Any thoughts on replacing a 12V fridge with a LPG or three way unit?

An absorption fridge is horribly inefficient. Your heating it up to cool something down! 2 way 3 way they are all the same. 12/24 volt using a BD35 type compressor would be best, but expensive. A domestic fridge running from an inverter is a cheap alternative. I run mine from 200Ah lead acid batteries. Two days safely without any charge. Solar keeps mine topped up. You'll need a good 400-600 watt inverter to cope with the startup current, but then drops back considerably.
 
SquirrellCook said:
An absorption fridge is horribly inefficient. Your heating it up to cool something down! 2 way 3 way they are all the same. 12/24 volt using a BD35 type compressor would be best, but expensive. A domestic fridge running from an inverter is a cheap alternative. I run mine from 200Ah lead acid batteries. Two days safely without any charge. Solar keeps mine topped up. You'll need a good 400-600 watt inverter to cope with the startup current, but then drops back considerably.
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Right I'm getting it now. I think of the thing I've got an inverter plugged into one of the cigar chargers which I use for me gadgets - I suppose the fridge must have its own inverter. I'm not a 'real' wild camper, ie I didn't personally convert the van - it's 'off the shelf' from Knaus.
 
EarthDemon said:
I'm not a 'real' wild camper, ie I didn't personally convert the van - it's 'off the shelf' from Knaus.
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Don't worry about not being a real wild camper. Most of us aren't. As for having one built off the shelf, that would put you,like me, in the majority.
 
Trotter said:
Don't worry about not being a real wild camper. Most of us aren't. As for having one built off the shelf, that would put you,like me, in the majority.
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Yeah it's what you wanna spend your life doing isn't it... I think i'd have to do several vans as a learning experience to get anything remotely as good as this baby. Also was not a 'real' biker (I have now hung up my boots) and welcomed Hondas with ABS - saved my bacon on more than one occasion.
 
I am sure you aware of the apps for LPG filling myLPG and filllpg are both very good apps to use?
 
I am more or less full time in my van, have a 110ltr Waeco compressor fridge, MacBook, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, Amazon echo dot, 4G wireless router and other bits and pieces of electric gadgets along with a 12v Sharp smart tv and Firestick. I changed to Lifepo4 18 months ago (2 x 100ah) and haven’t looked back. I also have an Eberspacher DT4 diesel heater using electric.

Whatever battery’s you go for you need to be able to get them charged and keep them charge. I have 300W solar on the roof and if you are anywhere like I am you will know the last 4 days have been mainly overcast and often raining, checking my bmv my battery’s SOC is currently 91% full.

if I need it I carry a 1Kw Hyundai inverter generator which I connect to my hookup point to run 2 x 30amp Victron chargers. I also have a 30amp b2b for when I move them van.

Don’t know if that helps or not 👍

edit: I have a 300W inverter I charge my MacBook with and the Karcher window vac and anything else I don’t have 12v plugs for, it uses almost nothing
 
Good to hear from you Neil😬
I’m still making my mistakes my way. Getting there eventually.
 
Nabsim said:
I am more or less full time in my van, have a 110ltr Waeco compressor fridge, MacBook, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, Amazon echo dot, 4G wireless router and other bits and pieces of electric gadgets along with a 12v Sharp smart tv and Firestick. I changed to Lifepo4 18 months ago (2 x 100ah) and haven’t looked back. I also have an Eberspacher DT4 diesel heater using electric.

Whatever battery’s you go for you need to be able to get them charged and keep them charge. I have 300W solar on the roof and if you are anywhere like I am you will know the last 4 days have been mainly overcast and often raining, checking my bmv my battery’s SOC is currently 91% full.

if I need it I carry a 1Kw Hyundai inverter generator which I connect to my hookup point to run 2 x 30amp Victron chargers. I also have a 30amp b2b for when I move them van.

Don’t know if that helps or not 👍

edit: I have a 300W inverter I charge my MacBook with and the Karcher window vac and anything else I don’t have 12v plugs for, it uses almost nothing
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£$%^ you've got ALL the toys! Cool. Gonna look up Lifepo4 and start researching solar for my limited roofspace...
 
EarthDemon said:
Re tablets has anyone tried the Apple iPad Pro with keyboard?
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Yes but it was a Bluetooth keyboard I had for my old iPad. I didn’t use it long though a bit like the pencil. If I want to type a lot of text I will use the MacBook, for forums, Facebook, online games I use the iPad pro
 
How big is your windscreen ? You could get a 100, 150 watts panel in there. . especially if your van is used a lot in the darker days. The 80wat panel stuff are first thing I brought for my first van, not fridge, old fridge works why fix it. Something is always better than nothing. Next to useless is good.
 
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