Refrigerator run times while driving.

[scanzel]

I went to a boat show to look at some of the refrigerators that are used in the boating world. The 12/24volt,120ac combo units. Very expensive and you still need a seperate ice maker. My questiion is while driving to a new location how is everyone powering the refrig to keep everything cool. Are you using generator or inverter. If using inverter power,how long before batteries need charging?  This is all new to me and we are getting ready to gut the bus and start construction and it seems the basic home style refrig is the way to go. I DO NOT WANT A 120AC/PROPANE UNIT. Thanks. Steve C.

[FloridaCliff]

Steve,

I use the inverter if I do not need the generator for A/C.

The batteries stayed charged from the engine while running.

I have a solenoid that connects the house and start batteries while underway, disconnects when off.

Cliff

[cody]

We have a house style refrigerator and it runs off the inverter while on the road, the engine keeps it powered with no problem. 

[JimC]

I have an apartment sized refrigerator in my coach and it runs off of a 2000 watt inverter when going down the road or when dry camping. I can easily go 23 hours with just normal use it and the other lights and things needed until I need to start the generator and recharge the house battery. I usually charge the battery once in the morning and again once in the evening before going to bed. We use a propane stove so that is not a drain on the batteries when in use.

I also have one large 12 volt forklift battery for the house systems instead of a bank of smaller ones like most bus nuts use use.

Jim

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Steve,

I have a Frigidaire side-by-side counter depth refrigerator in my bus with ice and water on the door. It is an energy star model

that uses 3.6 amps when running and 6.8 in defrost. My battery bank of 1000 amp hours will last 2 whole days [inverter] of road driving without recharging.

One of theese days I will hook up that 12v altenator....... I need one of thoose "roundtuits" lol

Nick-

[JackConrad]

We have a 17 cu.ft. House type refrigerator in our bus.  We have a Heart Interface 2500 watt 12 volt inverter/charger and 8  6 volt golf cart batteries. We added a 65 amp 12 volt alternator to our 8V71 (bus is 24 volt). 12 volt alternator keeps batteries charged and refrigerator running while on the road. When dry camping we run generator approx 2 hours in morning and 2 hours in evening. Batteries never go below 12 volts.  Jack

[prevost82]

Same here ... house type refrigerator running off 1 of 2-DR2412 3 stage charger/inverter, 1000 Ah batteries and a 12v altenator.
Ron

[H3Jim]

I have a 24 volt, 16 cu ft Sunfrost model.  I leave it running 24/7, and I am not plugged in anywhere.  I have 4 solar panels, 600 watts on the roof.  The batteries are full by 11 the next day and the batts never go below about 24.8 volts.  When I drive, I have the bus alternator hooked to a large diode that charges both the bus and house bats.  I'm not sure how long the compressors run, there are two, one for the refrigerator, one for the freezer.  Last year I bought a bag of ice about halloween time, and finally used the last of it in late June on a trip I took.  The separate compressors mean there is no air flow between the refrig and the freezeer, and food in each keep much better as a result.

When I use it, I can also use the tv, stereo, lights etc and have a full charge by noon or so.