Leaving fridge on permanently
Submitted: Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 19:29
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4467
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3
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Joe
Hi Guys,
Had a look through archives, but still unsure.
I have an engel permanently in vehicle,(ARB dual batteries system,) with fridge connected to the deep cycle battery.
If the vechile is being driven almost every day, is it ok to just leave fridge on low permanetly.
I understand a deep cycle battery performs it's best when discharged around 50% and then recharged.
So are short shopping and local running around trips keeping both the battery and fridge in top order, between getting away camping
Looking forward to responses
Regards
Joe
Reply By: Roachie - Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 20:07
Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 20:07
Joe,
I agree with Nigel about the need to keep a charger on the Deep Cycle batt when possible.
I have a ARB (ie: Engel) 40 litre fridge on a slide permanently in my Patrol. I keep it running 24/7 for no reason other than to keep a few bottles of water and stubbies etc. Then it's ready whenever we go camping or a day trip/picnic etc.
The beauty of these newer Engels is that you can keep both 240v and 12v plugs in the back of the fridge all the time. As soon as the fridge detects the 240v it automatically switches to that power source in lieu of the 12v.
I've gone one step further and put a 240v cord up into the cargo bay through a large rubber grommet and run the cable along the chassis rail to the bullbar, where it terminates with a caravan style inlet plug. I have a 240v cable hanging from the roof of the carport and simply plug it in at the end of each day.
Also in the cargo area, I keep a small batt charger plugged into a power board kept on the cargo barrier. The 12 v outlet from the charger is plugged into a cigi socket also in the back. So when I'm running the fridge off 240v, I'm also charging the aux batt.
I don't like deep cycle batts because when on an extended trip and not able to use a charger, I have found that after a couple of weeks, the DC batt will progressively loose it's charge, even if being driven every day.
Just my opinion......it works
well for me.
Cheers,
Roachie
AnswerID:
55014
Follow Up By: Member - Nigel (QLD) - Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 20:14
Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 20:14
the reason the deep cycle loses it's charge when travelling is coz the alternator is only charging it to about 70% (starter batteries are happy with that, wet cell deep cycles aren't).
FollowupID:
316717
Follow Up By: Crackles - Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 20:36
Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 20:36
Roachie. You have a potentially dangerous setup if the 240 volt cable was squashed or rubbed through to the body. Would certainly make your eyes light up when opening the door although I'm shure you've
well insulated it. Craig..................
FollowupID:
316726
Follow Up By: Roachie - Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 21:03
Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 21:03
G'day Craig,
Thanx for your concerns mate....
I've run the cable inside garden hose and always remove the plug from the bullbar before I start up in the morning.
However, I acknowledge that I must get around to fitting a circuit breaker. As it stands at present, I rely on the circuit breaker in the garage where I draw the power from initially.
Cheers,
Roachie
FollowupID:
316730
Follow Up By: Member - Nigel (QLD) - Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 21:15
Monday, Apr 19, 2004 at 21:15
an inline safety switch would be better than a circuit breaker - easy to install and cheap life insurance.
FollowupID:
316732
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 10:13
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 10:13
Nigel,
Thanks for that suggestion. Is this something I can pick up at an electrical retailer?
What I've done is take an extension cord, cut off the 3 pin male plug, started in the cargo bay by threading the "nude" end through the ribber grommet, then running it along to the inlet socket. Would the in-line safety switch go in at the bullbar end? I'm guessing "yes".
Roachie
FollowupID:
316782
Follow Up By: Member - Nigel (QLD) - Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 18:10
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 18:10
an inline safety switch can be bought from an electrical
shop or bunnings, etc.
best to put it as at the power point where you plug the lead in for your car, or if you whole shed runs off an extension lead then put it where that lead plugs in if possible.
FollowupID:
316885
Reply By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 07:47
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 07:47
Man... All you guys make hard work for yourselves....
I have a gelcell 145 a/h aux batt which runs - (compressor, invertor, fridge,
hf radio, etc etc) and leave the fridge on 24/7/365 and never had a prob in almost 4years....
I can turn the fride to number 1 and it is still running after 5 days...
AnswerID:
55087
Follow Up By: Member - Nigel (QLD) - Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 08:16
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 08:16
I guess climate would have a bearing on how much current the fridge draws. Your setup wouldn't work with 27 degree temps all year round with only 10 minutes driving each day on weekdays, more on weekends of course.
FollowupID:
316770
Follow Up By: RenoRXGQ - Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 14:01
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 14:01
Roachie,
A circuit breaker will do didly squat if you are getting an electric shock.
Best thing to do is fit an RCD to the garage or better still the entire house as this will protect you from being electrocuted.
FollowupID:
316830
Follow Up By: Crackles - Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 19:29
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 at 19:29
Voxson, sounds like a great setup. What brand is the battery & how are the duel batteries isolated?
Craig..........................
FollowupID:
316905
Follow Up By: Joe - Wednesday, Apr 21, 2004 at 12:14
Wednesday, Apr 21, 2004 at 12:14
Hi Voxon,
Your setup experience sounds perfect, and I am in
Geelong Vic which is definately colder than
Adelaide,so the setup is more than right.
What brand of battery is it and can you provide a bit further discrition on specs and the settings, daily use format.
Regards
Joe
FollowupID:
317064
Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 22:47
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 22:47
Hi Guys... The electronics i use is a "Phirana" box bought from TJM for $300 which looks after the two batts without a second thought.... The batt is a gelcel bought from Sunspot in Dry Creek in
Adelaide...The starting batt is your typical wetcell 700cca 4x4 jobbie...
FollowupID:
317458