3 way fridge on battery whilst on ferry?

[Alshymer]

Hi
Is it feasible to leave the fridge on van battery whilst on the ferry or will it flatten it?
I have 280ah lithium.

 

[RSD7a]

Anyone qualified to answer (not me) will want to know how long is the ferry journey.

 

[RSD7a]

If it helps, with 2 x 120amp good condition lead acids, we've done 4.5 hours on the ferry with a compressor fridge "on" no problem, plus time stationary in the queue before boarding.

 

[trevskoda]

On test my small 230v through inverter lasted 24hrs on a single 90ah lead acid, i think you wont have any bother as long as you are not sailing to america.

 

[Alshymer]

Hi.
Sorry Roscoff to Plymouth circa 6 hrs.
This is a 3 way fridge not compressor.
I have never left it on previously but now due to a bigger battery, I thought I could turn it to low and just have it ticking over on the leisure battery for the duration of the voyage.

 

[exwindsurfer]

I wouldnt do it on a 3 way fridge.

 

[Robmac]

If you are worried, turn the fridge on high whilst you are driving to get it colder and simply switch it off for the ferry journey. It should remain cool for 6 hours particularly now the heat wave seems to be over.

 

[Fisherman]

I doubt it , three way fridges draw a lot more current than compressor fridges. My three way fridges draws 15-18 amps. A compressor fridge 3amps So unless you have a large lithium bank or it’s a short distance no way. Run the fridge to its lowest temp before sailing and don’t open door would be your best option.

 

[jeffmossy]

Patnlore have just done a 4 hour ferry with the 3 way fridge freezer left on the inverter, he has a 300ah fogstar and it used just over 20 per cent from full

 

[Alshymer]

I wonder if better to use through the inverter than just from 12v dc?
Do I need a separate power supply from inverter to fridge or will it just power through the mains supply?

 

[Fisherman]

I wonder if better to use through the inverter than just from 12v dc?
Do I need a separate power supply from inverter to fridge or will it just power through the mains supply?

No that would draw even more current than 12v. Inverters are not 100% efficient.

 

[n brown]

it's a fancy coolbox , cool it down , chuck in a couple of coolblocks or a bag of ice and keeo the door closed

 

[trevskoda]

Patnlore have just done a 4 hour ferry with the 3 way fridge freezer left on the inverter, he has a 300ah fogstar and it used just over 20 per cent from full

Why would you use a 3 way on a inverter when it has 12v

 

[trevskoda]

I wonder if better to use through the inverter than just from 12v dc?
Do I need a separate power supply from inverter to fridge or will it just power through the mains supply?

More loos using a inverter when you already have 12 volts.

 

[Robmac]

Why would you use a 3 way on a inverter when it has 12v

Not sure Trev, but I think some vans can only use 12V on a 3 way fridge with the engine running?

Could be wrong though, I usually am.

 

[Fisherman]

Not sure Trev, but I think some vans can only use 12V on a 3 way fridge with the engine running?

Could be wrong though, I usually am.

If your inverter is connected to 240v fuse box and all your sockets are live if your inverter is on, and fridge set to auto, the fridge assumes your connected to mains, and runs of inverter. You could wire the fridge depot avoid this Rob.

 

[Robmac]

If your inverter is connected to 240v fuse box and all your sockets are live if your inverter is on, and fridge set to auto, the fridge assumes your connected to mains, and runs of inverter. You could wire the fridge depot avoid this Rob.

Yeah I get that Bill, but Trev's question was "Why would you use a 3 way on a inverter when it has 12v" so my view is because you can't run it on 12V only on some vans whilst the engine is off whilst on a ferry - you would have to use it via the invertor.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Not sure Trev, but I think some vans can only use 12V on a 3 way fridge with the engine running?

Could be wrong though, I usually am.

You are right, Rob.

Our old Autosleeper 3-way fridge runs on 12v when driving (you have to remember to switch it over though!), but not when stationary and engine switched off, at which time you will run it off gas, or plug into the mains.

If I was going on a ferry, I would do what Nigel and Bill (Fisherman) suggests. I did it when going to Ireland earlier this year, only a short ferry journey I know, but the principle holds good. We don't have modern lithium or solar, it's the original setup as built at the time - apart from a better leisure battery superbly fitted by wildebus.

 

[jann]

In the past with fridge that needed switching off manually, I've found out that the battery would last 2 hours on battery.
Wouldn't recommend keeping it on battery

 

[Fisherman]

Yeah I get that Bill, but Trev's question was "Why would you use a 3 way on a inverter when it has 12v" so my view is because you can't run it on 12V only on some vans whilst the engine is off whilst on a ferry - you would have to use it via the invertor.

The main reason why not is inverters are not 100% efficient. You would use more power using an inverter.