Member - andrew B (Kununurra) replied:

Gday TonyG

I have the 80 litre Waeco, and a dual battery set up with exide extreme's. I have got both 48 and 50 hours with this set up in hot weather, with battery voltage not going under 12. I haven't gone longer without starting the car, but this is about the limit with my setup I think. I also have the fridge very cold when travelling to the destination, and set it a bit hgher when stopped so it doesn't have to cycle for quite some time. I also have a third battery in a box with external terminals for extra supply, but haven't rally put this to the test yet. The theory behind the third battery is that I can charge it in the back of the car via the alternator, and it also is a quick and easy job to set it up as the 2nd battery in my boat, so it can be charged in the boat and be a second battery for safety in the boat.

If you (your mate) plans for extended stays in one place, there are 3 options....solar, generator, and car. All have their ads. and disads, the car option is already available. A bit of a drive for siteseeing every other day may be enough, or spend the cash on the generator or solar, depending on what suits...

Hope this helps a little

Cheers Andrew

hl replied:

Hi,
It would be more like 2Ah average, depending on outside temp etc. However, you are unlikely to get much more than 2 days without flattening the the battery (except at Perisher or thereabouts) in the next few months. If you are in one place for more than a couple of days, you need either more batteries, a generator or solar panels. Going for a drive helps, but it takes quite a few hours to fully recharge.
Cheers

Member - Bentaxle replied:

Hi Tony
I running an 80L Engel Fridge/Freezer Combo in a cover on a dual battery setup and have had no problems. Spent 2wks in Karajini, Millstream and Mt Augustus, doin the usual tourist thing and some days vehicle only ran for about 4hrs, plus running lights at night and inverter for laptop and GPS setup, so I can't see your mate having any problems.
Mike

Alloy c/t replied:

We have had our 80lt Waeco for the last 2.5 / 3 yrs ,. used as freezer+fridge as designed , freezer at -15 /18 c = fridge at + 2 / 4c and dairy at 6 / 9 c ,,running thru the Steca regulator we can monitor how many amps used per hr ect ,, over all the time of our use the 80lt at our prefered setting has used 64 amps in ANY 24hr period , the only variation has been when used as all fridge when total power for 24hrs has increased to 72amps.

Sand Man (SA) replied:

Well, as there wasn't any other criteria as to where/how he is going to use the fridge, the best power supply option is to plug it in to 240 volt AC.

Now if he wishes to run it while driving, a dual battery system is the only practical option.

When camping, the choice is a resonable capacity battery (say 100A/h+)supplemented by a solar panel, or generator, depending on how long he will be stationary. Or, multiple auxilary batteries.

There isn't any other options.