240v Frig from 400w inverter

Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 17:53

Member - peter w2 (VIC)

A mate of mine reckons he can run his 240v frig off his 400w inverter while he travels along, I told him it wont work like that I am sure i read here somewhere that it does not work ,,,, can you direct me to that thread please... Peter

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AnswerID: 483677 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 18:06

Member - Boobook replied:

It's difficult to say unless you try it. Then numbers are close and it would depend on the outside temperature.

As a guide, an old small fridge ( 200 l) would struggle at any temp over about 20 degrees. A new small fridge would be ok up till about 30 degrees. Keep in mind that the alternator has to be able to supply about 60A just for the fridge.

When the car isn't running the whole argument is academic as it will warm up

Either way it won't be practical.

A 400 l fridge has no hope.

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FollowupID: 758964 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 20:16

Member - peter w2 (VIC) posted:

The frig is quite small probably 40l at the most

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AnswerID: 483681 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 18:27

Nomadic Navara replied:

Are you talking about a bar style fridge or running the 240 V side of a 3 way fridge. If it is the latter, are you wanting to do that because your 12 V operation is not working properly?

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FollowupID: 758960 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 19:23

dbish posted:

I used to have an 80L bar fridge in my caravan & ran it of a 400W inverter while traveling. It drew 12Amps on the battery when running. It also kept quite cold even when temps were aroung 45deg. When i eventualy had enough money it was replaced with a Waeco 80L upright.

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FollowupID: 758962 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 20:10

Member - peter w2 (VIC) posted:

The frig has no 12v only Gas/240v

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AnswerID: 483693 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 20:01

93maverick replied:

I do not know traveling with 240 volts is illegal in a car or caravan but the emergency services take a dim view of having 240 volts around in an crash.

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FollowupID: 758963 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 20:14

Member - peter w2 (VIC) posted:

in the event of a crash there will be no nuttin as the engine wont be running,he is running the frig straight from the alternator to the inverter then to the frig,,,not to a battery

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FollowupID: 758976 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 23:12

Nomadic Navara posted:

Maverick, please quote your source of this idea. If there is no 240 V power running between the two vehicles, the runs are short and well contained it is OK.

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FollowupID: 758996 Submitted: Saturday, Apr 21, 2012 at 09:12

bobsabobsa posted:

Maverick I dont want to but it , but the new 200 series toyotas come with a 240volt inverter standard in the Sahara, 2012 model .
It is in the very back, left hand side panel
I dont like the idea of 240 floating around when travelling either.
but it must be Ok
Bob

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FollowupID: 759032 Submitted: Saturday, Apr 21, 2012 at 17:12

Ross M posted:

Peter w2
If the inverter is fed from the back of the alternator it will still have battery voltage and current to it if the engine has stopped. 12v there all the time as long as the battery has charge in it, so won't auto off in a crash.

I have used small inverteres while travelling for phone charging etc.
Ross M

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AnswerID: 483698 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 21:03

Ross M replied:

Yes it will work, the 400w inverter will start a normal sized fridge compressor and depending on the compressor current draw it will drag about 15 to 20 amps while running from the 12 source.
Not sure about the legalities.
Best to have the inv in the tow vehicle and feed the 240v to the van for best performance and use of current flows.

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FollowupID: 758968 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 21:09

Member - peter w2 (VIC) posted:

it is an absorbtion fridge not comp type,,,

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FollowupID: 758977 Submitted: Friday, Apr 20, 2012 at 23:18

Nomadic Navara posted:

Quote "Best to have the inv in the tow vehicle and feed the 240v to the van for best performance and use of current flows."

For safe operation I would mount the inverter securely beside the fridges power point. I would then change the fridge plug from its power point to the inverter for travelling. The size of 12 V cable I would use would be of 50% more cross section than if I were using the fridge on 12 V.

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