Maisiedoodle Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Hi, (gulp, my first ever post), I've recently got a Bailey Unicorn Valencia and only done short distances so far, but we'll be travelling for at least 8 hours next week and I want to make sure the fridge works while we're travelling. Before we go I'll plug the caravan into the house overnight to cool the fridge. We've got a 13 pin socket (it's a 2014 car with a towbar fitted by the dealer and a 2013 caravan so I assume it's got all the necessary pins for a fridge). My question is, I'll switch the fridge over to the 12v setting before we travel, I know that it will only work when the car engine is running, but do I need to do anything else as well? The caravan has a master control panel - do I need to turn that on and set it to 12v or is that just for when we want to use the leisure battery? Any advice welcome, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 All you need to do is to switch the fridge to the 12v battery position. Some of the modern automatic fridges also require a separate supply for the controls. Don't think this applies in your case but it won't do any harm to leave the master switch on. Don't assume that the socket on the car is fully wired. Many people have reported that they are not wired for a fridge even when factory fitted - my BMW wasn't nor was my Volvo before that. It's worth checking out and can easily be done with a cheap multimeter. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WispMan Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Just turn the fridge to the 12V setting. No need to do anything else. And Quote Graham Unless otherwise stated all posts are my personal opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda1968 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 From what I remember you just turn the fridge to the little battery position on the dial (I keep my master in the off position) You should be able to check the fridge is on when you plug into the car . .. open the fridge door and the light should come on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poolebob Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 All you need to do is to switch the fridge to the 12v battery position. Some of the modern automatic fridges also require a separate supply for the controls. Don't think this applies in your case but it won't do any harm to leave the master switch on. Don't assume that the socket on the car is fully wired. Many people have reported that they are not wired for a fridge even when factory fitted - my BMW wasn't nor was my Volvo before that. It's worth checking out and can easily be done with a cheap multimeter. Brian Same problem with the dealer fitted tow bar on my Honda. No power for fridge or permanent live. In fairness they fitted it free of charge. But dont assume, Check. poolebob Quote Honda CRV Diesel Petrol & No caravan now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amanda1968 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Don't assume that the socket on the car is fully wired. Many people have reported that they are not wired for a fridge even when factory fitted - my BMW wasn't nor was my Volvo before that. It's worth checking out and can easily be done with a cheap multimeter. Brian O yes same on ford's or at least some of them . .. we had to have some extra relay on ours (Kuga) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brecon Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Quote : You should be able to check the fridge is on when you plug into the car . .. open the fridge door and the light should come on. That is NOT correct. The fridge has a permanent 12v supply for the electronics including the light, it has nothing to do with power when towing to power the heating element. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maisiedoodle Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 Thanks for all your prompt replies. The most important thing is the ice in my freezer compartment for my G&T 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeTee Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Thanks for all your prompt replies. The most important thing is the ice in my freezer compartment for my G&T I'm sorry but I wouldn't hold out much hope of that after an eight hour tow unless you also pack the freezer with frozen freezer blocks. Even a non stop tow of that duration will just about hold its own. My old fridge will get down to -20C or lower when powered by gas or electric but when dependent on power supplied by the towing vehicle supply ice may still be frozen but only just. I do not personally take the risk with any frozen food in the freezer when under tow unless it was for defrosting and cooking on arrival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jslocks Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I'm sorry but I wouldn't hold out much hope of that after an eight hour tow unless you also pack the freezer with frozen freezer blocks. Even a non stop tow of that duration will just about hold its own. My old fridge will get down to -20C or lower when powered by gas or electric but when dependent on power supplied by the towing vehicle supply ice may still be frozen but only just. I do not personally take the risk with any frozen food in the freezer when under tow unless it was for defrosting and cooking on arrival. Dee Tee is quite correct. Buy your frozen food when you get there. Quote Sadly no van anymore but 35 years was a good run John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_B Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 You could also freeze some water in plastic bottles and pop them into the fridge before you set off Quote Paul B . .......Mondeo Estate & Elddis Avanté 505 (Tobago) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maisiedoodle Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 Oh dear, when I got a caravan nobody warned me that I may have to have my gin and tonic without ice I suppose I'll just have to rough it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WispMan Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 You could also freeze some water in plastic bottles and pop them into the fridge before you set off We always do this every trip. Also, on site, we have found only the gas will get the temp down. Mains could take a day but gas has the power. Quote Graham Unless otherwise stated all posts are my personal opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_b_45 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Oh dear, when I got a caravan nobody warned me that I may have to have my gin and tonic without ice I suppose I'll just have to rough it. Just back from around 2600 miles abroad and can honestly say the fridge had ice cubes available all the time! G&T needs ice. So does my Pernod! Welcome - another Dronfield person. Quote Santa Fe 7 Seater Premium Manual towing Swift Eccles 480 plated to 1500 kg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeTee Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) We always do this every trip. Also, on site, we have found only the gas will get the temp down. Mains could take a day but gas has the power. According to the CC document on fridges, that only occurs if mains voltage drops below 190V. It would obviously delay the production of ice for the OP's G&T. Edited September 9, 2014 by DeeTee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPG Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 No problems with our fridge. 6 hours to Dover, then 6 hour stop with fridge on gas. 16 hours driving including 2hours when on ferry with no juice and 37 degree temps round Paris. Everything which was frozen in the ice box was still frozen solid when we stopped that night. When we got to site the next day all still frozen and plenty if ice for a nice magners pear when we arrived. ..... Some fridges must work better than others. Mike 1 Quote VW Touareg 3. 0L V6 262 R Line with a Unicorn IV Segovia trying to keep up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&L Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Just driven 450 miles over 11 hours and freezer compartment still at -10 c when we arrived in Cornwall 1 Quote 2023 Pilote P696GJ for European touring- 2022 Coachman VIP 565 for touring the UK towed by a 2022 Audi Q5 TFSI-e S-Line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nme2no1 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Mine will cool down and make ice on 12v whilst travelling BUT for it to do this I had to wire the tug correctly with thick cable from front to back for battery charging and fridge supply. Just using the normal, standard tow cable sized wires will lose too much voltage between the battery and the socket. , my fridge was taking 8 amps before rewiring, it now takes 14! And the performance is way better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maisiedoodle Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 Oooo all this talk about wiring and voltage is getting far too complicated. I think I need a gin and tonic. . ......hi John_b. I'm on Snape Hill Lane. I'm looking for somewhere around Dronfield to store our caravan where do you keep yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocher12 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 You cannot adjust the fridge when on 12v, it always goes to maximum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capricorn12 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I will concur with the effect the cars wiring has on 12v fridge operation. One caravan I owned had mediocre 12v fridge operation until I changed the car and wired my own 12S socket with very thick cable. After that I had to keep the lettuce from the cooling fins as it would freeze it. We could also keep ice cream in the freezer and it was always hard after 6 hours or so. So often the 12v for the fridge and battery charging is tapped from a supply in the car that travels a convoluted path and is supplied from barely adequate cable. I can transport ice cream in my present caravan and unmodified car but it could be better. Maybe time for a little thick wire. Quote 2004 Citroen C5 2. 0ltr diesel auto VTR and 2011 Bailey Orion 430/4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) Dee Tee is quite correct. Buy your frozen food when you get there. Not if you pack it well and full! My 2005 Dometic keeps frozen stuff really cold even ice cream is still hard when we get there after a journey from the Midlands to Devon so it depends on the model I believe. YES I do pre-cool the fridge ( on max for most of the previous day) and leave the fridge on max on the journey but ice cubes in a tray ice cream stay frozen. I would have thought a 2013 fridge would be at least as good as my 2005 model? Jim BTW It's reasons like the other posters give about non-connection of the correct leads that I do my own electrical ( and tow bar) stuff - I know it does work - PLUS my (mobile) service engineer checks that all the leads are still working on my annual service Edited September 12, 2014 by JamesF Quote "keep your motor running" caravan: Avondale Avocet ( 2006) - tow car: Renault Laguna (2007) - play car: Mercedes 300SL (1988) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyJover Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 . .. and leave the fridge on max on the journey. .. The thermostat has no effect when powered from 12V - it's automatically on max. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 The thermostat has no effect when powered from 12V - it's automatically on max. Tony Apparently it can depend on the model - I know it does on Dometic - but others can differ I have been told Quote "keep your motor running" caravan: Avondale Avocet ( 2006) - tow car: Renault Laguna (2007) - play car: Mercedes 300SL (1988) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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