3 way fridge on battery whilst on ferry?

[r4dent]

We like the 2 night (day1 sail @ 22:00) / day 3land at 07:00) crossing to Spain.

We have a 3 way fridge s no cooling for 30 Hours.

We buy a frozen chicken in the UK and put in fridge rather than freezer.

Never had a problem.

My advice switch fridge off.

 

[Robmac]

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

Yes I understand that Bill, but on a ferry where no gas is allowed on and 12V won't work without the engine running then running it off the inverter (obviously this is ultimately from 12V) is the only option if you want to run the fridge.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I tend to run my 230v Fridge on the inverter primarily when engine is on when travelling in the mornings, then again for a Cpl of hrs in the evening when parked up & engine off that’s it really.
Seems to maintain between the 4°C to 7°C mark doing this.

 

[YeoBlade]

as others suggest, put a big cold thing in it. I froze a 2 litre bottle of water at home before I've done this trip before, 24hrs was fine.
Edit: to add to that, I froze a litre of Tesco milk before we set off in the heatwave once this summer, every little helps .

 

[n brown]

we travelled europe with 4 kids and rarely used a fridge . eat meat the day of purchase ,get to like long life milk and runny butter , cut mould off cheese etc . also notice how locals deal with food , like keeping liquids in running water iff poss . a baguette kept in clingfilm is usable for a week or 2 . all part of a different life style

 

[TJBi]

As others have said, you should not need to run the fridge for the duration of the Roscoff-Plymouth crossing, particularly if you have a few freezer packs or bottles of frozen water. Also, bear in mind that personal imports from EU of dairy products and most meats are currently prohibited: https://www.gov.uk/bringing-food-into-great-britain/meat-dairy-fish-animal-products

 

[mid4did]

I did the roscoff to Plymouth return on 12v on my 3 way fridge. No problem.
I had 2 recently new 105 ah lead acid battery's. I only switched to 12v as I boarded the ferry and was on gas when parked up.

 

[Bigshug]

A 3way fridge running on 12volts is only keeping the temperature from rising too much, gas or 240 volts are much more efficient than 12 volts.

 

[jann]

I always used to put a frozen chicken in the fridge compartment to keep the fridge cool on an overnight ferry.
But frozen juice or water does the same job now there are restrictions on taking meat into Europe.

 

[Scotia]

Yes, we used 8% of a 230 ah battery setting off at 5.00pm and switching back to gas at 11.00am recently, on 12v and everything in the freezer was still frozen.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Sooo,
With my terrible math that’s around 20a over 17hrs ish.

So was this from room temperature or was the fridge already chilled?.
Was it stocked with FROZEN stuff during this time from the start ?

 

[Robmac]

Sooo,
With my terrible math that’s around 20a over 17hrs ish.

So was this from room temperature or was the fridge already chilled?.
Was it stocked with Chilled stuff as well ?

(s)

 

[Nesting Zombie]

(s)

Yep,
I forgot matey

 

[YeoBlade]

Frozen Chicken, Salmonella poisoning I'd be worried about that as at home it's defrosted in the fridge on it's own shelf in a 'drip tray', but there thers's a full size kitchen fridge with loads of room. However two has survived here OK. Gotta like chicken too .
When we pack our fridge its full and the 2litre frozen bottle has food all around it.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Hi YeoBlade .
I have to say that im looking at this thread more as a Full time Livaboard, Which means that I haven’t got the luxury of ‘Pre Frozen’ Icepacks or Bottles.

Now MOs Engine is on for around 45min in the mornings while I’m switching park ups, & THATS when my 230v Freezer is on FREEZE mode, ran via the inverter.
Then I switch it on to FRIDGE mode for around 1 or 2hrs again via the inverter but without MOs engine running in the evening sometimes.

Now as far as Content of Fridge is concerned, We’ll not that much ‘Temperature sensitive food’ really as I tend to eat out on my shuffles, or ‘Buy as i Want’. Any Game I get is Processed & Cooked fairly quickly, Then eaten within a cpl of days.
But I DO put Cans, Bottles & Cartons of Drink in the Bottom, then have my ‘Food Stuffs’ in 2 plastic Baskets on the Top of that lot, Then Quick Grab Snax & Carton Milk & Butter in the sliding Basket at the Top.
Now This has worked for me quite well & is always cold. How much power does it use ?.
Haven’t the foggiest .
But considering the ‘Bulk’ of the chilling (almost Starting to Freeze) is done when the Engine is on, then it’s only a Cpl of hrs in the evening, even then it’s only’If Required’ or rather if I remember or the Coleslaw is Fizzing & Crackling .

But I do find this thread interesting, Because my friend who’s also a Fulltime Livaboard has got the Standard Electrolux 3way fridge & it’s bloody useless.

 

[trevskoda]

Yes I understand that Bill, but on a ferry where no gas is allowed on and 12V won't work without the engine running then running it off the inverter (obviously this is ultimately from 12V) is the only option if you want to run the fridge.

You can add a wire & switch to get round this Rob.

 

[Scotia]

Sooo,
With my terrible math that’s around 20a over 17hrs ish.

So was this from room temperature or was the fridge already chilled?.
Was it stocked with FROZEN stuff during this time from the start ?

Fridge chilled before setting off 1.5 hrs to the ferry and the freezer was half full with Aberdeen Angus fillet steak as the foreign beef tastes crap.

 

[Robmac]

You can add a wire & switch to get round this Rob.

You can Trev but it's hardly worth it as the 3 ways are very inefficient on 12V.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Couldn’t agree more Scotia

 

[trevskoda]

Hi YeoBlade .
I have to say that im looking at this thread more as a Full time Livaboard, Which means that I haven’t got the luxury of ‘Pre Frozen’ Icepacks or Bottles.

Now MOs Engine is on for around 45min in the mornings while I’m switching park ups, & THATS when my 230v Freezer is on FREEZE mode, ran via the inverter.
Then I switch it on to FRIDGE mode for around 1 or 2hrs again via the inverter but without MOs engine running in the evening sometimes.

Now as far as Content of Fridge is concerned, We’ll not that much ‘Temperature sensitive food’ really as I tend to eat out on my shuffles, or ‘Buy as i Want’. Any Game I get is Processed & Cooked fairly quickly, Then eaten within a cpl of days.
But I DO put Cans, Bottles & Cartons of Drink in the Bottom, then have my ‘Food Stuffs’ in 2 plastic Baskets on the Top of that lot, Then Quick Grab Snax & Carton Milk & Butter in the sliding Basket at the Top.
Now This has worked for me quite well & is always cold. How much power does it use ?.
Haven’t the foggiest .
But considering the ‘Bulk’ of the chilling (almost Starting to Freeze) is done when the Engine is on, then it’s only a Cpl of hrs in the evening, even then it’s only’If Required’ or rather if I remember or the Coleslaw is Fizzing & Crackling .

But I do find this thread interesting, Because my friend who’s also a Fulltime Livaboard has got the Standard Electrolux 3way fridge & it’s bloody useless.

Good way to bu--er up any engine letting it idle to long, glasses the bores and soon starts to burn oil, a engine is ment to be under load, this blows the piston rings out further onto the bore, thats why some rings have a tapper on the top ring.