3-way fridge running through inverter

If you intend to run the inverter whilst travelling, bear in mind that you will have LIVE 240 volts trabvelling around and in the event of an accident it could prove fatal to both occupants and rescuers. Something to consider.

My fridge Works like a charm on 12 volts even when in the falcon ute under the fibreglass hardcover where its probably 45-55 degrees in summer. last summer went to car races at Goulburn and it sat in the blazing sun all day under that cover and every time I went to get a drink it was ice cold.

I'd be buying a new fridge.

Have you tried installing a small fan to help the heat dissipate from the back of the fridge? This will improve the coolness of the fridge but increase the amount of electricity you use from the battery slightly. If you are using it while the engine is running it wont matter with the slight increase in electricity used. The biggest problem with the 12 volt cycle is getting rid of the heat from the back... and that it is the least efficient of the 3 cycles.

Brian,
Does your fridge have a separate heater for 240v? Most use a transformer to bring the 240 back to 12 to run the 12 volt heater so using an inverter would make the consumption much worse. Eric

Here goes lets look at how they work in common trailer / vehicle situations.

3 way fridges are notorious for poor performance on 12V (FACT)

A 12v element is in a dometic fridge is running continuously at about 11Amps if you have the carrying volume in the cable from the vehicle (covered here on numerous posts)

The thermostat is bypassed on 12V. (Fact)
The common scenario is either it freezes the lettuce in the fridge cabinet or holds frozen goods in the freezer but won't hold fridge temps down.
By the way the opening / closing issue of the fridge (with the cold falling out {upright fridges}) tends to occur less whilst you are driving.
As you are driving air circulation is present in some form, sometimes perhaps excessive and this could be an issue not yet fully investigated. i.e. adding fans are not generally the issue in this situation. Perhaps a lack of heat to maintain gaseous circulation when travelling may answer some poor performance issues.

Levelling sensitivity is also not as much of an issue when driving as a vehicle is moving constantly and not going to cause circulation blocks etc to amonia gasses/liquids as may happen when stationary.
Of course when the vehicle stops good battery management systems fitted to vehicles will also shut down the fridge. This thereby also creates cool down in the circulation system.
It appears that the common efficiency of these fridges is somewhat exposed to the elements.

I have dealt with these fridges for over 13 years and have seen and heard it all. I don't profess to have the answers but posed several scenarios that reduce efficiency.

In discussion with several clients we have utilised the TOPIC system of this thread, running the fridge through an inverter on 240V whilst travelling.
Whilst I would professionally stay at arms reach of recommending it the results have been generally positive.
The actual current draw is slightly less via an inverter but really unmeasurable because now the fridge can cycle off the thermostat as would a compressor fridge.
Temperature control is restored.
Starting and stopping is less of an issue because of continuity of supply current but also presents the one observed downside to this system (the human factor)
As the battery onboard (most) campers / vehicles should be protected by a relay / circuit breaker, any short on 240V cycle would be protected by the cut out on the 12V circuit.
As mentioned the downside that has been encountered is forgetting to changeover power source to Gas / 240V when settled in camp.

Open to observations of this system and its potential downfall.
Spell checker not working.

Ian

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I hadn't thought about the safety issues with running 240V in the vehicle so I think upgrading the wiring and installing a fan sound like the best options and I'll save running it on the inverter for when we've stopped for short periods and gas when we're stopping longer.