fredtowne
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Re: 12-volt refrigerator question
I have made sure there is no corrosion, so that's not a problem. The alternator puts out 60 amps on idle, 100+ when driving. We limpet ovary ice cream, and the bars melt if we don't run the fridge. Also, we carry the propane on the back of the trailer, so running the fridge that way is not an option. Why have 12-volt if not to use it. My main thought was that an 8 wag wire should do the trick, and I wondered if others used that gauge on the connection. inShare 7299Views0likes0Comments12-volt refrigerator question
I have a 3-way refrigerator in my Chalet trailer. When I travel from one stop to another, I use the 12-volt option to keep the refrigerator cold along the way. It draws about 9 amps. Then I use either 120-volt or propane at the site. Sometimes, I will be camping in a location where there is no power, and the batteries will be discharged some from the stay. As I travel to my next stop, which may also have no power, I want my car's alternator to both keep the food cold and recharge the batteries. My alternator puts out more than 60 amps, but by the time the power reaches the 7-way plug to the trailer (while the refrigerator is running on 12-volt power), the voltage drop is such that little to no charging is occurring. It looks as though the wire to the plug from the alternator is about 10 awg. It seems like an 8 or 6 awg wire would probably handle the difference. Are the plugs able to handle 8 or 6 awg wire, and is this a good idea? Thanks, Fred Towne2KViews0likes10Comments
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