A friend's fridge

[myvanwy]

The fridge is a Webasto compression fridge and I assumed it would need ventilation like my Ice Cube unit that lives on the floor of my self build unless in the awning. Was trying to gather information to aid my friend when confronting the converters on this and other build issues. Myvanwy your comment is not worth the keystrokes.
Thanks to those with positive comments but do I renew membership?

Sorry. Not ment to offend.

 

[r4dent]

30Ah in 24 Hours is a very efficient fridge. 0.25A average draw? that is around 3W. The inverter overhead will be more than that, Trev,

30 ah in 24 hours isn't that an average draw of 30/24 amp = 1.25 A ?
Also it is 12v only, so no inverter

The idea of a fridge using less power than an couple of LED bulbs. Great if it does it, but I cannot deny I am dubious.

The Thetford site seems to agree with the HarryW in his estimate of 30ah / 24 hours

Thetford - Convenient Solutions For RV Adventures

Discover our wide range of mobile sanitary systems, cooking and refrigeration appliances, toilet care and maintenance products

www.thetford-europe.com

"Energy Consumption - Day mode 0.2 kWh/24h (16˚C) / 0.7 kWh/24h (32˚C)
Energy Consumption - Night mode 0.2 kWh/24h (16˚C) / 0.5 kWh/24h (32˚C)"

0.2 kw = 200w = (@12v) 16.7 ah
0.5 kw = 500w = (@12v) 42 ah
0.7 kw = 700w = (@12v) 58 ah

All we need now is for them to get the price down below the £700 mark

 

[Fazerloz]

Mine burns quarter amp an hr, must be the best fridge so far.

I wish that was all mine used. Are you starting to dote old boy.

 

[Tezza33]

The inverter overhead will be more than that, Trev,

Also it is 12v only, so no inverter

He replied to Trev who uses a household 240v fridge on an inverter, his isn't 12v

 

[trevskoda]

30Ah in 24 Hours is a very efficient fridge.

0.25A average draw? that is around 3W. The inverter overhead will be more than that, Trev, let alone the idea of a fridge using less power than an couple of LED bulbs. Great if it does it, but I cannot deny I am dubious.

Thats what it says, i was wondering about it to, but it seems to go for days without a battery charge, i have a soft start smart inverter which goes into sleep mode until fridge shouts i want juice.

 

[wildebus]

Thats what it says, i was wondering about it to, but it seems to go for days without a battery charge, i have a soft start smart inverter which goes into sleep mode until fridge shouts i want juice.View attachment 89729View attachment 89730

I can't see any reference anywhere to an actual energy consumption figure except the specs saying it is an "A+" rated device

There should have been a Label on the fridge or supplied with it with the actual annual Power consumption. Did you get that?

 

[trevskoda]

I can't see any reference anywhere to an actual energy consumption figure except the specs saying it is an "A+" rated device

There should have been a Label on the fridge or supplied with it with the actual annual Power consumption. Did you get that?

Yes on the back it says 1/4 amp consumption at 230v

 

[wildebus]

Yes on the back it says 1/4 amp consumption at 230v

Ah. The mystery is solved.
it used 0.25A at 230V. That is 57.5W.
57.5W equal to 4.79A at 12V

That current is much more likely.
If that is an average of 1/4A @ 230V, that makes it around 503kWh/Annum, which is kind of ok for a A+ fridge but not outstanding. For example, my A++ fridge is 84kWh/Annum (which is very low and the lowest consumption I could find). This is an average of 230Wh/Day or about 19.2Ah/Day (average of 0.8Ah/Hr). (the Inverter overhead when running brings it up more of course).

If the 0.25A is the power use only when running (and maybe a 20% duty cycle - so on for say just 12 minutes every hour?), then the average picture looks a lot better than that 503kW/Annum

 

[JackieA]

Follow up to my enquiry - the van was taken back to the converter on Wednesday of this week. She was belatedly given a realistic introduction to its features rather than the hurried one on pick up - at that time she luckily asked where the sink would drain to as they had forgotten to fit the waste pipe.

They also created an upper vent to release the heat build up when using the fridge and also modified the switches to prevent the fridge light illuminating when the door is on its second setting for airing whilst not in use. Apparently her fridge has a capacitor that provides temporary power to the fridge before switching to the leisure battery - explains the earlier comment from one of their staff re using the fridge as if she was using a day van - they confirmed that the leisure battery should cope for 24 hours and that for longer stops she would need to hook up or add solar power.

 

[trevskoda]

Ah. The mystery is solved.
it used 0.25A at 230V. That is 57.5W.
57.5W equal to 4.79A at 12V

That current is much more likely.
If that is an average of 1/4A @ 230V, that makes it around 503kWh/Annum, which is kind of ok for a A+ fridge but not outstanding. For example, my A++ fridge is 84kWh/Annum (which is very low and the lowest consumption I could find). This is an average of 230Wh/Day or about 19.2Ah/Day (average of 0.8Ah/Hr). (the Inverter overhead when running brings it up more of course).

If the 0.25A is the power use only when running (and maybe a 20% duty cycle - so on for say just 12 minutes every hour?), then the average picture looks a lot better than that 503kW/Annum

Yep you correct, at the time we were doing the fridge tasts i bench tested mine on 2 90ah batteries and after 48 hrs was down at 12/12.1v, it may have ran lower but did not want to hammer the batts, solar in the van does keep them up and i have had no bother last summer when a fridge was required, again you testing was the reason i did not fit a 3 way, thanks again for tests.

 

[wildebus]

Yep you correct, at the time we were doing the fridge tasts i bench tested mine on 2 90ah batteries and after 48 hrs was down at 12/12.1v, it may have ran lower but did not want to hammer the batts, solar in the van does keep them up and i have had no bother last summer when a fridge was required, again you testing was the reason i did not fit go 3 way, thanks again for tests.

I checked the 3-way in my Motorhome after I got it to compare with the 240V-only Fridge in the Camper.
Similar in size, but the 3-Way does have a proper freezer compartment rather than an icebox.
On average, when on Mains power, the 3-way uses about 7 times more power than the Compressor Unit!

A Massive difference and made me understand better why people with these 3-ways only put them on the day before they are heading away, whereas with the mains compressor fridge I would just leave it on all the time to be always ready as it uses so little power.

 

[wildebus]

Follow up to my enquiry - the van was taken back to the converter on Wednesday of this week. She was belatedly given a realistic introduction to its features rather than the hurried one on pick up - at that time she luckily asked where the sink would drain to as they had forgotten to fit the waste pipe.

They also created an upper vent to release the heat build up when using the fridge and also modified the switches to prevent the fridge light illuminating when the door is on its second setting for airing whilst not in use. Apparently her fridge has a capacitor that provides temporary power to the fridge before switching to the leisure battery - explains the earlier comment from one of their staff re using the fridge as if she was using a day van - they confirmed that the leisure battery should cope for 24 hours and that for longer stops she would need to hook up or add solar power.

Sounds like she have a productive chat with them

ref Solar, there are some good quality portable solar kits that she could get if she didn't want to go fully-fitted yet.
Supplied an excellent Photonic Universe 100W Folding Kit with quality cloth carrying case with an MPPT Controller for under £200 to a chap with a VW T4 Autosleeper recently.

 

[trevskoda]

I checked the 3-way in my Motorhome after I got it to compare with the 240V-only Fridge in the Camper.
Similar in size, but the 3-Way does have a proper freezer compartment rather than an icebox.
On average, when on Mains power, the 3-way uses about 7 times more power than the Compressor Unit!

A Massive difference and made me understand better why people with these 3-ways only put them on the day before they are heading away, whereas with the mains compressor fridge I would just leave it on all the time to be always ready as it uses so little power.

Yes mine was on all summer, its now of for winter as not required as only away the odd day now with restrictions and a cat to come home and feed.

 

[Fazerloz]

I checked the 3-way in my Motorhome after I got it to compare with the 240V-only Fridge in the Camper.
Similar in size, but the 3-Way does have a proper freezer compartment rather than an icebox.
On average, when on Mains power, the 3-way uses about 7 times more power than the Compressor Unit!

A Massive difference and made me understand better why people with these 3-ways only put them on the day before they are heading away, whereas with the mains compressor fridge I would just leave it on all the time to be always ready as it uses so little power.

I used to do that but the freezer compartment would need defrosting to get anything in it.

 

[Markd]

Follow up to my enquiry - the van was taken back to the converter on Wednesday of this week. She was belatedly given a realistic introduction to its features rather than the hurried one on pick up - at that time she luckily asked where the sink would drain to as they had forgotten to fit the waste pipe.

They also created an upper vent to release the heat build up when using the fridge and also modified the switches to prevent the fridge light illuminating when the door is on its second setting for airing whilst not in use. Apparently her fridge has a capacitor that provides temporary power to the fridge before switching to the leisure battery - explains the earlier comment from one of their staff re using the fridge as if she was using a day van - they confirmed that the leisure battery should cope for 24 hours and that for longer stops she would need to hook up or add solar power.

Glad they finally realised that the laws of thermodynamics apply to their fridge installation and that heat removed from inside has to go somewhere else
Also providing somewhere for the waste water to go is a great idea
So far their track record of competence is not particularly outstanding so I hope they continue to honour their obligations if-as other issues come to light.