You might want to check out this reference that shows the gauge wire needed at 12V to carry various amp loads. 

http :// www . engineeringtoolbox .com/amps-wire- gauge -d_730. html 

  

If I am reading the chart correctly, you can go 15 feet if you use 8 gauge wire. 

  

Todd 

'88 Westy 

  

  

----- Original Message -----

From: "Rocket J Squirrel" <camping. elliott @ GMAIL .COM> 
To: vanagon @GERRY. VANAGON .COM 
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2013 6:51:02 PM 
Subject: Re: Mini Fridge 

Well then -- 2.5A @ 120 volts is indeed 25 amps at 12 volts. Good luck 
powering that thing with a cigar lighter. 

-- 
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott 
1984 Westfalia , auto trans, 
Bend, Ore. 

On 06/10/2013 06:43 PM, phishman068@ gmail .com wrote: 
> The fridge doesn't operate at 12v 2.5amps. It's 120volts at 2.5 amps, 
> aka about 25 amps at 12 volts. However, your running it through an 
> inverter which as stated could draw big amps, and will draw big amps 
> regardless of what's going on down stream. 
> 
> 
> -craig 
> 
> On Jun 10, 2013, at 9:40 PM, Rocket J Squirrel 
> <camping. elliott @ GMAIL .COM> wrote: 
> 
>> If that refrigerator needs but 30 watts to operate, then that's 
>> about 2.5 amps @ 12 volts. I reckon a cigar lighter can provide 
>> that. If you're camping, and not driving, then you'd need a cabin 
>> battery that can provide at least 60 amp-hours to keep the fridge 
>> running for 24 hours. 
>> 
>> 
>> -- Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott 1984 Westfalia , auto trans, 
>> Bend, Ore. 
>> 
>> On 06/10/2013 02:26 PM, Jim Ogul wrote: 
>>> Ok .  I was figuring that a 1.7 cu ft refrigerator uses about 30 
>>> watts and that wouldn't require all that much current.  Maybe my 
>>> figures are off here.  The thing is I already have a 300 watt 
>>> inverter that plugs in the cigarette lighter socket and I have my 
>>> son's dorm refrigerator so I wanted to experiment a bit but i 
>>> don't want to burn out anything. 
>>> 
>>> Jim 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 12:29 PM, Jeff Lincoln 
>>> < magikvw @ gmail .com> wrote: 
>>> 
>>>> I know absolutely nothing about electrical/wiring - but I would 
>>>> think that even with one of those small cig lighter inverters - 
>>>> this would be a huge draw on old wiring and such. I have a 
>>>> feeling the fuse wouldn't last too long. 
>>>> 
>>>> It's a good idea but like I said have a hunch it wouldn't go 
>>>> well. 
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks, 
>>>> 
>>>> Jeff '85 GL (Gertie) '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 12:20 PM, Jim Ogul 
>>>> <jimogul70@ gmail .com> wrote: 
>>>> 
>>>>> Has anyone tried using a minifridge (the kind they sell for 
>>>>> dorm rooms etc.) pluggged into an inverter off the cigarette 
>>>>> lighter.  This seems 
>>>> like 
>>>>> a cheap alternative (since we already have both the fridge 
>>>>> and and inverter) to the Westy's which is pretty weak. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Jim 85 Westy 87 Saab 900T (265,000 miles and going strong) 68 
>>>>> Saab V4 (currently for sale on Ebay ) 99 Chevy s10 2010 
>>>>> Suburau Forester 
>>>>