How long can the fridge run on 12 volts?

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I'm trying to figure out if I want to keep the 3-way refrigerator in my 1995 Bronco 1200; or simply yank it out and use a good cooler w/ice for the weekend jaunts I expect to take it on. Can a good, fully-charged battery run the fridge for a day? Two days?

My new-to-me camper is going to be a "project" - and I need to decide which way to go with it. If it gets reduced to being just a "shell" - I'm fine with that. Right now, the LP system is a no-go.

[mkirsch]

Remove the fridge if that's what you want but don't trash it. You should be able to offset some of the cost of the camper by selling it. It should sell instantly at $100. Those RV fridges are not cheap to replace, even the small ones.

My '00 Bronco 1500's fridge works fine on the hottest days and will freeze things solid on the coldest setting when temps are in the upper 50s.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

805gregg wrote:
In the end it will cost you more than buying a working camper, propane refers work great, and so do the stoves

I guess I posted it on another thread - but the fridge doesn't work on 110 volts (discovered that yesterday and it's hardly a surprise), so I'm not hoping it would work on propane.

So now, the propane tank compartment is "storage" and holds all the outside equipment like jack feet, tiedowns, bucket and hose for the sink drain, etc.

[tonymull]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
I finally have the camper on the back of my truck...... (yay!) As we drove home, Ed and I talked about what to do with it - and we're both thinking strongly of reducing it to an all-electric shell and utilizing our Extreme Cooler. We only paid $1000 for it - and as another poster once said: when we're done with it (assuming one of our kids/grandkids doesn't want it), we'll back it up to the landfill and shove it off....LOL!

I often think that the whole side of the camper with cooking area and sink is kind of a waste. We do 99% of our cooking outside and I bet I could rig up a covered dishwashing station out next to the water heater. Replacing all that, actually redesigning the whole dinette area too into one more comfortable TV watching and lounging area would suit me. And those Extreme coolers are really good. If you use block ice it will last a week even in hot weather...that is cheaper than propane any day.

[805gregg]

In the end it will cost you more than buying a working camper, propane refers work great, and so do the stoves

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I finally have the camper on the back of my truck...... (yay!) As we drove home, Ed and I talked about what to do with it - and we're both thinking strongly of reducing it to an all-electric shell and utilizing our Extreme Cooler. We only paid $1000 for it - and as another poster once said: when we're done with it (assuming one of our kids/grandkids doesn't want it), we'll back it up to the landfill and shove it off....LOL!

[crazybill]

I have a 96 Bronco 1200 and I can tell you that even on propane that fridge is marginal at best. The problem is with the side ventilation on the rear of the fridge. Just doesn't work the best. I replaced the cooling unit on mine and added three muffin fans on the back and it works just OK now on hot days.
Since you already said you want to go electric I would echo the others who suggested a compressor type fridge and solar setup.
Operating the current fridge on 12 volt when not driving is not feasible. In addition to the 12 amp draw of the heating element, the wiring is too small. This adds to the load when on 12 volt. Not unsafe, just an added load.
If I had it to do over again I would go the compressor fridge route.
If you're going the electric route with your other appliances then you are going to need solar anyway. I have 120 watts on mine.
Hope this helps.
-Bill-

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Victory402 wrote:
X2 on repairing the lp system. It may be a simple fix?

The woman who owned it felt that the tank gauge made it harder to replace the LP tank, so she sawed off the gas line just before it enters the side of the storage compartment. So assuming the appliances work, the repair should be fairly easy? Hopefully, we'll pick up the camper tomorrow; and then I can really look at what I'll be dealing with.

[Victory402]

X2 on repairing the lp system. It may be a simple fix?

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

bobndot wrote:

DEb and Ed M wrote:
I'll probably opt for a good cooler and block of ice at this point

Just a suggestion : unless you already have the cooler to fit in the spot .

The fridge may act as a cooler when you add a block of ice.
Add a drip tray and drill a hole for a drain hose of you plan on trashing the fridge anyway.

I thought about that, too - it's what I did with our larger fridge in the Class C. I'd freeze water in 2-qt plastic bottles; then put that in the fridge when on the road. At night, while plugged into electric, I'd put the bottles back in the freezer. Worked great!

I hope to pick up the camper this weekend - then I can poke around and see what works and what doesn't.

[BurbMan]

I would keep the fridge and repair the propane system. When running on gas the 12V only powers the circuit board and a good battery will run a fridge for a week or more. Heck I used to get by on one battery for a 3 day weekend and that included lights and radio. Use a cooler short term, but I wouldn't trash the fridge unless you know for sure it's shot.

[bobndot]

DEb and Ed M wrote:
I'll probably opt for a good cooler and block of ice at this point

Just a suggestion : unless you already have the cooler to fit in the spot .

The fridge may act as a cooler when you add a block of ice.
Add a drip tray and drill a hole for a drain hose of you plan on trashing the fridge anyway.

[Jfet]

I am finding that my Nova Kool 9.1 cu-ft compressor fridge (a large fridge) uses about 500 to 600 watt-hr per 24 hour period. Two batteries would thus run it about 48 hours without any recharging and stay above 50%. Add in a little solar and possibly you can run it generator free.

[dbertheau]

Today's compressor fridges are pretty efficient. I recently installed a Dometic CR1110 and have had good results boondocking. I think it's around a 4 cu ft with a small freezer. It fit in the same locattion where the original LP/AC fridge was...minor trim fitting. Uses around 50 watts of power at 12/13 volts when running.

I also installed solar to help replenish the batteries during the day. Have 225AH batteries. So far no issues boondocking on a couple of four day trips...parked in a partially shaded site; so, not a lot of sun. Batteries kept up fine.

If you search you can find the CR1110 for around $1,000 shipped...

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

OK - got it!! Thank you for your valued input! I'll probably opt for a good cooler and block of ice at this point. I'm leaning towards making this an all-electric camper with a microwave replacing the stove. The furnace is a moot point because they always wake me when they fire up; and a "woman of a certain age" is perfect capable of staying warm no matter what the temp is....LOL!!