Fridge in catering van, do I have to pay £3.5K

LicensedToTrade

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Nov 7, 2009
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GraemeL

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  • Sep 7, 2011
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    Used to have a caravan with an Electrolux fridge that worked from gas or mains or car battery (when engine was running). It did cool, but was no where near as effective as a regular home fridge. I would definitely not be have been happy using it for catering. I guess you have to check the spec required by regulations against what you buy pretty carefully. Critically important item?
     
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    Mitch3473

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    Aug 25, 2011
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    Vanman, can you give me a brief run down of how these fridges work, I've always wondered how a fridge can run off mains gas.

    We live out in the sticks in Catalonia and up until last month have always used gas fridge/freezers.They work basically by a small flame heating up a gas or chemical which then passes another gas or chemical,some sort of witchcraft happens and everything cools down.It works very well until you run out of gas (ours was bottled).If you are thinking of having one in a van remember it needs to be left running in order to maintain the temperature and,as with ours,needs to be perfectly level,if not,proper combustion will not take place,fumes develope and soot appears plus the fridge will not work as efficiently.You will need adequate ventilation,they are usually very expensive....Stick to electrickery and a genny
     
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    We have a van converted for leisure with blown air heating, shower and toilet, fitted kitchen with 3 way fridge (gas, electric and 12 volt) and hot running water.

    The fridge is excellent we leave it running on gas all the time otherwise it get's mouldy. It doesn't use much gas. It's got a tiny freezer compartment too. If it's been turned off for a while gas will take ages to get things down to a cool temp but with a 3 way you can plug your van in overnight and keep things cold then use gas on the road or 12v. I'm pretty sure that's what ice cream vans do.

    Ours isn't a very big fridge mind, not for catering anyway. Big enough to store a weeks food, juice, milk etc for 2.
     
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    M

    Merchant UK

    If you want a Fridge in a catering van, then you can get a decent stainless steel 240v one for about £300, Then simply get yourself a generator from B&Q for about £200

    Not only will you have a decent and cheap to run fridge, which would meet up with the hygiene regs but you'll also have a generator for lighting as well as any other electric bits you want to use.

    :cool:
     
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    J

    JoyDivision

    I would look into having a 12v one, but I would imagine the vans electric would need upgrading first. I don't think fridges use much wattage, but you would at least need to make sure the van has an alternator rather than a dynamo and runs on 12v. Shouldn't cost a fortune but this might be one reason your quote has been high.
     
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