Using 240v feed whilst travelling! (1 Viewer)

[Sulli_Clan]

On our way to France yesterday and our 12v feed for the fridge that runs off the battery while travelling, cut off. Have checked fuses and wiring but no luck.
As we have solar panels and inverter, have come up with what I think is a solution, run the external power cable, as if we are on hook up, to the inverter, to give the fridge power when we travel. When we stop, we go straight to gas. As we are doing runs of 4 hours or so, and have a fridge full of food, we can't really not have fridge operating while travelling.
Is there any issue with my plan?
Sent from the beautiful, free aire in etaples, overlooking the Marina!

 

[Snowbird]

Cant see any problem with your plan. I run the inverter on a regular basis for all sorts of stuff when on the move. Slow cooker, charging scooters, rooftop aircon, beer fridge etc.

 

[funflair]

Switch the battery charger off, but otherwise cant see a problem as long as the inverter and the feed to it are up to the prolonged use.

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[TheCaller]

Switch the battery charger off, .....

That's the vital bit & I'm not sure it's all that obvious how to do it on some systems. If you are lucky, it's a nice big orange rocker switch, but not all systems are so convenient.

If you are not certain you have found the right switch, post back with details of your control panel or electrical system name & someone will know.

Unless you find it, the charger will be using battery power from the inverter to charge the battery - and we all know how well perpetual motion machines work!

Apologies if I'm telling you the blindingly obvious, but it's quite easy to overlook.

 

[Reallyretired]

On mine the battery charger has it's own circuit breaker so can be easily turned off.

 

[Wildman]

why not just run on gas.

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[jonandshell]

We are always charging stuff off the inverter on the move.
As for the fridge, we have a short lead with two plugs on it. This means it can run for a limited time without having the gas switched on.
We plug one in an inverter socket and the other in an adjacent ehu powered socket. The charger is switched off and our fridge runs for up to 12 hours off our battery bank.
Just the thing to keep the beer cool on the ferry!

 

[TheCaller]

You have just given every 'Elth & Safety' bod a heart attack!

A very practical solution, but I hope that lead has a label attached saying 'Only for use by a responsible adult after appropriate training. Only for use in a child free environment'.

 

[makems]

We are always charging stuff off the inverter on the move.
As for the fridge, we have a short lead with two plugs on it. This means it can run for a limited time without having the gas switched on.
We plug one in an inverter socket and the other in an adjacent ehu powered socket. The charger is switched off and our fridge runs for up to 12 hours off our battery bank.
Just the thing to keep the beer cool on the ferry!

Mmmmmm. Interesting. I could do that if I knew how to switch the battery charger off on the Burstner Elegance. It has an Electrobloc in one of the underfloor lockers.

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[TheCaller]

On an Electrobloc EBL 99, as far as I can see, the only option is to pull the mains connection out. This is the 'kettle' type connector found on, well, kettles, but also computers, monitors & the like, so no problem - especially as you would only be doing it when there was no power being supplied. Best to plug it back in before reconnecting the EHU to a proper supply though.

 

[petrol tin glyn]

i run my genny for 240v while traveling as do the refridgerated lorries on the road

 

[pappajohn]

i run my genny for 240v while traveling as do the refridgerated lorries on the road

Thats fine if its underslung/open to air.

They, and you, dont perform well in a carbon monoxide rich locker environment.

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[tonyidle]

why not just run on gas.

That's exactly what I'd do. I run the heating system on gas when travelling in winter - keeps the dogs (and my back) warm.

 

[voyagerstan]

run on gas a lot easey er

 

[mitzimad]

we are for ever driving having left the fridge on gas never been a problem

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[voyagerstan]

wares me tin hat .