Running the fridge whilst driving

Chris,
one good method is to run the fridge from the Van battery.
Connect a "thick" cable from the van battery to the vehicle battery ( ?hotwire? )
**BUT**
use an Anderson plug at the rear bumper bar to form a good connection of the two cables and use a battery 'isolator' at the vehicle battery with a decent fuse at each positive battery terminal.
You will be charging the Van battery when you drive and not using vehicle battery power to run the fridge when stopped.

Your 'distributor' will be able to supply you with the parts required and you can do it yourself, or get him to do the job if your not sure about things :-)

Mainey . . .

An Anderson Plug wired direct from the second battery is the best way to go. It will also keep the van battery charged up.

First up, put an anderson plug on to supply power to the van along with adequate sized wire. The Auto Electrician should know the size required.

I generally don't run the fridge while driving. I find it will stay cold for a number of hours without any power. I must admit I have a Freezer in the Truck so the fridge is only used for non frozen goods.

The Caravan Fridge will draw around 12 to 14 amps on 12 volt so it doesn't take long to flatten a battery.

If you do decide to run it whilst travelling make sure your system isolates the vehicles battery when you are stopped so you don't flatten it while you are sightseeing.

I have a caravan that is connected to the motor vehicle via a 12 pin plug (no Anderson plug).
In this case there are 2 - 12 volt supplies each independently running from the vehicle battery. One runs the fridge and the other charges the caravan battery.
This could also be achieved with 2 plugs, a multipin plug plus an Anderson plug.

Instead of 2 cables, you could also use a single supply but you have to be careful and make sure that you have the cable adequately sized by an auto electrician or an electrical designer, as caravan 3 way fridges draw about 15 amps and this can cause such a volt drop as to stop the battery charging.

From an engineering point of view the 2 cable system is the preferred option.
Again the cables have to be sized adequately though.

The above concerns the 12volt charging system fed from the motor vehicle – most caravans have an additional 240 volt system for charging the battery and running the fridge in its 240volt mode whilst in a caravan park

Actually, we really need to know whether it is a compressor fridge or a 3-way. Makes a bit of a difference to the right answer.

Hi Chris,
Whatever method you use to run your fridge electrically, do NOT attempt to run it on gas when travelling.

It is ILLEGAL in most, if not all, states and you run the risk of creating a fairly spectacular explosion if anything goes "pearshaped".

I've seen a couple of gas explosions and they are bloody frightening. Stuff does everywhere.

Disco.

Also ensure that the 12v van interior lights are all off when connecting 12v while travelling, you don't need any additional power drain and if anything flammmable like curtains etc can rest against an incandescent lamp while it is on you will end up with a fire if it gets hot enough.

G'day Chris

I got the local auto sparky to run a hotwire to my camper trailer to keep the fridge running while en route, but also stipulated I wanted it wired through the 'accessories' position on the ignition then when i stop along the way to have lunch/sightsee/go shopping/etc I don't return to a flat battery.

Lots of people just unplug, but more often than not, they forget to re-plug before heading down the highway again and next thing they know they don't have any van brakes. Imho, through the ignition switch is the only way to go.

The freezer section in my van fridge keeps ice cream or pre-cooked meals frozen, great not to have to cook a meal after a long trip, just toss it in the microwave. I also make icecubes and keep them in a plastic bag, that way, if they do thaw I don't get water right through the fridge.

As someone else mentioned, don't be tempted to run the fridge on LPG while driving, not only is it illegal it's an accident waiting for a place to happen.

Hope this helps?
Bronwyn ;-)