Absorption cooling dometic fridge

[She]

How am I going to run this thing? 7 amps. I am using batteries alone. I can recharge my batteries whenever I want with electric. Winter I am not even bothering to do that. Just Ice(if that). When I am driving it will be getting connected to the ciggy lighter but I dont drive much. This is a 3 way fridge. 

 

[wandering mike]

Three way fridges are not uncommon, but then again, they are not that common either. The reason is the lack of desire on the part of most to use the battery to run the thing on 12 Volt when not driving. &nbsp;<br /><br />Any reason you can't use propane? &nbsp;It doesn't use much. &nbsp;Or actually, if you can charge your batteries any time you want,&nbsp;presumably&nbsp;with 110 volt, why not just run it on 110 volt if it is 3 way?

 

[Les H]

yup, mine draws 8 amps.My 45 w solar system slows down the draw, but doesnt negate it. Even in full sun, the battery will go dead in 14-16 hrs. propane is the way to go when parked, or 110 if available, or a much larger solar setup and multiple batteries.

 

[She]

Thanks for&nbsp;answering&nbsp;so fast!! I don't have use of electric 24/7. Its more that while I am working I can charge the battery/batteries somewhere. Heck I can bring a battery in the company car and charge it not just plugging the fridge in that I can do. If I left it at work everybody&nbsp;would&nbsp;be using it and its TINY. I am not sure what size battery to get for it. It sounds like a large one. Or maybe 2.

 

[wrcsixeight]

A &nbsp;healthy and fully charged group 27 62 pound battery ~ 13"x7"x9" will power that fridge for about 7.5 hours before falling below the 50% charged threshold where lead acid car jar batteries should not regularly go.<br /><br /> With a &nbsp;good 25 amp charger on the battery and NOT powering the fridge, 2 hours will get you back upto ~ 80%, and 100% will take 4 to 10 more hours of charging before the battery cannot accept any more electricity, and be at the point at which you started.<br /><br />Driving the van would take 2 hours to get it to ~80 to 85%, with good thick cabling.<br /><br />Absorption fridges are for propane, and 120 volt AC hookups. &nbsp;Nobody anywhere tries to run one on battery power alone for any length of time.<br /><br />They are also reported to perform very badly on 12 volts, as in not even come close to being able to hold food safe in the sub 40f category

 

[Guest]

What ever you do, do not run the fridge in temps below - 10 deg Celsius. It cause the ammonia to crystallize and render the cooling unit useless..I have replaced alot of fridges in full time rv'ers who did not take the precautions to keep it warmer in the cabnet.
The 12 volt option is for when you are traveling so the wind from driving doesn't blow out the flame. That's why you don't see the 12 volt any more as the have electronic ignition now, flame blows out the board relights it.