Refer Relay

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The web site dedicated to the Toyota Based Mini Motorhome

I recently installed a relay on my refrigerator so that power is only is supplied when the ignition switch is on. I did this because I run the refrigerator on 12V DC when on the road as apposed to propane. Besides being a fire danger I found that propane while driving just was not cooling my refrigerator well. This also eliminates the need to jump into the coach and shut off the refrigerator every time you stop. Running the refrigerator on 12 volts with out the engine running will deplete the battery real quick. I also plan on installing a light on the dash that will tell me that the refer has power. I think sometimes the knob that controls the refer does not get in the right spot and so no power. The light would be connected directly on the 12 volt heating element, not the relay. This connection will also let me know if the relay has failed.
As you can see by the diagram on the right and the other below it, wiring in a relay is really easy. The hardest part is getting a wire from your ignition switch run all the way back to the relay. The top picture is a scan from the relay instructions modified for the refrigerator, the one below I made up to better show the wiring schematic.
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