MIN663 Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Hi everyone another newbe here after picking your brains. Bought our first motohome a couple of months ago a Hymer B534 1989 so far only been away for a couple of weekends on hook up. Want to take her wild camping in europe, like the sound of the French Passion scheme. The Hymer has a compresser fridge, How do we run it without hook up? should we consider a generator (or is that a dirty word :-D ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 My personal favorite way is by solar panel, theres a solar panel thread 'on the go' now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIN663 Posted September 14, 2009 Author Share Posted September 14, 2009 Thanks for post Colin, The Hymer has a solar panel fitted, seems to keep the battery well charged. I tryed at home the other day by getting the fridge cold on hook up then unhooked switched control panel to leisure battery supply but by early evening fridge was warm. Am i doing it wrong ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hi Min, first of all it depends largely on how big your leisure battery is and how well charged it is. Are you really sure its a compressor fridge though? as I've never known Hymer to fit them. If it is a compressor type then its worth checking what current it draws when running. Also check your battery for condition. I have a 100 litre compressor fridge and that takes 5 amps when running but typically only runs for a few minutes an hour, (about a minute at a time once its down to temperature and between twice and six times an hour depending on ambient temperature. How big is your solar panel? D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hi Min, Can you post exact details of your fridge, make and model number, then exact details can be checked for power consumption. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 A friend has a super duper new motorhome with a compressor fridge. He has 220 ampere hours of leisure battery and an 80 watt solar panel. Over a 5 day show in the UK (with no hookup) the beer became warm on day 4. Nuff said. Compressor fridges are more efficient but my choice would always be gas powered unless there was no gas available - then diesel powered as they do for those massive 4X4 all terrain beasts. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIN663 Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 Thank you all for your replies just been out and checked info asked for. The fridge is a Waeco coolmatic 90lt, model is MDC-90, Art-no 8090-120, 12V/5A connection, fuse 15AF, regfrgarant R-12-85gr. The leisure battery is 110AH, the on board meter shows it fully charged needle on meter gos past 14Vs. I have no manuals or paperwork for the solar panel but ifs its any use ive measured the actual panel it is 42 1/2" (1080) long 26" (660) wide and 1 1/4" (35) thick. Hope this helps. Min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hi Min, thanks for the data, very useful. Regarding your battery though, how old is it? The trouble with using the on board meter to judge your battery's condition is it won't really tell you much, only the surface voltage. If the battery is old and tired for example it might well show 13+ volts at rest but how long will it last with a load on it? Have you checked the electrolyte level recently?(assuming its a wet lead acid battery). D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but its broadly relevant. How long should a 70 litre compressor fridge work off a 110 amp battery at an outside temperature of 25C while the vehicle is static? A new vehicle I may purchase has such a set up and the last thing I want is a solar panel as there's not much space on the roof once the satellite dish is fitted. Some of the above comments suggest the fridge wont work for very long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIN663 Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hi D, Thanks for your help (good Call) .When i bought the hymer couple of months ago chap said battery was new (took his word for it :-( ) just taken battery out it is a wet lead acid, got a date on it 2007 checked electrolyte and none of them are covered in fluid. So i guess its gonna be a new battery. What size AH would you recommend given that the long term aim is wild camping as mentioned above. Min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Mike88 - 2009-09-15 7:32 PM I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but its broadly relevant. How long should a 70 litre compressor fridge work off a 110 amp battery at an outside temperature of 25C while the vehicle is static? A new vehicle I may purchase has such a set up and the last thing I want is a solar panel as there's not much space on the roof once the satellite dish is fitted. Some of the above comments suggest the fridge wont work for very long. My experiance would suggest 1 or maybe 1 1/2 days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 MIN663 - 2009-09-15 8:05 PM Hi D, Thanks for your help (good Call) .When i bought the hymer couple of months ago chap said battery was new (took his word for it :-( ) just taken battery out it is a wet lead acid, got a date on it 2007 checked electrolyte and none of them are covered in fluid. So i guess its gonna be a new battery. What size AH would you recommend given that the long term aim is wild camping as mentioned above. Min I'd go for the best quality battery you can afford with a minimum capacity of 110AH, if you have space/payload available and can afford them go for two. I'll refrain from advising on manufacturers of batteries as we sell one well known brand and I don't want to appear partisan. ;-) D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIN663 Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hi D Just sent you a PM , Min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 Hi Min, just replied ;-) . D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffers Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 we used to run a 50l compressor off 110ah battery. Normal routine was that we moved every couple of days - never had any problems - very impressed with the efficiency of the compressor fridge. We didn't run v much else tho - eg no tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyb Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Mike88, forgive me, but had to smile at your question. You seem more keen on having a TV than a working fridge ("little room for a solar panel once sat dish fitted") Isn't it better to have a fridge that keeps your food at a safe, healthy temperature that watching TV? Not only that, but have you considered that you might need a solar panel to provide power for your sat gubbins as well? Just a thought! Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 mikeyb. I only run the TV on mains. When on Aires I don't bother. I agree with your sentiment though. Keeping the food at a healthy temperature is far more important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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