The Use Of Domestic Fridges For 4x4 Use

It is not unusual to get calls from enthusiastic 4x4 users asking about the use of small domestic fridges, such as a Bar fridge, for use on mobile applications.

Unfortunately, although this may represent use of existing and an under-utilised asset, it is not a good idea for 6 primary reasons:

1. Domestic fridges are not designed around bumpy roads and will tend to shake themselves to pieces should they be subjected to regular maltreatment of this nature!
   
   
2. Domestic fridges are not designed around high ambient temperatures experienced in the sort of locations to which the average 4x4 driver targets himself in an attempt to ‘get away from it all’. Temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius are not uncommon, but most operational specifications for domestic fridges are based on ambient temperatures of around 25 degrees Celsius.  Thus, subjecting these fridges to such high temperatures means that they are cycling, all day, in a vain attempt to keep down the temperature, and this translates into premature compressor burn-out.
   
   
3. The average domestic front-opening fridge will consume between 3,500-5,500WH per day – depending upon the usual factors of setting, make, content, age, ambient temperature, door openings, etc.  The average 80L 4x4 12V fridge, by comparison, will use around 600-800WH per day in the same conditions. The average difference in power consumption is somewhere around an extra say, 3000WH, which equates to five times the consumption and thus 5 times as many batteries for the same reserve time!
   
   
4. A domestic fridge is designed to run off 220V Sinewave. This means that you will need to purchase a Sinewave inverter of some 1-1.5KW to allow for the start-up characteristics of a domestic fridge. Costs for these inverters are around R3,500-5,000 and most of them are not designed to bounce around the Veld either!
   
   
5. Having the same reserve time for your fridge of say 1 ½ - 2 days which a couple of auxiliaries would usually give you, would now require 10 batteries plus the inverter, which is also quite bulky, but hey! You’ve got plenty of extra room right? Right!
   
   
6. Add the costs of 8 extra batteries at R1,300 each, to your inverter price, fridge depreciation, lost space, and balance that against the extra capacity you get, and the scales would tend to tilt in favour of purchasing a dedicated 4x4 12V fridge.

Having said that, if you are travelling on smooth tarmac, have access to Grid power every night and don’t mind adding a couple of extra batteries and an inverter to your rig (or small genset?) – then, by all means use auntie Jemima’s spare fridge you inherited!