not your normal fridge question
Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 11, 2007 at 21:45
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GQ_TUFF
G'Day all,
I have set up a unusual fridge set up in my car, I am running a 40lt Waceo 240v fridge I got for $150 on special from a camping store. With a 1500W inverter to run it. Doing its first overnight
test tonight. My sums say it is drawing 6.75 amps going by watt reading on the inverter. Now what I would like to know is what sort of run time do the guys with the proper 12v fridges get? E.G in say 18 degrees overnight temp would the fridge run for say 1/2 out of every hour. So I can see how it compares with the 240v only model. Of course ALL precautions have been taken with the install of a 240v system into the car. Don't want any cooked kids ect.
Also what sort of batteries do you guys run for the second battery....I am thinking normal style as I have the basic isolator set up. Any ides would be a great help
Cheers Stefan
Reply By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 07:58
Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 07:58
Hi Stefan
You are refering to duty cycle and my compressor Waeco is rated at 25% with ambient of 30c and this is a pretty typical figure.
The absorption type are not as efficent (about 1/2 very roughly) and generally have thicker insulation to compenstate partly, so this is model dependant.
Guess you are talking about recent Ray's Nylex one. Nearly got one to play with but ran out of time before
easter. They certainly had thick insulation.
It consumes 65w - and I thought it wouldn't be hard to put in a direct 12v heating coil , but probably easier to use inverter anyway.
Only have one car battery here (exide oribtal 50ah) which is fine for my style camping but I think you would need more capacity as that fridge should use in region of 2 amps per hour average hence minimum standard N70 for overnight use.
Robin Miller
AnswerID:
232862
Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:11
Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:11
Thanks for that Robin, yes sold as Nylex (but it is a waeco for a fraction of the price, made by waeco sticker on the back and waeco book!!!).
Well it ran at -2 all night for 13 hours, Battery voltage dropped from 12.9 to 12.2 after 13 hours. My second battery is a 80ah, would like something bigger in the future but this will have to do for now.
Well it seems like this will work for me as most of my trips are over nighters with some 2 nighters.
Total cost works out at $400 exactly
Fridge $150
Inverter $178 from Ebay
2G Cables $50
Connectors $10
240v cable and outlet $12
Time will now tell how it works in the long run
Cheers Stefan
FollowupID:
493761
Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:35
Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:35
Good Value there Stefan as long as one accepts that you use more current.
I have long made the equation thats its simpler to run car for a while each night/morning to top up batteries than carry extra 30 kg + of batteries and support stuff.
The product must have been a marketing flop. Strange though I thought I would get plenty of use out of one even at
home to take fridge overflow at party time etc.
But you have a lot of options with that inverter.
Did a terribly decadent thing with
mine - I got a $14.95 1kw radiator from Warehouse and ran it with car running.
Its a marketing flop product also - It works really
well but puts out a lot of light which makes it a bit useless to have on at
home keeping you warm while watching TV.
However its downside (to much light) meant that camping you need no other light.
Robin Miller
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:48
Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:48
Yep fair call about the current, But for the $1100 saving over a 12v fridge it seems like a fair compromise. Plus I have the option of 1500w for power I can use for other stuff camping. Could really light up a
camp site with that wattage!!! LOL. My thoughts as
well about being handy around the house as a spare fridge, plonk it next to the barbie, or a deck chair next to
the pool ect. Nylex don't even have it on their web site. Waeco do.
Well My sister and I got the last ones from the Penrith store as they really were a bargain. Its main usage will be to keep food cold as I hate my meat floating in water in the Esky!! Still prefer my cans covered in ice!!
My only concern is the fact I have 240v in the car. I think I may put some of that stuff they put over aircon pipes around the 240v side to be extra extra sure it doesn't rub through to a live wire. I can't see how it can with the way I have installed it, but you don't muck about with 240v hey
Stefan
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Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 11:28
Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 11:28
I just like to stuff around with electronic things Stefan and as was saying I expect you could add in your own 12v only heating wire as thats all it is.
I had thoughts about "high power version" if I got one.
You could probably not even plugged in it and just stick a soldering iron down there and make cold.
If you were really lucky it could even be just a cut down 3 way fridge and the element might even be running off 12v via a transformer etc.
As you say though , better not to play unless you have experience in that area.
Robin Miller
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