So Is It Safe Use a Portable Fridge in a Tent or Caravan?

• 

  PinzVidz on 28/01/2020 - 15:50

  +3

  Depends on what type of fridge. If it's a 3 way and they were using LPG, they probably got gassed (CO). If a non-LPG fridge, it could've leaked some sort of refrigerant causing asphyxiation if they were asleep.

  • 

    Euphemistic on 28/01/2020 - 18:13

    +2

    This. Need to know what sort of fridge. No way I’d be using a gas 3-way in an enclosed space, they need ventilation to operate due to he burning gas creating carbon monoxide.

• 

  AdosHouse on 28/01/2020 - 16:08

  Nothing is going to be 100% safe, shit can go wrong, it is the chances of something going wrong that decide if you should do it or not.

  Personally if I was running a gas fridge (which I don't know if the one in the story was) I would also have a gas detector attached to it. If it was a refrigerant leak, well that was super unfortunate, but can happen depending on the condition and quality of the fridge.

  Ideally I would leave the fridge in the 4WD and not in the tent with me.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 29/01/2020 - 10:01

    "Personally if I was running a gas fridge (which I don't know if the one in the story was) I would also have a gas detector attached to it."

    I used to do this, but the detector kept beeping and gave me a headache, so I turned it off ;)

• 

  netjock on 28/01/2020 - 16:13

  Investigation ongoing so better not read too much into it. You can came with your fridge if your partner doesn't get jealous.

• 

  apsilon on 28/01/2020 - 16:20

  I've never had one that would run on gas but my understanding is they require ventilation. I would expect them to be OK in a tent during summer (not that I would) where you have all the windows open etc so I'm not sure if these unfortunate people had the tent closed up (perhaps it was raining etc) or maybe the gas system wasn't fully connected and leaked though you should be able to smell that.

• 

  HighAndDry on 28/01/2020 - 16:33

  +1

  Probably a very freak occurrence where there was a combination of:

  1. (Very) Leaky fridge releasing a relatively large volume of thy gas,

  2. Airtight and completely unventilated space because they'd sealed the tent; and

  3. They were sleeping and had their heads very close to the ground where the gas settled.

• 

  TheBilly on 28/01/2020 - 16:53

  Don't stress. This would fall into shark attack territory. Find out what happened when they do and then don't make the same mistake.

• 

  JimmyF on 28/01/2020 - 17:25

  after a suspected gas leak from their fridge in their tent.

  These are a non flued device, they need to be used in a vented area to be used correctly, which appears wasn't the case here.

  A closed up tent with a 'flame' aka the LPG fridge running that wasn't vented to the outside, all while sleeping in the same tent isn't a wise thing to be doing.

  • 

    ssquid on 28/01/2020 - 17:56

    Probably an old caravan fridge, meant to be ventilated out the side of the van…

    • 

      JimmyF on 28/01/2020 - 18:11

      Guessing so too, those units are installed in a cabinet with a vent out the back, so they don't vent into the main caravan and kill everyone. Sad news indeed, but hopefully some people who didn't know, now know not to do this.

• 

  Euphemistic on 28/01/2020 - 18:14

  Unlikely to be a 12v car fridge. Most likely an LPG fridge.

  LOG fridges are common in caravans and are normally mounted with the back vented, as required.

• 

  Cluster on 28/01/2020 - 18:43

  I keep my 12v fridge outside my tent. Cover it with a reflective layer during the day. No gas is ever stored inside the tent.

  • 

    ssquid on 28/01/2020 - 21:23

    No gas is ever stored inside the tent.

    You sleep outside too?

• 

  Cunning Linguist on 28/01/2020 - 19:23

  Whats interesting is that the police have eluded to this being equipment malfunction and not mis-use.

  Is it even possible for a 12v/240v to leak any sort of dangerous coolant type gas?

  • 

    apsilon on 28/01/2020 - 20:26

    +1

    I believe most refrigerants are toxic in large quantities but I wouldn't think a portable camping fridge would contain enough.

• 

  jaimex2 on 28/01/2020 - 23:48

  +1

  Highly likely it was a LPG fridge, not really common.

  • 

    Euphemistic on 29/01/2020 - 05:51

    Very common in caravans, but normally installed properly with venting to outside.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 29/01/2020 - 10:00

  I avoid the gas fridges for multiple reasons. A little off topics but gas fridges need to be level-ish to work effectively. Small 12V camp fridge does the job, and can be operated in the car, or in a tent. I usually keep mine near the door with a reflective cover to keep it as cool as possible. Caravans always have a 'vent' in the floor so that any gas can 'roll' through the vent and outside.

  • 

    Euphemistic on 29/01/2020 - 15:54

    12v fridges have certainly taken over from 3-way ones. Getting into a gas (3-way) fridge can be a lot cheaper though. They are cheaper to buy and you only need a gas bottle to run them. There is no need to go and buy solar panels or a battery or to upgrade wiring to suit. Gas fridges are actually pretty effective too, except if you live in the tropics.

• 

  Euphemistic on 30/01/2020 - 17:42

  Reading on a caravan forum the con census was that a 12v compressor fridge (like waeco or Engel etc) would have insufficient gas quantity to cause any problems. It also apparently has low enough toxicity to not be a problem in a small space. When you consider this, and that 12v fridge is designed to be operated in a hostile environment, a leak sufficient to cause a fatality is quite unlikely.

  Unlike a gas fridge that does emit Carbon monoxide and is also likely to have a user connect LPG cylinder is most likely the cause.