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

[EarthDemon]

I am full time in a Knauss Freeway PVC. Batteries were new 3 years ago and recently are dipping down to 25% despite plenty of driving. I used the fridge continuously for the first year and half, then rarely used it, now am enjoying using again but it seems to be caning the battery. The only other thing I use is laptop on the inverter. Since I wild camp 95% of the time I am sometimes forced to just run the engine while parked which is bad. I have refillable LPG bottles which last me a solid week in winter and much longer in summer. Was wondering if a 3 way fridge would be the answer to my dodgy battery life - or maybe after 3 years it's normal for them to need replacement? I have two leisure batteries and potentially room for a third if that would solve it. Your all thoughts appreciated.

PS would happily get solar panels but don't have all that much roof space what with two skylights and a vent.

 

[trevskoda]

You wont beat the com fridge, i do think you are caning the batts esp with inverter and l top, winter hits them hard as no solar worth a sh-t, try better batts and more of them.

 

[st3v3]

I've put solar panels over the skylights.

 

[Trotter]

Running a three way fridge on 240 v will cane your batteries. I can vouch for that.
As a almost complete numpty, I’d offer the few things that I’ve learned.
1, Batteries, enough will never be enough. The more you have, the more you want.
2, All this nonsense about putting in Lithium batteries is just that. Nonsense. Do it! They beat lead acid all hands up. The weight of my CLA would make your eyes water, and will put your back out, trust me. My 345ah of carbon lead acid are struggling. My fault entirely. Electric toaster, kettle, and Ramoska, are not doing them any favours.
Before I get any criticism for the above. I’ve learned that lesson.
3, Replacing the three way. If there’s a fault with it . By all means replace it. If it’s okay, look at increasing your LPG capacity, especially as you say, your full time.
If there is a unrepairable, or expensive repair. I would suggest one of the Chinese fridge/freezers (Alpicool). I’ve been using an 18 litre one as a freezer all this year. It’s been brilliant. Drawing 3amps when on. At a guess 40% of the time at -18degrees. If my three way failed, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a 35 or even 55 litre one, to replace it. Btw, they have LG compressors running 12 volt.
Solar is brilliant, if the sun is as well. This last few days has been difficult. Someone tell the weather gods, IT’S MAY FOR GOODNESS SAKE,
4, Fitting extra solar panels. If you’re tight for space. Do what Lee has done. He was short of roof area because of roof lights, vents and the like, so instead of massive panels ,he put several 50w panels on the roof. Job done.
Waffled enough, best of luck what ever you do.

 

[jagmanx]

Laptop !
You seem to be using the inverter for this only ?
Dump the inverter.
Get a 12v dc to 19v dc laptop charger and run it off the ciggy socket when driving. This is cheap.
A gas option on a fridge would be good but you might need to up your gas capacity..neither of these is cheap.
Lithium would not solve just allow a bit longer between engine runs.
I think others are better informed than me to answer the fridge problem.
A new 12v compressor fridge is worth looking at.
And some solar

 

[witzend]

A 3 way fridge will defiantly help your situation if it can be fitted regarding the vents it'll need.
Not unusual for batterys to decline after 3 years any solar would help even just 100 w panel
I'm using a Crome Book and battery life is really good it charges via usb socket while driving

 

[Trotter]

A 3 way fridge will defiantly help your situation if it can be fitted regarding the vents it'll need.
Not unusual for batterys to decline after 3 years any solar would help even just 100 w panel
I'm using a Crome Book and battery life is really good it charges via usb socket while driving

Plus one for the Chromebook

 

[jagmanx]

Plus one for the Chromebook

A good tablet can do most things that a laptop will do!
Take a bit of getting used to but have gps etc.
I will keep my laptop at home ....
Whilst travelling a 10 in tablet is my solution.
As posted battery life is good and usb charging.
AND get a powerbank for extended use.
Many ways of synching both emails and data.
An OTG adapter and usb stick allows extra storage eg photos

 

[EarthDemon]

Running a three way fridge on 240 v will cane your batteries. I can vouch for that.
As a almost complete numpty, I’d offer the few things that I’ve learned.
1, Batteries, enough will never be enough. The more you have, the more you want.
2, All this nonsense about putting in Lithium batteries is just that. Nonsense. Do it! They beat lead acid all hands up. The weight of my CLA would make your eyes water, and will put your back out, trust me. My 345ah of carbon lead acid are struggling. My fault entirely. Electric toaster, kettle, and Ramoska, are not doing them any favours.
Before I get any criticism for the above. I’ve learned that lesson.
3, Replacing the three way. If there’s a fault with it . By all means replace it. If it’s okay, look at increasing your LPG capacity, especially as you say, your full time.
If there is a unrepairable, or expensive repair. I would suggest one of the Chinese fridge/freezers (Alpicool). I’ve been using an 18 litre one as a freezer all this year. It’s been brilliant. Drawing 3amps when on. At a guess 40% of the time at -18degrees. If my three way failed, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a 35 or even 55 litre one, to replace it. Btw, they have LG compressors running 12 volt.
Solar is brilliant, if the sun is as well. This last few days has been difficult. Someone tell the weather gods, IT’S MAY FOR GOODNESS SAKE,
4, Fitting extra solar panels. If you’re tight for space. Do what Lee has done. He was short of roof area because of roof lights, vents and the like, so instead of massive panels ,he put several 50w panels on the roof. Job done.
Waffled enough, best of luck what ever you do.

Thank you.
1. For clarity - I'm running a 12v fridge and thinking of replacing with a 3 way though that just may not be practical, for one thing my LPG bottles and boiler are port and my fridge place is starboard and has to stay in that spot.
2. Fascinating - I thought Lithiums were thousands of pounds. Amazed to hear you were running a kettle off batteries - I didn't know that was even possible. Sounds like you have a mighty RV spaceship.
3. Any idea what LPG consumption is on a standard fridge?
4. Nah - I like me skylights too much to cover up.

Do keep waffling...

 

[EarthDemon]

A good tablet can do most things that a laptop will do!
Take a bit of getting used to but have gps etc.
I will keep my laptop at home ....
Whilst travelling a 10 in tablet is my solution.
As posted battery life is good and usb charging.
AND get a powerbank for extended use.
Many ways of synching both emails and data.
An OTG adapter and usb stick allows extra storage eg photos

I don't think I could do without the Mac completely but a tablet could reduce my Mac useage. Great idea thank you.

 

[Trotter]

I do like the bigger screen the Chromebook gives me. Catch up tv suits me better than live tv. That and YouTube videos.
I got rid of the after my first year. Replaced it with photos of the grandkids. Much better.
I use the tablet or phone for everything else.
On the advice from Mevi, I’ve a KIWIBIRD charger that charges the Chromebook. Plugs into the cigarette lighter socket, via a usb lead to the Chromebook. No need to pay over the top for the 12 - 18 volt inverter. £15.99 Amazon

 

[Trotter]

Thank you.
1. For clarity - I'm running a 12v fridge and thinking of replacing with a 3 way though that just may not be practical, for one thing my LPG bottles and boiler are port and my fridge place is starboard and has to stay in that spot.
2. Fascinating - I thought Lithiums were thousands of pounds. Amazed to hear you were running a kettle off batteries - I didn't know that was even possible. Sounds like you have a mighty RV spaceship.
3. Any idea what LPG consumption is on a standard fridge?
4. Nah - I like me skylights too much to cover up.

Do keep waffling...

You’re not running your fridge from the inverter then? I wouldn’t change to a three way. I’d stay with a 12volt compressor fridge. As I said, if I had problems with mine , I’d go the 12volt compressor route. Personal opinion only.
I do spend weeks away at a time. Part time, full time? Lol. I’m trying to get the van as useable as I can. From what I can understand, lithium batteries, although still expensive, have come down in price significantly over the last year or so. Apart from the lighter weight, I’m told that they take a charge much quicker. That way, the little sunshine we’re getting atm, would boost your batteries. Plus there’s no need to keep an eye on the battery monitor as the 50% soc holy grail doesn’t apply.
One day, I’ll get used to the way I use the power available to me. Little things like earlier this week. Having been on EHU last week, I had the Truma water heater switched on. Once off , and travelling, putting the inverter I’d put the kettle on a couple of times, then concerned about the amount of juice it was using, I noticed I hadn’t switched the water heater off. Lesson learned. Maybe.

 

[mistericeman]

When we had the transit It was all electric....

2 x 100w solar panels
Cheap £20 PWM solar controller
Durite VSR

Charging 3 x 100ah flooded lead acid batteries...

Powering a 3000w inverter running Small electric kettle/microwave/slow cooker/toaster/Waeco compressor type chest fridge/eberspacher/phone charging/etc etc

We were never short of power (We left the fridge running 24/7)
Winter when the solar was next to hopeless we just moved every couple of days to top the batteries up.

The only time I ever used a charger on the batteries was occasionally in winter when it was parked up for a few weeks due to miserable weather/work commitments.

 

[Trotter]

When we had the transit It was all electric....

2 x 100w solar panels
Cheap £20 PWM solar controller
Durite VSR

Charging 3 x 100ah flooded lead acid batteries...

Powering a 3000w inverter running Small electric kettle/microwave/slow cooker/toaster/Waeco compressor type chest fridge/eberspacher/phone charging/etc etc

We were never short of power (We left the fridge running 24/7)
Winter when the solar was next to hopeless we just moved every couple of days to top the batteries up.

The only time I ever used a charger on the batteries was occasionally in winter when it was parked up for a few weeks due to miserable weather/work commitments.

This is the way to use the power available to you.
Proof that you’re never too old to learn.

 

[jagmanx]

Thank you.
1. For clarity - I'm running a 12v fridge and thinking of replacing with a 3 way though that just may not be practical, for one thing my LPG bottles and boiler are port and my fridge place is starboard and has to stay in that spot.
2. Fascinating - I thought Lithiums were thousands of pounds. Amazed to hear you were running a kettle off batteries - I didn't know that was even possible. Sounds like you have a mighty RV spaceship.
3. Any idea what LPG consumption is on a standard fridge?
4. Nah - I like me skylights too much to cover up.

Do keep waffling...

In the summer even if ehu available we do not buy it.
So our fridge is on gas 80% and being summer has to work harder !
We average (including cooking and hot water for 2xshowers and bbq) 1.1 litres a day.
Our single battery always above 12.6 V .
1 x 120 watt solar with mppt controller.

 

[Trotter]

In the summer even if ehu available we do not buy it.
So our fridge is on gas 80% and being summer has to work harder !
We average (including cooking and hot water for 2xshowers and bbq) 1.1 litres a day.
Our single battery always above 12.6 V

I am aware that I’m unnecessarily afraid of not being able to get lpg. Daft I know. I’ve had too much time on my hands over the lockdown

 

[SquirrellCook]

Compressor fridge. Buy a domestic one and run it from an inverter.

 

[Trotter]

Compressor fridge. Buy a domestic one and run it from an inverter.

Do you use a dedicated inverter for the fridge? I looked on Curry’s web site, a cheaply fridge uses 109kWh. From what I understand, that mean over a year, it would use 109 kw. If I divide that by the hours in a year, I’d get the size of the inverter required?

 

[EarthDemon]

You’re not running your fridge from the inverter then? I wouldn’t change to a three way. I’d stay with a 12volt compressor fridge. As I said, if I had problems with mine , I’d go the 12volt compressor route. Personal opinion only.
I do spend weeks away at a time. Part time, full time? Lol. I’m trying to get the van as useable as I can. From what I can understand, lithium batteries, although still expensive, have come down in price significantly over the last year or so. Apart from the lighter weight, I’m told that they take a charge much quicker. That way, the little sunshine we’re getting atm, would boost your batteries. Plus there’s no need to keep an eye on the battery monitor as the 50% soc holy grail doesn’t apply.
One day, I’ll get used to the way I use the power available to me. Little things like earlier this week. Having been on EHU last week, I had the Truma water heater switched on. Once off , and travelling, putting the inverter I’d put the kettle on a couple of times, then concerned about the amount of juice it was using, I noticed I hadn’t switched the water heater off. Lesson learned. Maybe.

Yeah it's definitely a 12v fridge - dunno what a compressor is but sounds like that's what I've got. Certainly not running fridge off inverter. Will revisit lithium, great if not silly money.

 

[EarthDemon]

In the summer even if ehu available we do not buy it.
So our fridge is on gas 80% and being summer has to work harder !
We average (including cooking and hot water for 2xshowers and bbq) 1.1 litres a day.
Our single battery always above 12.6 V .
1 x 120 watt solar with mppt controller.

Good to know thanks. 3 way fridge seems a great idea to me. I do not shower in the van ever - and rarely use hot water for anything else - but got to keep me gadgets charged up and I want to be able to have permanent refrigeration so seems like electricity is the rarer resource. Sounds like just a fridge would use no more than half a litre of gas a day - I can get about 18litres into my two gas bottles even though they are supposedly 12 litres each. I am a big user of heating when it's cold so have to consider that as well. Seems like solar panels are a must....