cool during hot weather and most importantly is this an efficient way to run the fridge. Ta

My statement was probably a bit too general as Trevor says it depends on how the converter has wired it.
Hymer's are wired so the fridge will run off 12v if it is switched manually or if it receives a 12v signal on the S+ terminal on the fridge, the latter only applies to Dometic fridges I don't think Thetford have the facility.
On Carthago's there is a link you have to remove inside the CBE distribution box to enable 12v operation.

On most 3 way fridges the 12v element is not as big as the 240v one on my fridge the 12v is is 190 watts & the 240v one is 250 watts, so it won't work quite as well and neither will work as well as it will on gas.

On my van I have a Votronic solar controller that has an AES output, this sends a 12v signal to the fridge (wired to the S+ terminal) when the batteries are fully charged and there is enough solar, this switches the fridge to 12v when it is on the AES setting. It does it in 30 min blocks so as not to flatten the batteries.
I have 300 watts of solar & 3 x 78 ah Gel batteries, on a good sunny day in June & other times of the year in southern Spain I get 2 sometimes 3 hours of 12v operation a day.

One thing to be aware of if using the S+ to control the 12v on my fridge a Dometic 8000 series the firmware is stupid as it has solar (means S+ operation) as the primary power source. So if you are on EHU the batteries are fully charged so the Votronic controller' AES output is live, even though the fridge has mains it still switches to 12v. Easy to over come just fit a switch or relay in line with the AES output from the controller.

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[Reallyretired]

Hi Lenny HB, we are picking up a van with a 3 way fridge (German). I’m keen to run the fridge off 12v as we should have just short of 400kw of solar. Assuming we can run it off 12v will the fridge operate similar to a compressor fridge in terms of keeping cool during hot weather and most importantly is this an efficient way to run the fridge. Ta

400kw of solar. How big is the van to get that lot on (4,000 100w panels perhaps)

 

[Billylou]

My statement was probably a bit too general as Trevor says it depends on how the converter has wired it.
Hymer's are wired so the fridge will run off 12v if it is switched manually or if it receives a 12v signal on the S+ terminal on the fridge, the latter only applies to Dometic fridges I don't think Thetford have the facility.
On Carthago's there is a link you have to remove inside the CBE distribution box to enable 12v operation.

On most 3 way fridges the 12v element is not as big as the 240v one on my fridge the 12v is is 190 watts & the 240v one is 250 watts, so it won't work quite as well and neither will work as well as it will on gas.

On my van I have a Votronic solar controller that has an AES output, this sends a 12v signal to the fridge (wired to the S+ terminal) when the batteries are fully charged and there is enough solar, this switches the fridge to 12v when it is on the AES setting. It does it in 30 min blocks so as not to flatten the batteries.
I have 300 watts of solar & 3 x 78 ah Gel batteries, on a good sunny day in June & other times of the year in southern Spain I get 2 sometimes 3 hours of 12v operation a day.

One thing to be aware of if using the S+ to control the 12v on my fridge a Dometic 8000 series the firmware is stupid as it has solar (means S+ operation) as the primary power source. So if you are on EHU the batteries are fully charged so the Votronic controller' AES output is live, even though the fridge has mains it still switches to 12v. Easy to over come just fit a switch or relay in line with the AES output from the controller.

Many thanks Lenny HB. Reckon it’ll be EHU or Gas for me.

 

[Billylou]

400kw of solar. How big is the van to get that lot on (4,000 100w panels perhaps)

I can't even claim a typo for that just pure ignorance.

 

[roadwarrior]

i have a freind who thinks he can run his fridge while parked up on battery - he said its only 40w - how long would his lead acid battery power his fridge for before giving up the ghost ? he has a new 100a starter battery 750 din, its a van conversion so i cant say catorgorically it will be his starter battery as he may have a way of using either - but i cant see it lasting long either way ?

 

[Tricky One]

My understanding is that, for British MHs anyway, the fridge, (Dometic 3 way), will only run on 12v using the vehicle battery while the engine is running. When the engine is stopped, so is the 12v supply to it. The main reason is one of safety. The safety factor is basically if the fridge was running on gas while in motion, (the only alterative), if you call into a Service Station to fill up, you are effectively entering with a naked flame, not to good with Petrol fumes in the air. As stated previously the 12v supply is to maintain an earlier built up temp. On site the only power source is Gas or EHU. If you were able to use 12v your battery, vehicle or leisure, would soon be flat.

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[scotzsue]

Very helpful answer thank you

Yes, I plan to ask my electrician to install an EHU at home as I keep the van on my drive. I wouldn't have thought it would be terribly expensive to do this. Even though I have a solar battery, I think it will be a good idea to plug it in every so often if not used in the winter, plus as you say, I can turn the fridge on before traveling.

We had a swift, and solar, and a tracker, kept in storage, never hooked it up except when using and could last for several days off grid. Know people put their's on hook up over winter, and might occasionally if we could have it at home, but probably only to cool the fridge before we went away, or if I was using it as my she cave.

 

[stuartholmes]

Very helpful answer thank you

Yes, I plan to ask my electrician to install an EHU at home as I keep the van on my drive. I wouldn't have thought it would be terribly expensive to do this. Even though I have a solar battery, I think it will be a good idea to plug it in every so often if not used in the winter, plus as you say, I can turn the fridge on before traveling.

Poppy and Hamish We plug in all the time at home but rather than an EHU I've got a normal 3-pin outlet close to where the 'van 'lives' so it can also be used for jet washer etc. and connect to it with a short adaptor lead.
Bit of a pest plugging in every time but definitely better than letting the vehicle battery go flat when out of use - speaking from hard experience I recommend not relying solely on the solar panel to do that unless you monitor closely.
This might be of interest: https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/hook-up-disaster-avoidance.279688/

 

[Orion]

i have a freind who thinks he can run his fridge while parked up on battery - he said its only 40w - how long would his lead acid battery power his fridge for before giving up the ghost ? he has a new 100a starter battery 750 din, its a van conversion so i cant say catorgorically it will be his starter battery as he may have a way of using either - but i cant see it lasting long either way ?

Is it a 3 way or compressor fridge? If the latter then I can say that it’s about the same draw (when running) as the one in our Adria, which uses very little power overall and runs from the leisure batteries - it also has a ‘night’ setting for very quiet operation and reduces to 50% of the previous figure.

 

[Poppy and Hamish]

Poppy and Hamish We plug in all the time at home but rather than an EHU I've got a normal 3-pin outlet close to where the 'van 'lives' so it can also be used for jet washer etc. and connect to it with a short adaptor lead.
Bit of a pest plugging in every time but definitely better than letting the vehicle battery go flat when out of use - speaking from hard experience I recommend not relying solely on the solar panel to do that unless you monitor closely.
This might be of interest: https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/hook-up-disaster-avoidance.279688/

Thanks for your reply. I got my electrician to install something last Autumn, not long after I posted my question back in September. I went with a regular external double socket so I can use other things too and use an adapter for the motorhome.

The solar panel wasn't enough to keep everything topped up over winter, so glad I went ahead and did it. Luckily my non starter gives me a notification on my phone when the battery levels have dropped too low, so I could plug in before it went completely flat.

 

[stuartholmes]

Luckily my non starter gives me a notification on my phone when the battery levels have dropped too low, so I could plug in before it went completely flat.

I wouldn't call that luck, I'd call it witchcraft!!!

How did you do it?

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