3 way fridge on battery whilst on ferry?

[Nesting Zombie]

So a coolbox rather than a fridge? Can be handy and top-loaders tend to be more efficient as you don't lose so much 'cold' when opened, but they are a pain in the neck to get stuff out. I used a Waeco Compressor Coolbox in my first conversion and it was really good in terms of keeping stuff cold and using low power, but I was very pleased to switch to a 'proper' fridge in my next conversion.
Great for storing drinks and the like, but as a general purpose fridge? nah, not for me.

Might be not the one Chasn was talking about as it only has one compressor so can't see how you can accurately set 2 controlled temps from the one power source?

Yes, I had an old (But new at the time) Colmans Cool box in the Cab & Plugged in when driving to keep that Days Drinks, Snacks & any impulse buys when out wandering cool. This limited the ‘Loss’ of cool air from opening my Habitation Front opening fridge.
It was also a Great overnight box in winter that maximises Habitation fridge space.

 

[trevskoda]

I have only drinks in my fridge so nothing to panic about, we eat out when away for a day or two.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Yeah, as I said earlier my Fridge is probably a 60/40split in contents between Liquids in various guises & Food stuffs.
Although it’s looking pretty Bare at the moment !

 

[wildebus]

Yes, I'm not sure but the price is in the right ballpark.

Personally I would have a chest freezer, preferably with a lift out basket but prefer a proper fridge.

The 12V Thetford Compressor Fridge/Freezer I very nearly bought to replace the Thetford 3-way in my Motorhome was very good. As well as genuine seperate temperature regulation for Fridge and Freezer, it had a conventional Fridge door and below that, a separate pull-out drawer for the Freezer, which is the perfect combo IMO, as with a freezer you always have 3 or so drawers/baskets that you pull out and rummage through with the door closed anyway.

Only downside was it cost £1,400 . I would probably have gone for that if my Motorhome was new or just a couple of years old, but at 15 years of age, a cheaper (but still very useful) seemed a better option

 

[Nesting Zombie]

That’s stupid dear isn’t it…
That’s why I went with a 230v Chest Freezer with Refrigerator setting.

https://amzn.eu/d/3r7qSsV

Cheap enough
I could buy 10 of these for that price

Although I would need a bigger battery bank

 

[wildebus]

That’s stupid dear isn’t it…
That’s why I went with a 230v Chest Freezer with Refrigerator setting.

https://amzn.eu/d/3r7qSsV

Cheap enough

But you need space above a chest freezer to be able to use it. Very few motorhomes can accomodate one in a tidy way.

The Coolbox I had I fitted to a pull-out shelf which worked well, but still found having to rummage in it a PITA.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Yeah, luckily I’ve got the space, & the Lift up lid is my Work Surface.
Works for me.

 

[r4dent]

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.

A 3 way fridge running on 12v battery (or even on 230v from the battery via an inverter) would flatten the battery in a few minutes.

Correctly wired 3 way fridges only run when the engine is running and they use the alternator not the battery.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

So,
I know some may have mentioned about leaving the fridge on gas while vehicle is unattended for extended periods of time, in semi enclosed spaces, surrounded in close proximity by other vehicles no doubt full of Fuel that’s been sloshed about on the crossing.
But for some reason I’m kinda against that option TBH.
It’s the same when going into Fuel stations to fill up with Fuel or LPG, it just doesn’t sit well with me that a flame at roughly the same Hight as Filling & Fuel vents of neighbouring vehicles in this environment is deemed ‘OK’.
But it shows ‘Attitude’ of some I guess & thankfully we are all different .

Let’s be honest, if you can ‘Smell’ fuel, The chances are THATS the bit that ignites !.

 

[r4dent]

Why not just run it on gas during the crossing?

I know they used to say don’t and they used to check, but that’s years out of date tbh

I've never boarded a ferry without being asked if the gas is off, and they often ask me to open the locker so they can check.

They still say don't.
This is from the BF site today.
"All cylinders should be adequately secured against the movement of the ship, be stored away from sources of heat and ignition and must be shut off during the sailing."

Brittany Ferries

www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

 

[alcam]

Sorted then, by the way a fridge should be at 2c and a freezer at -20c, this 5/7 thing is to high, as others have said freeze bottles of water and place in the fridge and switch it of, easy last 8 hrs or more no bother.

2° is very low . Suspect most fridges only reach that when left unopened for a day or so .
Used to have to check temperature on fridges every day . Basically 5° or under is the rule