Anyone out there who has one (thats a 12v only) and any opinion of them. Thinking of puling out my old 3 way, adding more solar and another battery plus fitting a charger for when we have 240v
We are currently in the NT and the old fridge struggles. Lucky we have an extra in the car.
Bru,
I'm guessing that your 3way is a "S" rated which seems to be standard for some reason even for vans sold north of the Tropic!! I asked the local dealer here in Townsville but got no satisfaction. I did find there was a "T" rated unit but ..
While I haven't had to do the same mod as I did on our Eagle (yet), my current 3way is going well (from Cairns south). When I get some time, I'll do the mod as I had on the Eagle -
1. Shade cloth over the fridge vents inserted in sail rope mouldings
2. Two computer fans installed behind the fridge - one at the top, connected & installed to suck the warm air out from behind the fridge & blow it out through the top vent.
- one at the bottom, connected & installed to blow air from the bottom vent up behind the fridge.
I used a small 10w solar panel to power both fans (brought the wiring out through the vents). Somewhere in my travels, I discovered I had "made" a "T" fridge & it worked well in all weather.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
I have 2 120w solar blankets only use 1 for caravan the other to charge 2 extra batteries in car for fridge and a charger for when 240v available and a 130 amp battery in van. We have managed very well for a long time, never have we had not enough power. The batteries charge well from driving, the longest time with no 240v has been about 10/12 days. We have had a lot of hot weather lately about 30 days over 40. the fridge in car (60 litre Kings) will sit on zero all day, if it goes up 2 degrees the motor kicks in and is soon down again. The car had a deep cycle battery in the front when I bought it and I had a spare from the old car that I sold so wound up with 2 in the car a bit of overkill I guess.
Anyone out there who has one (thats a 12v only) and any opinion of them. Thinking of puling out my old 3 way, adding more solar and another battery plus fitting a charger for when we have 240v
We are currently in the NT and the old fridge struggles. Lucky we have an extra in the car.
Hi Bru
I have been considering replacing my three way fridge due to its inefficient performance.
The manufacturers of these units all offer excuses and fixes as to how to make them how they should work, but when it is all boiled down a three way fridge is crap if used above the Tropic of Capricorn or even further south during a hot spell.
I was considering a 12 volt replacement but as I went more into it I am now believing that the use of a 240v inverter fridge is much kinder on current use when set up to operate on a dedicated inverter From the vans batteries.
Forum rules here prevent me from posting a link with some great information and with actual cases of replacements done but if you do a google search the info will come up fairly easily.
All the fans, vents, shades and other tricky mods may make a slight difference but the only way to maintain temps for ice cream or more importantly, beer, and to avoid the mandatory defrost each week, is to fit a 12 volt or a 240 volt inverter fridge.
You are on the right path just consider the 240v inverter as they are cheaper, use less power and are available in many different sizes.
Let us know how you go as I for one, will be very interested.
We had to get a new fridge, broke down on Christmas Day, luckily we had a small spare fridge & ran the Waeco as a freezer at -18, brilliant!
Have been running the new fridge through a single phase meter to see how efficient it is. It is using a touch less than the manufacturer's kWh per year guide, & this is summer.
I have to agree with using a domestic fridge if you need the volume & use an inverter. You will be way ahead, power consumption & capital cost.
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Hi mate. I have just done exactly what you are planning. Heading to Darwin this winter. I bought an 85 litre 12v fridge off Ebay and installed it today. Works well. Only cost $385 so we will see how long it lasts. It is 2 door and the freezer was cooling fast after just 10 minutes. Wired in with 6 B&S cable. Hope this helps. Col
