A modicum of research shows the 1.7 cubic foot unit Jim mentioned uses
about 90W. Say 8 amps plus some for the inverter losses. Certainly do-able
for some period of time, dependent upon the duty cycle. It may not be super
efficient but it would work.

A hard-wired inverter would be best.

Angus

On Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 6:51 PM, Rocket J Squirrel <
camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>