Comments on: Caravan Fridge Errors & New Batteries

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 06 May 2018 08:50:00 +0000

Karen, these area my type of articles. Just remember with deep cycle batteries that you have, that you should not run them below 50%, which means your 300ahr is really only 150 ahr. In fact for maximum life expectancy, you shouldn’t let them go below 75%, which is only 75. ahr.

All that nonsense you have been told about lithium ion batteries, by people who never used them i bet. The technology is not that new and they have been in cell phones for 15 years. The main advantage with them, is you can run them down to 10% and they keep the full charge. With ordinary deep cycle batteries, lights start dimming below 50%.

If you want reassurance about lithium batteries, look at all the youtube RVers that have them. Not one regret and you cant beat the 13kg light weight. However, they are expensive. Nevertheless, 300ahr deep cycle costs the same as 120ahr lithium ion and you get more usable amp hours from it than on a 300 ahr deep cycle setup.

Love your article, you are an excellent writer, very clear and easy to understand.

By: Pamella.

Pamella. — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 18:57:51 +0000

Admire you-and the way you’ve dealt with those tribulations!
Wish you Happy travelling and carefree days in future. P.

By: TravellingK

TravellingK — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 19:39:20 +0000

In reply to bpetersen. Glad you enjoyed :)

By: bpetersen

bpetersen — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:34:22 +0000

Thanks for the article post.Really thank you! Great.

By: TravellingK

TravellingK — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 05:42:05 +0000

In reply to Robin Benton.

Hi Robin, Great advice – thank you! Good to know about the fan from Jaycar. Think I’ll be looking into that. And I had heard the fridges in the imported UK caravans weren’t set-up for our climate. I’ll have a good read of the website link.

By: Robin Benton

Robin Benton — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 22:57:08 +0000

Karen, there are two things that need to be considered.
1. Your fridge is an absorption fridge and needs a good airflow over the workings at the back of the fridge. The easiest way to rectify this is by fitting a small say 6inx6in 12v fan behind the top air vent and have it running on hot days. Have the fan so that the hot air is being pushed out from behind the fridge thereby creating as airflow from bottom to top behind the fridge. I have had this problem myself and this method really does work. You should be able the get a suitable fan from Jaycar or an electrical wholesaler.
The fan can be switched either manually or via a temp switch (this is more difficult to explain the installation of here). I had mine manually switched which is easy to achieve.
2. Your fridge may be struggling with the high ambient temps due to the fridges rating. These fridges are set up for different climates and yours may be set up for the English climes not for us here in NZ. How you can tell is at the back of the fridge inside the cabinet there should be a rating plate with lots of info. You are looking for an entry called “climate class” Have a look at this site https://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/climate-classes-for-fridges-freezers-and-fridge-freezers/. This is only I fo as you can not change the climate class of your fridge but should explain why you are having a problem in these high temps. My NZ built caravan has a Dometic absorption fridge rate “T”.

I really do recommend the fitting of a fans to increase the air flow behind your fridge.

Regards
ROBIN (www.romanyramble.blogspot.com)