Running a fridge from the rear 240volt plug

[joebloggs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close joebloggs]

Hi All.
I'm just planning a big trip from Melbourne to Uluru and back in my 2012 Prado. I have a Dometic three way fridge (though do not have a 12volt plug for it.) Whilst I would love to get a dual battery system installed, they seem to be a little out of my price range ($1500 and up)
My thoughts were to run my Dometic fridge off the plug in the boot while we were driving, and hook it up to the gas when we stop.
The specifics of the fridge say it needs 120 watts, 240volts and 0.5 amps.
Does anyone know if the power to the rear of the Prado can handle running a fridge like that? And if it would runt he battery down or handle it well? I'd certainly not want to need a jump start after bush caming in the middle of nowhere.
thanks! Joe

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

I'd be surprised if that doesn't end in tears - or warm beer. 3 Way fridges draw far more than compressor fridges and I would think the small factory inverter (and even smaller cabling) wouldn't last long with a large constant draw.

It would be safer to run twin core 6mm (minimum) cable to the rear from the cranking battery via a relay, and run it on 12v when driving. After cooling it down on 240v at home for a day or two first...

[Black 150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black 150]

Supercheap do a cheap 20 Amp DC-DC charger for about $150. A small Deep cycle battery would cost $150 odd and cabling a few more bucks.

With a few hours work and about $350 you'd have a system.

I installed my DC charger and Battery in the rear drawers (I left a cavity for them when I made them up), ran a +ve cable to the battery through the chasis and into the rear cabin. and a short Earth cable in the rear.

Worth considering.

[joebloggs Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close joebloggs]

Thank you - sounds like it's not such a good idea. Plan B here I come - just not sure what plan B is yet! Thanks for the advice - massively appreciated.

[cyclone Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cyclone]

The rear outlet is only rated at 100W Thats 0.4Ampers at 240V. Its OK for chargers and iPads.
The Prado has a built in inverter. the power comes from the battery whether you have a dual set up or not.
The best method to install a second battery in a 150 series Prado is to use a 12V DC to DC charger. This is because the alternators in the new vehicles to day have variable voltage output. So they will not charge a second battery fully. Especially if it is an AGM. I quick temporary fix is to grab a battery box from supper cheap and tie it down in the back. And charge the battery from your cigarette socket.

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

If you want to hook up something on a budget get a cheap 300w sine wave inverter ($60) from flea bay and connect to the 30 amp fused supply that can be found on the trailer loom interconnecting plug and socket located in the hole where your jack sits in the back pocket. The connector has a nice chunky permanent 12v wire that's not used. I was looking at the wiring diagram recently for my trailer wiring loom and noticed it. The fuse is up front under the bonnet. Perfect for powering a small inverter ( but a little bigger than the factory unit) when the car is running.

[Audiobuzz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Audiobuzz]

...and connect to the 30 amp fused supply that can be found on the trailer loom interconnecting plug and socket located in the hole where your jack sits in the back pocket. The connector has a nice chunky permanent 12v wire that's not used.

Thats the first time I've heard of this supply being available and I'm curious why people have been running new wires if thats the case?

[Sydney Prado Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney Prado]

I just had a 12v plug and dual usb points put into the extra 12v wire hidden in the back

[GXL.15 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GXL.15]

The cable on the built on inverter is crap, 0.5 sq if lucky, it wouldn't run bugger all without ending in tears.

[Mr ok Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mr ok]

I don't see why the wire size is a big issue. The distance from the inverter is less than 0.5m, maximum current is less than half an amp with a voltage of 220vAC. A hair thin 0.1mm2 wire will still be perfectly ok and wouldn't even drop 1 volt in that situation.

[[email protected] Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close [email protected]]

From my understanding, the wire refers to that of connecting the inverter to the battery or whatever in the engine bay and this wire's voltage is 12v.

[Guest Close Guest]

You need to consider, that I think the last poster was talking about the wiring "to" the inverter. Not from.

A 220 Vac Inverter 2 100 Watts is roughly .45 amps. OP was discussing a .5 current draw. So overloaded by roughly 11% which would most likely cause a shutdown of said inverter as it has OL protection.
Either way neither here nor there, Its not the best idea for running any type of fridge..

[baddna Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close baddna]

Gday All.
Can I just mention that I feel it's very unlikely that a 3-way fridge (like 1180 Dometic) consumes only 0.5amps. Mine consumes near 10amps on 12v most often. I've had to push it through a 50amp Anderson plug on massive wires to resolve cig and merits plugs melting! Runs off a 2nd battery. Further, the 3-way is most efficient on gas, so switching to gas when out of vehicle is the way to go. A 9kg gas bottle lasts me a month easily and manages to freeze contents.
So running it from the factory-fitted inverter is likely to fail badly and any low-amp'd solution will simply melt.
My other fridges are only 2-way and far more efficient on 12v.
Dan

[RobP69 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RobP69]

My Dometic 1180 is the same as mentioned by @baddna, month on 9kg and nearly 10amps draw on 12V - good for campsites, not so good for car fridge

[cuda Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close cuda]

Gday All.
Can I just mention that I feel it's very unlikely that a 3-way fridge (like 1180 Dometic) consumes only 0.5amps. Mine consumes near 10amps on 12v most often. I've had to push it through a 50amp Anderson plug on massive wires to resolve cig and merits plugs melting! Runs off a 2nd battery. Further, the 3-way is most efficient on gas, so switching to gas when out of vehicle is the way to go. A 9kg gas bottle lasts me a month easily and manages to freeze contents.
So running it from the factory-fitted inverter is likely to fail badly and any low-amp'd solution will simply melt.
My other fridges are only 2-way and far more efficient on 12v.
Dan

Wonder what the current draw is on 240VAC? It may work without an issue on 240VAC whereas 12V dc is a far greater current draw.