Comment: Electricity for Camping

Submitted: Thursday, Sep 13, 2012 at 08:17

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Electricity for Camping

Revised March 2013 On an extended trip it's good to have some of the comforts of home. Electricity is obviously one of them and a good system can make all the difference to how comfortably

Member - Sanantone

Hi John,

Great article. Can I get a clarification from you?

In regards to fridges, you mention "the 3 way type which would be impossibly demanding (about 300 Ah per day!) when running from our battery." Are you talking about the 3 way (gas / 240v & 12v) fridges in the vans?

If yes, why would they have such a high demand?

Many thanks
Tony

Tony
"For the Rover's life has pleasures, that the townsfolk will never know" - sort of from Banjo Paterson

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Reply By: Member - John and Val - Wednesday, Mar 04, 2015 at 00:52

Wednesday, Mar 04, 2015 at 00:52

Hi Tony,

Yes, I am talking about 12V/240V/gas fridges. These have the great advantage of being able to run on gas. They are heat operated, so electric elements are provided to supply heat when it isn't practicable to run from gas. The operating process is far less efficient than that of a compressor fridge, which is no problem on gas, or when running from virtually unlimited 240V power. On 12V though, the element is run continuously to maintain a low temperature. This draws about 12 amps, which is ok while the motor is driving the alternator to provide this current, but too demanding to be supplied for long by a battery.

Cheers,

John