Advice on 3 - way fridge running on 12v

I have a Jayco Swan off-road camper trailer (2011) that has a Dometic RM2350 3-way fridge installed.
The fridge works well on gas and 240v (provided it is reasonably level, particularly on the side to side axis). However, I have problems maintaining fridge temperature when on 12v while travelling. If I start the travel with the freezer at -18 to 20 oC it will be down to -5 oC or a lot worse at the end of the day. Other travellers I have spoken to on the road say their fridge holds its temperature when travelling but set ups and fridges vary enormously.
The fridge is wired directly to the van’s 120 amp/hour battery, which is charged by the tow vehicle (Mazda BT50) through an Anderson plug connection. I have a 12v fan at the back of the fridge to dissipate heat.
I am going to have to modify the wiring to introduce a switch to cut the supply from the battery when the vehicle is turned off because being a pop up and out van it is an effort to get at the fridge to turn it off unless the van is set up.
There has been so much written about fridges and wiring on forums that it becomes a bit confusing. It seems to me that I need to check the voltage drops to ensure wiring from the tow vehicle to the van battery and from the van battery to the fridge indicate cabling is adequate and if it is then my options are:
1. Forget about running the fridge while driving and ensure it is fully stocked and cold when heading off.
2. Run the 12 v to the fridge directly from the tow vehicle through the Anderson plug (this would solve the potential van battery over-draw problems)
3. Keep the existing set up as it is sensible but introduce a motion switch into the line to fix the potential battery over-draw problem

I would appreciate any advice from more experienced travellers
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Sponsored Links