Thetford fridge

olcoolone, I agree with all your comments.
Naughty I know and I don't encourage others to do it but I always put my Dometic 3 way on LPG at the start of a trip and leave it there.

rr

Many thanks for your prompt comments.

I should have said (and didn't - sorry) that the depletion is occurring whilst we are travelling.

The fridge is drawing more power than the car is capable of replenishing to the caravan battery. We've had the car wiring checked and there's no fault there.

Whilst stationery, we run the fridge on gas, and it has still performed well, even in the North (Top End and Kimberley). The only down-side on gas is that when it's hot it heats up the fridge cavity and we need to run the fridge exhaust fan on 12v.

Your last comment is of great interest, however, if we're reading you correctly. Are you saying that the fridge should be running directly off the car whilst travelling, rather than through the caravan battery? If so, do you know if this is industry practice?

Regards,
Footloose

"Your last comment is of great interest, however, if we're reading you correctly. Are you saying that the fridge should be running directly off the car whilst travelling, rather than through the caravan battery? If so, do you know if this is industry practice?"

Depending on brand of caravan and who wired it up..... most times it is driven by price and seeing most caravan owners think they know everything (not directed at you) most think spending $700 is a rip off when they can get it done for $350.... little do they know they are not getting what they think they are.

We see this very often... we work on the theory do it once and do it right, I would sooner have a customer walk out of our workshop and get it done elsewhere then do below acceptable work.

You car charging system should have ample power to run the fridge on 12v and charge the caravan battery at the same time...... what sort of tow vehicle do you have and was the electrical work done by a competent auto elec or some work experience guy at the local caravan place.

Quote from FollowUp2 - "The fridge is drawing more power than the car is capable of replenishing to the caravan battery. We've had the car wiring checked and there's no fault there."

During daylight hours the alternator should have enough output for the fridge and a lot left over for the battery. I would suggest the problem is with your wiring and not the alternator.

I suggest you run a separate very heavy cable for the battery through an Anderson plug.

"I also don't think you can assume that all van manufacturers and auto electricians use the correct sized wire"

My BIL was showing off his new caravan last weekend and pointed out the 4mm wire that the manufacturer had installed from the Anderson plug through to the battery and 3-way fridge. He has already rewired it with 10mm wire and also separated the fridge from the van battery and run it straight to another Anderson plug. He also ran 2 lots of 16mm wire from the car isolator solenoid to the rear anderson plugs.

14.5v is the nominal voltage they base their specs on but it will run over a broad range..... all it is is a heating element, less voltage more amps.

Not many vehicles dish out 14.5v constant....