Solar Powered Camping - Results

[honda900]

Jim,

have given it a run, on the higher settings and found that with a couple of 2ltr bottles of water (frozen) in the fridge it runs at 30ah per day @ -4c.. I did however run it from a power supply not a battery.

I have done one trip back from Gladstone with frozen fish, in the fridge from the car battery, then kept the fish frozen in the Waeco for a week but again on the power supply.

I have had a couple of dramas with teh 12v plug popping out of of the cigarette lighter socket, it has a fuse, but not blown, I suspect it is just expansion and contraction / heat related. I have considered changing the plug myself, but have defferred the Idea for now as I want the unit to work from the car.

REgards
Honda.

[TheRealAndy]

The cig lighter plugs are rubbish. I have all my gear wired up to use the clipsal T plugs ( http://www.springers.com.au/product.asp?SKU=418 ) and are much better. A new lead for your fridge is not expensive, so I bought a spare. Got one that uses the clipsal plug, and one that has a normal ciggie plug. Guess which one I never use!

[finga]

The cig lighter plugs are rubbish. I have all my gear wired up to use the clipsal T plugs ( http://www.springers.com.au/product.asp?SKU=418 ) and are much better. A new lead for your fridge is not expensive, so I bought a spare. Got one that uses the clipsal plug, and one that has a normal ciggie plug. Guess which one I never use!

Anderson plugs are good for that too.

[jimbamb]

Honda.
Thanks for that. It seems pretty consistant with what i find.As the others said get rid of the cig lighter plug.A new lead will cost around $30,Best results are direct from the battery with a dedicated line straight to the fridge(Cut off the ciggie plug and hard wire it.)
You can leave it in the vehicle under the mat or in a pocket etc...
JIM

[murf]

The cig lighter plugs are rubbish. I have all my gear wired up to use the clipsal T plugs ( http://www.springers.com.au/product.asp?SKU=418 ) and are much better. A new lead for your fridge is not expensive, so I bought a spare. Got one that uses the clipsal plug, and one that has a normal ciggie plug. Guess which one I never use!

Andy you are 20 years behind the times mate

I am with Finga and run everything on Anderson plugs, been getting them from Derek for years

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ANDERSON-PLUG...item5ade8b07f6

just about to go and change Timiboys old fridge over to one now after swearing at the cig plug for the last week on holidays

thanks for the solar info and I will go and search some info on those MPPT things

cheers Murf

[jimbamb]

thanks for the link murf.got some on the way(Really good price)
Jim

[TheRealAndy]

Andy you are 20 years behind the times mate

I am with Finga and run everything on Anderson plugs, been getting them from Derek for years

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ANDERSON-PLUG...item5ade8b07f6

just about to go and change Timiboys old fridge over to one now after swearing at the cig plug for the last week on holidays

thanks for the solar info and I will go and search some info on those MPPT things

cheers Murf

Got andersons on a few things, but have had problems with contacts corroding on them as well as the plastic bit cracking.

[murf]

Got andersons on a few things, but have had problems with contacts corroding on them as well as the plastic bit cracking.

dunk ya clipsal's in the salt water and see how long they last , put one of those protective covers on the rear bumper mounted Anderson plug and quickly found out that was a mistake as the water pooled up in the cover

cheers Murf

[TheRealAndy]

dunk ya clipsal's in the salt water and see how long they last , put one of those protective covers on the rear bumper mounted Anderson plug and quickly found out that was a mistake as the water pooled up in the cover

cheers Murf

I'm talking about the ones on the battery box and charging lead in the ute. The clipsal plug has help up ok, anderson not so. Anyway, hijacking someones thread here, sorry about that.