Camping Fridges in D3/D4

We have a family of 2+2 and use a bushman fridge - THE BUSHMAN 12 VOLT FRIDGE FREEZER FOR CAMPING & FOUR WHEEL DRIVE

The fridge can be used in 3 configurations: 35L, 42L, or 52L. We invariably use it in the 52L configuration. Could easily get away with smaller, however that would probably mean sacrificing some of the beer.

For the last 3 years, we have run it without a second battery in the D3. We used the sort of methods mentioned above (temp lower while traveling and higher overnight, etc...) It does work, but I have never been comfortable. Recently I installed the traxide DBS with yellow top battery. I reckon the system is fantastic, and if you can afford to do it, then it is a far better solution. Especially when you are spending more than 1 night somewhere!!!

On the subject of the bushman fridge, I do not know if it is better or worse than an engel or other brands, but we have been very happy with it. We have it running permanently in the house when not in the D3, and apart from the on/off switch being a little dodgy (I bridged it out because it is not needed anyway) it has not missed a beat in about 5 years.

umm. and once you have a fridge, there is no way you can go back to an esky.

Cheers,
Matt.

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Originally Posted by Graeme

The rear socket can easily be changed to full-time by fitting a jumper in place of the appropriate relay in the passenger compartment fuse box. My D4's is jumpered for use with low power devices but the fridge is powered from a 2nd battery.

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Here's a picture to illustrate the issue.

Thanks Streaky. Is that for the D3 or D4? ISTR that the D4's is a small relay but could easily be wrong.

Hi Juddo,
While I don't have a Bushman fridge, I find your post the most objective in this thread.

I hope to hear more from you. :BigThumb:

Best Wishes,
Peter

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Originally Posted by Bushwanderer

Hi Juddo,
While I don't have a Bushman fridge, I find your post the most objective in this thread.

I hope to hear more from you. :BigThumb:

Best Wishes,
Peter

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Thanks for the complement Peter. I have been around for quite a while, but only seem to post when I have something to say. I have definitely got more out of AULRO than I have given, but am always ready to make a post if I feel there is something meaningful that I can add.

Cheers, Matt. :)

HI All,
I have had a long history using in 12v fridges {over 20yrs now} and after all that time I've come to a few conclusion.
National luna- hell expensive but are probably the best fridge i've ever used.Long draw down time from ambient though when on 12v supply.
ARB fridge- excellent fridge, sadly no freezer component but brilliant on the power supply very economical.
Waeco- also excellent and reasonably economical but does seem to use a little more than the previous 2 mentioned NB. I didn't have a long time with the waeco
Engel- Not sure about the new ones but my old one {from 20 yrs ago} really used up the juice, however!!!! i'm not sure to many fridges these days would take what the old engel went through ie. fell out the ute on fraser Is. whilst on an inland track, used as a stand to keep a trailer off the ground whilst we changed the tire and numerous lift offs whilst in the back of the vehicle bouncing along way too fast for the conditions {ahh to be that young and dumb again :p}
I was told that most fridges use the same motor/compressor set up these days so power consumption comes down to solid or hollow wall construction, not sure that's true though.
Like so many others I too set the fridge temp at 0 or less, depending on the make of the fridge, whilst driving or on genset/240 and turn it up when on battery alone. I also have set up 3x 60 amp/hr auxillary batteries using a traxide system and have yet to drain them enough for the fridge to switch itself off.
Cheers to cold drinks and warm sunset all :D

Having Engels and Waecos. I can only comment on these.
Engel everyday. I have the MT45, about 10 years old and it has not had an easy life. I had a Engel 29 litre before that and it was also indestructable, just too small in the end.

OK, correct me here if I have this wrong.

If you forget and leave your fridge running, will this not flatten the battery if the fridge does not have a low voltage cut out?

PLEASE NOTE, I am not posting a bit of scare mongering, I would like to know if there is or is not some form of low voltage protection when you remove the relay.

The reason I ask, I may have a small device that will add low voltage protection if there is none.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by drivesafe

OK, correct me here if I have this wrong.

If you forget and leave your fridge running, will this not flatten the battery if the fridge does not have a low voltage cut out?

PLEASE NOTE, I am not posting a bit of scare mongering, I would like to know if there is or is not some form of low voltage protection when you remove the relay.

The reason I ask, I may have a small device that will add low voltage protection if there is none.

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Hi Tim, I can only comment on Waecos, I have the CF40AC, it has 3 settings for battery protection;

LOW 10.7v

MEDIUM 11.4v

HIGH 12.0v

You can set it to any of these and the fridge will cut out, I would imagine the high setting is for those that don't have an auxillary battery and are running the fridge from the main cranking battery.

Baz.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by drivesafe

OK, correct me here if I have this wrong.

If you forget and leave your fridge running, will this not flatten the battery if the fridge does not have a low voltage cut out?

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Yes.