Fridge in a Surf

[dieselboy]

Has anyone installed a fridge into their Surf? I mean the small 12v powered ones. Just to keep some "beverages" chilled on outings. I was wondering how long a battery would last powering a fridge constantly. I think my math was off as I worked out the battery would only last <9 hours.

[legendgamesmaster]

mine is 4amp draw on a 12v input.
battery is 145 amp hour
am I right in thinking it would provide 36 hours of use at 4 amps....? ive never tried it except when actually driving!

I doubt its that simple!
also, you'd need a live plug while the ignition isnt on too - i know the plug is live without the engine on, but you need the keys in.... dont want that now do we!

anyhow, I also once melted a 12v plug using a cooler....... so perhaps they draw more than 4a in reality?

[Predictable Bob]

We've often travelled with a 12v fridge BUT we always unplug it when we switch off cos it won't take long to deplete the battery.

Most 12v fridges will only reduce the temperature by 20 degrees or so which is fine in a British summer but not too clever if you're in the south of France and it's 42 degrees ...

I believe that there are devices available which will shut off whatever's plugged in before the battery becomes too depleted to start the vehicle

[dieselboy]

I think the one I was looking at was 4Amps as well. I also read that the battery is not 100% usable.

I have 2 batteries so dont mind disconnecting one of them to use it for starting the truck but don't think that is good for the batteries either. When a battery is flat and you charge it back up, it gives off Hydrogen gas which needs to be vented some how?

[Predictable Bob]

Your plan assumes that a single battery has the oomph to start your Surf ...

[dieselboy]

Your plan assumes that a single battery has the oomph to start your Surf ...

Funny you should say that as I know it does. Due to running on one battery an entire winter not realising that one had failed. I only realised when I "borrowed" one to move my 2.4 as both it's batteries had flattened due to standing for some time. One battery also starts the 2.4. Although with both in it does crank over a bit quicker.

[Albannach]

If you want proper cooling, you either have to spend a lot of money (see one of Rob's posts) or use gas.

[dieselboy]

When I was at a festival a couple of weeks ago (near Avalanche actually) I set the A/C on and cooled some beers and a mixed drink on the centre vents. Actually worked pretty good although cost me 1/4 tank of Diesel.

[KERRSURF]

If you want proper cooling, you either have to spend a lot of money (see one of Rob's posts) or use gas.

Don't use gas to power a fridge in a car.
Most fridges have a tilt switch that would cut the gas off when the car moves anyway.

I have a 3 way fridge and chill it on 240 volt before we go on journeys and use 12v on the road, and gas or 240 volt when we arrive.

[Ploddit]

I noticed in the toyota yaris accessoriesq catalogue that their cooler automatically switched off at a certain low battery voltage

[Overland Tonka]

Serious bucks can be spent on a proper setup....I'm embarrassed to say....red top optima starter batt, yellow top optima leisure batt and engel fridge...a bit OTT maybe. If I'm honest it will mostly be used for drink and could be done cheaper with a cheaper fridge and a cheaper leisure batt.

[Albannach]

Don't use gas to power a fridge in a car.
Most fridges have a tilt switch that would cut the gas off when the car moves anyway.

I have a 3 way fridge and chill it on 240 volt before we go on journeys and use 12v on the road, and gas or 240 volt when we arrive.

I didn't say to use gas in a car, I meant that to get good cooling on the move either a lot of money has to be spent, or he'd have to use gas, it's not possible to get decent heat transfer with a cheap 12 volt set up.

That said, it would be easy enough to build, one of those ones that they use in camper vans, in to a Surf and use an underslung or properly vented gas tank.

I use exactly the same fridge as you do, Alan (branded differently, but the same). Cool it down over a couple of days, 12v to keep it topped up and gas when its unpacked.

[BUSHWHACKER]

http://www.camperite.co.uk/more/on/details/00110

[4 Runner]

You say that you have 2 batteries install a split charge between them and run the fridge of one of them

[Karma Supra]

I just have a cheapie "assisted cool box" that was about £20 from Makro, it's big enough to stand up a couple of 2L bottles, with the internal footprint for 6. if you put stuff in it that is already cool it serious chills them as it runs no stat (heat fan type thing) It works pretty well! The beers are cold enough to get a healthy load of condensation adn "feel cold" all the way down, which is enough for me! - kill the power over night adn it is still cool the next morning. (I put ice packs in for good measure)

I remember in the late 80s my old man had a factory fitted one in his S class. It took up half the boot (proper refigerent job) he was in cornwall ona trip so put it up to full power (heat wave plus black car) it froze all the drinks solid!!