Run a 12v compressor fridge on its side?

[Judo]

Can it be done and run ok?

There's always the opinion that you shouldn't turn a fridge on after tilting it without waiting some period of time. Why is that? The more I understand about how it works the less sense it makes to need to leave it for any amount of time, but maybe there's still reasons why it wouldn't run at any angle.....

Only possible reason I can think of would be to do with the flow of gas towards critical points like suction side of compressor. Maybe if that's uphill it won't function correctly?

Pls educate me. :)

[weeds]

Somebody will have the technical answer...I believe the compressor has oil in it and the oil need to settle back to where it is supposed to be...kinda like a car engine.

I could be wrong but the swing motor in the engel fridges is a different design to the compressor all other fridges use and can tolerate running in angles better than the danfos .

[Ranga]

I know the Bushman can run at 30 degrees incline Bushman Portable Fridges | Frequently Asked Questions | FAQ's (http://www.bushman.com.au/about/faqs)

[weeds]

Appears engel is good for only 30 degrees as well
Engel Website (http://www.engelaustralia.com.au/about_FAQ.asp)

[trout1105]

I am confused, Why would you want to run your fridge on it's side in the first place?

[weeds]

I am confused, Why would you want to run your fridge on it's side in the first place?

The question is turning a fridge back on after it's been on its side......

Running at an angle/side is off topic.

[trout1105]

The topic of your post is "Run a 12v compressor fridge on its side? (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/non-land-rover-technical-chat/247526-run-12v-compressor-fridge-its-side.html)" and your first question was "Can it be done and run ok?"
Maybe if the topic of the Post was " My 12v fridge ended up on it's side, When would it be safe to run it again? There would be No confusion.[bigsmile1]
The answer to that is just sit the fridge upright for a couple of hours to let the oil settle then it should be good to go.

[weeds]

The topic of your post is "Run a 12v compressor fridge on its side? (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/non-land-rover-technical-chat/247526-run-12v-compressor-fridge-its-side.html)" and your first question was "Can it be done and run ok?"
Maybe if the topic of the Post was " My 12v fridge ended up on it's side, When would it be safe to run it again? There would be No confusion.[bigsmile1]
The answer to that is just sit the fridge upright for a couple of hours to let the oil settle then it should be good to go.

Opps, your correct...yes a little confusing

[Judo]

Ahh sorry for the confusion. Oops.

My question is can I leave it running on its side.

[weeds]

Ahh sorry for the confusion. Oops.

My question is can I leave it running on its side.

Based on the investment in a fridge...I say no

[trout1105]

I have had the same problem where my little 40l Primus 12v fridge (That I stupidly didn't tie down) got bounced on its side and luckily the cigarette lighter type plug pulled from the battery pack.
I just left it sitting upright for a couple of hours so that it and the beer could settle down then plugged it in again.
That was a couple of years ago and I haven't had a problem with the fridge since So it obviously didn't do it too much harm.
Hopefully your fridge will recover as well.

[manic]

Could you extend pipes/wiring and rotate or remote locate the compressor ?

[Judo]

OK, now that everyone appears to be adequately confused (my bad), I better provide the story to go with it now.... ;)

In the County, we've really sorted out the rear storage with shelves we custom built, etc. We left a space perfect for our specific fridge which was awesome until I realised there is air vents on 3 sides, not 2 and I had blocked a critical one and the fridge overheated. So now something has to change. SWMBO is convinced we need an upright fridge and it really should have draws. Of course all upright fridges don't fit the space we've left and they don't come with draws. SO, I thought.....you know what fridge fits perfectly in the space we have? Our current fridge! lol It could be put on its end and the door would swing open just like an upright. Putting in shelves or draws is probably easier than rearranging the whole rear storage stuff.

And so that is why I'm asking.... :)

Apart from maybe actually running our fridge on its side, I'm also curious as to what the technical limitation is?! Or is it all just a myth?

[steveG]

I reckon you're either buying a smaller fridge, or modifying your storage area so the existing one can breathe ;)
Like the creative thinking though !!

Steve

[Pedro_The_Swift]

of course upright engals have drawers,,,
and the door opening swaps sides and you can rearrange the inside drawers to suit,,
is 90L and the best thing we've ever bought..

[Judo]

Love a bit of innovation. :D :D

[Ranga]

of course upright engals have drawers

drawers or shelves?

[Vern]

Slightly different justin, but i have a friend who has a 250v upright bar fridge that been made to look like and old timber chest with old fence pailings, this now lays on its back and works fine.

[trout1105]

Have a chat to the caravan people as I am pretty sure that there are small upright (Bar Fridges) 12v fridges Or you could use a conventional 240v bar fridge in conjunction with an inverter.
The 240v option with the inverter would chew heaps of 12v power though.
Conversely you could explain to SWMBO that with the side opening type fridge all the cold drops out when the door is opened where with the conventional 12v units that open up at the top it doesn't and her wine will be better Chilled in a conventional 12v unit [bigsmile]
When we go away Bush I run a 40l unit as a freezer -10C and an 80l unit as a fridge -2C.
To assist in keeping the units cool I run the rear aircon and that seems to help a fair bit.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

drawers or shelves?
both,, bottom drawer, shelves then freezer,,
and no, nothing falls over on the shelves, and at 3A per hour who cares how many times you open the door? ;)

[scarry]

Ahh sorry for the confusion. Oops.

My question is can I leave it running on its side.

If it is compresser refrigerator then no way.

As others have said,the compresser has oil in it and relies on it splashing around for lubrication.

It also has a suction port,oil going in there wouldn't do it ant favours.

I recon on an angle up to a max of,say 25 degrees would probably be fine.

[d2dave]

Somebody will have the technical answer...I believe the compressor has oil in it and the oil need to settle back to where it is supposed to be...kinda like a car engine.



This is correct. If you transport a house fridge on its back/side you should leave it for a minimum one hour upright to allow the oil to drain back.

I can see no reason for a danfoss to be any different in a car fridge.

As a side note, an engle will run ok upside down. I know of one that was in a D1 which sat on its roof for many hours, fridge still running, many years ago and is still working fine today.

Not saying I would try it though.

[Mclaren00]

No oil will run from comp and seize compressor

[Mclaren00]

If it does tip ect should flip back up and leave for 24 hrs
Believe engel do a upright fridge
Might be your best bet

[Judo]

Yep will definitely look at real upright ones now. Cheers.