240V Fridge while travelling?

"Think of the implications to first on the scene people and emergency service personnel in case of an accident when you have 240 v running in your caravan whilst travelling."

Would you please explain to us what those implications may be and why you consider there to be significant electrical dangers (presumably?) from an isolated 12 volt to 240V converter?

I suspect you don't know so I'll point out that an isolated 240 volt (or any other isolated volt) system is not earth referenced.

You must be worried sick about the 40,000 volt ignition system present on all petrol vehicles.

NM

Well that's earth referenced!

Nigel, a small amount of water would make it well and truly earth referenced, and lethal.

“Nigel, a small amount of water would make it well and truly earth referenced, and lethal.”

Utter rubbish.

Trying to obtain any sort of usable electrical earth via a trickle of water on to the ground is close to impossible.

In addition; your fanciful speculation requires that only one side of the isolated inverter connects with your speculative water to the earth – should both sides connect the inverter output fuse/circuit breaker would blow, it is close to impossible to envisage such a situation occurring.

In (double) addition; you are now foretelling death and destruction based upon a multiplicity of events:

1 – an isolated inverter is used to power a fridge etc
2 – an traffic accident occurs
3 – a simultaneous fountain of water just happens to successfully earth only one side of said inverter
4 – a person happens to touch the other pole of this isolated inverter

That’s a greater level of happenstance that is considered for risk analysis of medical equipment used for invasive procedures.

What is it with this forum?

Why do so many people feel the need to blaze their names in lights on the internet by foretelling doom and destruction and instructing the rest of us in all the things they think we should not do?

Especially when they, clearly, have little to no technical knowledge of the subject matter upon which they waffle.

NM

Well said Nigel.

I'm have to somewhat agree with Nigel on this one. The actual risk of electrocution, or receiving any electric shock under the conditions proposed is most unlikely.

The risks of injury or death from other possibilities while travelling on the roads or tracks is much higher yet are tolerated without nearly as much concern.

I have seen some dreadful electrical hazards in my lifetime and am quite surprised that there are not more electrocutions reported. However, having a 230v inverter operating while travelling does not rate as one of those hazards.

And Nigel, I love that word "happenstance".

Are you serious? it only takes 50ish milliamps to kill you. Water will conduct better than that.

Why don't you try it?

I'll assume no reply means you tried it.

Dear Mr Boobook,

This is the widow of Allan B writing this.

I am not sure just what my husband did but he got up from the computer muttering about inverters and took a jug of water out to the 4WD. The last thing I heard was an anguished groan. The paramedics said that it would have been quick! I now have a Troopy for sale and it is priced down as I think there is a problem with that inverter thingy....... its all black and smoking. The firemen said that it would be best if no-one touched the vehicle but I'm sure that it is safe because hubby looked after it and always knew what he was doing with the electrics. Well, most of the time!

Caravan batteries would be inadequate for the job with a unless a large bank powered by an outside source such as solar.

Our solution was to replace the two way fridge with a compressor fridge, and charge a battery from a portable solar panel when we stopped.

The link function here is not working at present but craignadej may gain useful information about power needs from Collyn River's articles such as http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/articles/fridges_one.htm

Mh

To clarify, this is only while driving. I have dual batteries in the troopy with solar input and Redarc charger also. The van will have the inverter fitted along with a 3rd battery connected via anderson plug. The fridge draws 115 Watts on 240v (no 12volt) so power supply while driving is not a problem. Have an Engel in the vehicle also, am not looking to change the caravan fridge at all. Its an old van for holidays along the coast with 2 kids under 3. Once stopped we will run gas.

Next question then Craingandej

Will you be driving long days in hot climates? With young children and going to coastal holidays, probably not. Just leave the fridge off whilst travelling and while the fridge is not being opened and full it should maintain the a reasonable temperature.

Mh

Craig,
I see you have the dual batteries in the vehicle. I assume from this you are pondering running a lead across the coupling and down the drawer bar to the van frig.

Personally I would not even dream of it. Too risky in the event of an accident.
Last thing we want is for some poor person whose job it is to fish us out of a damaged vehicle being electrocuted by or wrong doing. When the rescue squad roll up to an accident they are not looking for any 240 volt hazards within the vehicle and so are at extreme risk.

Not a good idea mate. Even if you set it up from the van batteries there is still a risk to someone else in the event of an accident.

As Motherhen says, just leave the door closed on the frig between stops and put the gas on when you stop even for just a half hour at morning tea time.
This is what we do also and it works fine for us.

We run a couple of 110 amp hour batteries in the van and a solar unit fitted to the roof of the van and it works brilliantly well.

Hope you sort it out OK and hope to see you on the road Craig.
Cheers, Bruce.



I just bought a 200 watt X 12 volt solar panel of ebay for $265 so the price is falling all the time. This will replace the current 80 watt panel on the van.

Try:
modified square wave 1000W inverter.

Thanks Scubadoo, glad someone read the thread properly, will look into a pure sine wave inverter, rather than modified. Inverter will be right beside 3rd battery in caravan as stated, with appropriate cabling. Vehicle with Redarc charger and solar input will power all 12v batteries via anderson plug on drawbar.

Cheers.