Being out in nature and sitting around the fire sharing stories is my happy place as I’m sure it is for many people. Summer 2023 ISSUE 6 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up The worst part about going camping is coming home! Up Jayme Groeneveld Being out in nature and sitting around the fire sharing stories is my happy place as I’m sure it is for many people. Exploring new tracks and not knowing what is around the next corner is something that brings out the little kid in us and distracts the mind from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s a therapy only campers will understand!  
©2023 Jayme Groeneveld, Chilly Bin Adventures Instagram Up Up Tiny-worst_2065_mw.webp Tiny-worst_2065_mw.webp 1/1

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption wild silverbeet! Marfells Beach M Richardson Marfells Beach is a DOC camp (pay online, whew, there is mobile coverage this time) has wild silverbeet. Not just thickly (and usefully) in verge, but sprouting in the sand too. Marlborough. ◊ ©2024 M Richardson ckw.nz/doc-marfels Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 21

9 Spring 2024 Spring 2024 ISSUE 9 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption ©2024 Camping the Kiwi Way In the Spring Issue 9 Editor Steampunk – from North to South and back again: “It’s a chance to get dressed up and some have fun” page 5 The re-build of my Toyota van: I woke up to the smell of the sea and the sun rising. I was bitten by the lifestyle. Page 7 Towing your caravan — tips, tricks and weights: If you are new to towing it is not hard to master. Page 13 Buyer beware: The caravan was only 9 years old. We pawed over the photos, checked questions asked… Page 21 The making of the Black Moa™ A new cassette toilet for small spaces. Page 25 Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 3

8 Winter 2024 8 Winter 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Hakataramea Pass David Liddall Hakataramea Pass ©2024 David Liddall Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 17

11 autumn 2025 11 autumn 2025 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Nugget Point Lighthouse ©2025 Dave Adamson Nugget Point lighthouse Dave Adamson Here is a photo of the Nugget Point lighthouse. As we saw it today. March 6. ©2025 Dave Adamson Up Up 11 autumn 2025 , p 7

4 Winter 2023 Winter 2023 ISSUE 4 BUY PDF CONTENTS Up A cure for the stubborn peg Heather Edmeades Up I thought people might find this useful — I always struggle to pull pegs out (yes I use another peg, use the guy — I’m just lacking in strength) then I learnt how to splice, and was looking for something to make once I had done all the guys that needed replacing. It is an old steel peg that I bent into a ring using a hammer and vice. Super useful as it is easy to grip with both hands and use your legs to heave out even the most stubborn peg. ©2024 Heather Edmeades Up Up I can heave out even the most stubborn peg Cure for a stubborn peg Cure for a stubborn peg © 2024 Heather Edmeades Cure for a stubborn peg 1/2 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) editor@campingthekiwiway.org

Summer 2025 ISSUE 13 BUY PDF Contents Click on image for full view and caption recipe-chicken-bread-3-H.webp GO TO as the seasons change scones, quiche, chicken bread and butter Recipes on the road Various Lucy’s gluten-free scones This recipe is a bit different as it uses a gluten free bread mix. Being gluten intolerant and both dairy- and plant-based-milk-free I have altered this recipe a bit. To get Lucy’s gluten free bread mix (lucysglutenfree.co.nz) you can buy through Volare Bakeries (Waikato, volarebread.com), some supermarkets, Binn Inns or health stores online. There is a brown bread mix available if you don’t want white. Keep some extra gluten free flour on hand, in case, like me, your ‘dash’ of liquid is a wee bit generous (oops). These scones aren’t like normal scones due to the psyllium husk in the flour. You can also make a pizza base, cinnamon scrolls or Lemon Maple Drizzle Cake using the bread-mix recipes online: 
lucysglutenfree.co.nz/blogs/recipes. They made great buns and are really filling. 410g Lucy’s The White One Bread Mix 15g (3tsp) baking powder 150g butter, cubed and chilled 250g (1 cup) milk of your choice + extra dash (or use lemonade or ginger ale instead) Optional: Cheese & onion 100g grated cheddar 100g diced onion Optional: Date & ginger 100g chopped dates 3cm piece of ginger, finely grated 20g brown sugar Preheat oven to 200°C and line a baking tray with baking parchment. If you are doing the date option: In its own bowl, rub ginger into the sugar, and set aside ready for topping the scones. Place flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl, along with the chilled butter. Rub butter into the flour mix until it resembles bread crumbs, 3–4 minutes by hand. If you feel the butter becoming too soft, chill the mix for 10 mins. (NOTE:Keeping the butter cold throughout the whole process, leads to a more delicate, layered scone). Add in milk and mix to combine. This is the time to add in onion, cheese (reserve a bit for the tops) or the dates, if you are using them. Divide mix into 100g pieces, and shape into firm rough squares by hand, making sure they are standing tall. Place on to the baking tray and brush a light coat of milk on the top of each scone. If doing extras, dollop the ginger-sugar mix or a sprinkle of cheese on top of each. Put scones straight into oven, bake for25mins, until golden. Maggie O’Rourke. Photos: ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke Crustless quiche 1½ cups milk ½ cup flour 1tsp baking powder 1 cup grated cheese 3 eggs 1 onion, finely chopped 2 slices bacon, chopped 1 tsp parsley 1 tsp salt pepper to taste 1 cup of veges. Suggestions: courgettes, grated; spinach/silverbeet, finely sliced; broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes, cold mashed potato (I usually use 2–3 of these). Mix together milk, flour, baking powder, cheese and eggs. Then add onion, bacon, parsley, salt & pepper and veges. Mix well. Pour into a shallow oven tray/dish. Cook at 180°C for 20−25 minutes, until golden brown and firm to touch. Leave to stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Enjoy. Jo Ravelich Zero-carb chicken bread loaf Super yummy. I tried the mince version too but I prefer the chicken loaf. Great loaf to bring as a plate and its also gluten free. 500 grams chicken mince ½ cup parmesan (or any cheese) 5 large eggs ½ tablespoon oil Salt to taste 2 tsp baking powder Optional: your seasonings Preheat the oven to 185°C . On medium high heat, in your frying pan, cook your chicken in oil and salt. Let cool. In a blender (or use a stick mixer), add your cooked chicken, eggs, parmesan cheese and baking powder, any optional seasonings and blend until smooth. Place your bread batter in a well greased loaf pan Bake for 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Slice and serve! lowcarblove.com/blog/zero-carb-chicken-bread-loaf I made home made butter for the loaf — a messy adventure. See below. Maggie O’Rourke. Photos: ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke Home made butter: Kiwi Gold I think the last time I made butter was in a cooking class at college, and I never remembered it being so messy. Luckily I read the recipe first so I put a jug of water into the fridge to cool ready for the ice-cold bath. One thing I forgot to do was turn my hot water on to wash my hands after — yes I could have worn gloves, but the yellow mess between the fingers is super fun. I will soon tell you about that. Who’s tried making butter before? This is a once in a life time experience. Though the recipe says 5–7 minutes of mixing, it really depends on the mixer. I don’t have a fancy mixer in my bus, though was blessed to be at a camp ground so could use their power. The 7 mins went, then 10 mins and it looked nothing like what they said with separation of the buttermilk, I have no idea on how long it took, but finally, finally, it happened. I grabbed the icy water from the fridge, got the baking sheet out and an air-tight container. This is where the messy part comes in as you have to pick the butter up out of the bowl and squeeeeze the buttermilk out until it looks like a blob of butter, then you rinse in the cold water and squeeze more out. After several squeezing attempts you have butter. Then add some salt. Lick your buttery fingers and wipe off the rest Wrap it in the paper and put it in the container in the fridge. A spoonful of butter is super yum. Now what to do with the buttermilk? I tried making buttermilk icecream what a disaster that was. Homemade butter 2 cups heavy cream Salt to taste Add the heavy cream to an electric mixer. Start whipping the cream on low speed until it thickens slightly. Gradually increase the mixer speed to medium-high and continue to whip for 5–7 minutes, scraping down the sides every now and then. Continue mixing past the whipped cream phase, and you’ll see the cream begin to break into butter (fat molecules) and liquid (buttermilk). Remove the butter from the mixer (save the buttermilk for use later!) and squeeze out any excess moisture by repeatedly squeezing the butter through your hands. Quickly rinse the butter under ice cold water and add salt to taste. Store in either an air-tight container or rolled up in parchment paper. Keep it in the fridge and use within 10–14 days. justinesnacks.com/homemade-butter Maggie O’Rourke. Photos: ©2025 Maggie O’Rourke 🏕️ Up Up Summer 2025 , p 28

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption ©Alex Koveskali GO TO Springing I do like pies LOL Heating a pie Alex Koveskali I’ve worked out an effective way to heat up pies. Gas diffuser, pot, a couple of tin bowls, and a lid; on a medium heat for however long you want. I do like pies LOL. Photos ©Alex Koveskali Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 29

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing Camping the Kiwi Way, Summer 2024 In this issue Double-Digit Highways – SH32,West of Taupo, SH45, Taranaki’s surf coast highway, and SH60 to Collingwood. Springing Your camping stories from spring. Tents. Weather. The night sky. Places to go, places to stay, things to do. Making camping more accessible for everyone involves more than installing accessible toilets. Travelling with pets A list of resources I’ve found helpful on our travels with our furry family member, Pippa. CampFest ‘25 Pack up your tent or camping vehicle and join us in Bulls for a weekend of fun, music, food and family-friendly entertainment. Recipes Favourite and quick camping meals including great ideas for a quick meal on the first night. Table of contents Editorial Come camping Stop and Stay Contribute About Cover image: Waiorongomai Valley ©2024 Greg Lokes ( Greg's Eye ) About Camping the Kiwi Way We hope this magazine will unite the many different camping groups we have in NZ to create a unified voice and energy for sustainable camping for current and future generations of New Zealanders. ISSN: 2815-8261 (Print)ISSN: 2815-827X (Online) ©2024 All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc Editor: Miriam Richardson editor@campingthekiwiway.org | campingthekiwiway.org Published quarterly by All Points Camping Club of NZ Inc &NZ Lifestyle Camping Ltd Order or subscribe Printed copies including postage:$44 for a year (4 issues)$13.50 for a single copy editor@campingthekiwiway.org Read it here online, get a PDF campingthekiwiway.org/issues-camping-the-kiwi-way Or subscribe for a printed copy campingthekiwiway.org/buy-or-subscribe Advertising editor@campingthekiwiway.org For sizes and prices see ckw.nz/advertising Share your stories If your group or club is promoting NZers enjoying our great outdoors, we would like to share your stories. • Tenting, caravanning, motorhoming, van camping, bike camping, hiking and more. • Camping photos and stories. • Club stories and photos. • Upcoming events that include camping. • Opinion pieces on camping issues. Photos 1mb or more in size. Email words and (separate) images: editor@campingthekiwiway.org Contributions close Feb 1 for the Autumn issue May 1 for the Winter issue Aug 1 for the Spring issue Nov 1 for the Summer issue But, for late-breaking articles talk to the editor. Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 1

10 summer 2024 Summer 2024 ISSUE 10 BUY PDF ToC Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Springing this article explains all Safe toilet chemicals Collyn Rivers Safe toilet chemicals are essential, but some toilet chemicals kill essential bacteria in septic and environmental systems: some are toxic — this article explains all. To safely dispose of toilet waste is a major problem for caravan and motorhome owners who free camp. Safe toilet chemicals are essential as faecal matter endangers humans. Many toilet chemicals, however, contain non-biodegradable content. Worse, they kill essentially needed bacteria in ‘long drop’ and septic systems. Safe toilet chemicals So-called bio-stimulant products are environmentally friendly. Adding oxidising agents (or enzymes), speeds up nature’s breakdown of faecal matter. It also reduces smells. You can empty safely treated sewage into septic and sewage treatment plants, but not some so-called environmental systems. Environmentally safe toilet chemicals are oxygen-loving bio-stimulants — such as live bacteria and yeasts. Known-to-be-safe toilet chemicals include Bio-Pack, Odour-B-Gone, Aqua Kem Green and Aqua Kem Rinse (but not necessarily related products), and BioMagic. Their makers claim Envir-Chem, Reliance Bio-Blue, Century Blue Clean N Fresh, and Chempace bioFORCE to be safe. Biocides kill all bacteria Biocides kill all bacteria — good or bad. If you treat toilet waste this way it becomes allergenic: some people claim it possibly triggers cancer. Adding a further chemical reduces the stench of sewage broken down non-aerobically. The industry claims that sewage so-treated is disposable in sewage treatment plants. Biocidic chemicals, however, kill bacteria indiscriminately. This causes many that rely on septic tanks to have a concern about their facilities. Never use formaldehyde The major risk to the ecology is formaldehyde. The US Department of Toxic Substances Control states: ‘Chemical toilet additives include chemicals that are known to cause septic tank failures by killing the bacteria essential to the treatment process in the septic tank. Formaldehyde can thus cause these to die in holding tanks as it controls odour by killing bacteria. When a septic system fails, sewage waste does not break down. It can cause an increased risk to people in contact with raw sewage.’ The Department also warns against de-deodorisers such as Bronopol, Dowicil and Glutaraldehyde. Check the declared content of any product. One, promoted as ‘environmentally safe’, has the (obligatory) Material Safety Data Sheet stating it contains Bronopol. Chemtech’s Portasol claims to be environmentally friendly, but its data-sheet states it contains 10 g/L Glutaraldehyde. Be wary of home-made chemicals. Most contain bleach or Pine-O-Clean. Such material is cheap and effective, however, it kills essentially-needed bacteria. This is not a problem if the waste is disposed of in town sewerage systems. Do not, however, empty it into environmental or septic systems. Is Napisan a safe toilet chemical? Many RV owners suggest using Napisan (or similar) products. Napisan and its many look-alikes contain sodium percarbonate. This, in water, breaks down to soda ash and hydrogen peroxide. An additive makes the faecal matter smell less bad. This works well from an RV user viewpoint but content information, however, is hard to obtain for look-alikes. These may include chemicals that are poison to marine life. Some makers warn they are not safe to use in septic and similar systems. Some such products claim to be bio-degradable to Australian Standard 4351. But that Standard relates only to ‘surfactants’ — a detergent ‘wetting’ effect. It is thus not relevant. These products are cheap. They are, however, only border-line effective in breaking down faecal matter and reducing smells. Using them may damage the environment. Napisan — a professional view Emeritus Professor Ian Jenkins (previously Professor of Chemistry at Griffith University) has kindly provided an independent professional opinion on safe toilet chemicals. The authoritative article explains the active ingredient (in Napisan and associated products) that does the job is sodium percarbonate. It contains from 25%–35%. You can buy sodium carbonate (100%) in bulk. Brewing supply companies sell it for about $5.50 a kilo. Emeritus Professor Jenkins explains how to use it. Use only safe toilet chemicals You can safely use proven bio-friendly toilet chemicals to treat sewage for city sewage treatment plants. But if you travel a lot, be 100% certain the chemicals are bio-friendly. If not you can ruin costly septic systems. n Reproduced with permission, rvbooks.com Napisan article: ckw.nz/napisan You can buy sodium percarbonate from Binn Inn and on TradeMe. Editor Up Up 10 Summer 2024 , p 30

7 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024 ISSUE 7 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Vital Requirements ©2024 Collyn Rivers Make caravan fridges work as claimed Collyn Rivers To make caravan fridges work as claimed, and draw less energy, is cheap, simple and easy. Many can be transformed. This article shows how. Fridges do not generate ‘cold’. They pump heat from where it is not wanted to somewhere it does not matter. Big fridges use more energy than small ones, but not in proportion to their size. Doubling fridge volume will increase energy draw about one and a half times, not twice. Where feasible, use one large fridge — not two smaller ones. Some cold air is lost when a fridge’s front door is opened. Top-opening fridges lose marginally less. The heat seals of door-opening fridges must be perfect, if they are not, energy usage soars. If they are over three years old, replace them . Energy consumption Any fridge’s energy draw relates directly to ambient temperature. All use about 5% more for every 1° C above 25° C. Set temperatures are the same. Fridges need to be +4° C, freezers -18° C (or settle for -14° to save energy). Cool food before placing it in the fridge. Keep bought frozen goods cold in a heat-insulating bag, and put in the fridge as soon as possible. Defrost anything frozen in the fridge section. Let warm beer first cool overnight. If you keep the fridge full less cold air falls out when opened, so leave gaps for air to move, but fill empty spaces with bottled water. Most fridges control temperature by cycling on and off. Energy draw relates to the ratio of on times to off times. A fridge that draws more energy but is on less often, or for shorter times, may use less energy per day. Many makers now produce fridges that run constantly: they vary the speed to maintain temperature. For any type of fridge only daily energy draw has any meaning. Make caravan fridges work as claimed – from solar It is totally feasible to make electrical caravan fridges work as claimed primarily from solar. A typical 40–110 litre chest and door opening electric fridge draws 0.7–1.0 amp-hours/day per litre of its volume. Larger ones draw slightly less per litre. This requires 150 to 200 watts of solar, and 100 to 150 amp hours battery capacity per 100 litres of fridge volume in temperate areas (up to 30º C). Above 30º C, solar capacity needs increase by 5% for each 1º C. Alternator charging assists if driving a few hours each day. (Refer to dc-dc-charging, ckw.nz/dc-dc-charging ). Three-way fridges work well on gas, from the alternator whilst driving, and 110/230 volts when available, but their energy draw (12–30 amps at 12 volts) is far too high for solar. See below re ‘Climate Class’. Unrealistic expectations Fridges must be competently installed. Few are. Improve them by following that shown next page. (Owners comparing fridges unknowingly discuss competent or otherwise installation). No caravan fridge will cool a carton of room temperature beer in an hour or two! Buy beer cold and put it straight in the fridge. Fishers (particularly) grossly underestimate energy needed to freeze their catch. Power draws continuously, doubling or tripling consumption, yet the catch will not freeze quickly. Doing so requires a generator-powered chest freezer. Correctly installed and sensibly used RV fridges will work as specified, but don’t get carried away by vendor’s claims. Believe the claims in technical data, not those in brochures. Gas and three-way fridges must suit the climate in which they are used. If not they are not likely to work as you may expect. Three-way fridges and climate class Three-way fridges maintain cooling over tightly defined ambient temperatures. These are four (CEN standard) Climate Classes. The ‘ SN ’, and ‘ N ’ (Sub Normal, and Normal) units work up to 32° C; ‘ ST ’, (Sub Tropical) up to 36° C. ‘ T ’-rated (Tropical) up to 43° C. (T- and ST- rated fridges do not work that well below 14°–18° C.) Only ‘Climate Class T’ cool satisfactorily in north and north-west Australia (or tropical areas generally). Three-way fridges are available in Australia from Chescold, Dometic and Indel. They have an unfair reputation for poor cooling due either to buying one of the wrong Climate Class and/or poor installation. Three-way fridges meet their claims but must be installed as shown next page to do so. Make caravan fridges work as claimed – in tropical areas When making a fridge work as claimed, it is common (but wrong) to assume there’s more solar input in tropical areas. There is not. Solar input in the tropics in mid-summer is 20% to 30% less than many expect. High humidity causes haze and some solar energy is lost because of this. It is also hot all day and often all night, so fridges draw up to 50% more energy, meanwhile, solar modules lose energy through heat loss. To cope in tropical conditions, your solar system must bring batteries to float voltage in temperate areas by noon on most days All this is thoroughly covered in my books Solar that Really Works, Solar Success and Caravan & Motorhome Electrics rvbooks.com.au . Installation Few RV fridges are correctly installed, including many done ‘professionally’. Making caravan fridges work as claimed is usually possible: sometimes even better than claimed — and often at little or no cost. It is usually easy to do but in extreme cases, it may be necessary to totally re-install. Here is a far from extreme example: it is of a $550,000 motorhome with a 450-litre fridge totally enclosed and unventilated, plus a 300-litre freezer. Both are in unventilated lockers with black fronts exposed to the sun. Neither cools below about 5 degrees C. Both connect to the battery via cable barely able to run LEDs. The RV maker refuses to accept responsibility — he blames the fridge maker! Fixing required a major rebuild of the kitchen area at a cost of over $10,000! Heat must escape Whilst seemingly obvious, a fridge must not be in direct sunlight: One character, who has his outside in Broome’s full tropical sun, complains: “my b..y mongrel Electrolux won’t keep my %#@^& beer cold.” He’d listen to nobody (including me) explaining why — despite going through a 9kg (20lb) LP gas cylinder a week as a result. The heat from a fridge must be able to exit the caravan — and not re-enter. To do this they need a cool air entry at its base level, and a hot air exit (ideally at roof level). Most need baffles to direct cold air so that it can only flow through or over the cooling fins. Baffles can be made from aluminium, plywood or even cardboard. They must be within a centimetre or two of the cooling fins. Channel rising warm air so none is trapped. The cool air vent can be at the side or through the floor (but not above or behind an engine’s exhaust outlet). Cool air must enter below the lowest cooling fin and exit well above the highest fin. The lower inlet is a problem off-road as dust is sucked in. Here, compromise is needed. One way is to have the vent closed off while on dirt roads (but cooling will suffer as a result). Rising warm air is ideally vented to and through the roof: if not feasible, have a side vent well above the highest cooling fin. Fridge level is important. Some three-way fridges tolerate 6° tilt, others only 3°, but electric fridges are less sensitive. The vital requirements Upper Left: — the baffles are too short. They need to be just below the cooling fins. Rising hot air is trapped in the dead air spaces. If not fixable (bottom centre and right), an extractor fan driven by a 5-watt solar module enhances airflow. Upper right: — the upper air vent is far too low — hot air is trapped in the fins above it, to prevent that, baffles are needed. Bottom row: How to install fridges correctly. Baffles truly help, yet rarely used. Rising hot air is channelled to the outside. Drawing is copyright: rvbooks.com.au A small extractor fan often assists. Some have an integrated solar panel — this works well as cooling is most needed when sunny. Fans used in large desktop computers are cheap. They run directly from a 5–10 watt solar module or the RV’s 12-volt system. Ideally use fans to extract warm air rather than pumping in cool air — but the difference is minor. Electrical problems with 12-volt fridges Most 12 volt fridges have grossly inadequate cabling — many only 25% of that required. Check by seeing if the fridge cools better on 230v (where relevant). Cable issues are worsened by faulty fuse holders: and particularly cigarette lighter plugs and associated too-small wiring. Scrap such plugs and wire the fridge to the battery by the shortest route. To check if the cable is too small, with the fridge running, measure the voltage directly across the battery, then directly across the fridge. To ensure it keeps running, do this with the fridge door open. Many caravan fridges have close to 1.0-volt drop. Accept no more than 0.15–0.2-volt drop. Using adequate cable makes an extraordinary difference to making caravan fridges work as claimed. For an electric fridge to battery distance of fewer than four metres, use 4mm² cable (AWG/B&S 11). Over four metres use 6mm² cable (AWG/B&S 9). If over four metres, move the battery closer. Do NOT use the auto cable sold by auto parts and hardware stores without first reading about it below — or in more detail in Caravan & Motorhome Electrics. ckw.nz/c-m-electrics Do also see my article on DC-DC Charging — this shows how to ensure the caravan battery and fridge receive their full required voltage from the vehicle alternator. This can totally transform a caravan or camper trailer fridge. ckw.nz/dc-dc-charging Auto cable problems Appliance makers specify cable by its cross-section in mm². Auto cable makers (in effect) specify it by the size hole you can just push it through. They rate it by its overall diameter including insulation! Auto cable sold as 4mm is typically 1.8mm², but may be only 1.25mm². Many caravan electric fridge makers specify 4mm². But countless fridges are connected by totally inadequate 1.8mm² auto cable (less than half the minimum specified). No fridges wired that way work remotely as they should and usually can. Direct comparison with other wire gauges is impossible with auto cable as conductor as size varies from maker to maker. One exception is that 6mm auto cable (typically 4.59mm² — or 10 AWG) can be substituted for 4.0mm² cable. Cable current rating trap Cable ‘ratings’ (e.g. ‘50-amp’ etc) indicate only the current that cable carries before it melts! They tell nothing about voltage drop (as that is also a function of cable length). It’s useless asking most vendors about this because few know it’s even an issue — let alone why. For caravans, locate the battery as close as possible to the fridge. If alternator-charged, install a dc-dc alternator charger close to that fridge’s battery. Never use cable lighter than advised above. If you do the fridge cannot work correctly An exact way of establishing the best cable size is shown in my books, Solar that Really Works, Solar Success and Caravan & Motorhome Electrics. rvbooks.com.au . Problems with three-way fridges Routine maintenance is required. Check the flame colour: it should be blue. If yellow (or the fridge works well on 12 volts but not on gas), the baffle inside the flue is likely coated with soot. Soot etc also drops down and affects the burner. Wearing safety glasses and old clothing, use a powerful air compressor to clean that baffle. Do likewise around the burner. Be aware this is a filthy job. You may prefer a fridge repairer to do it — and have them check the LP gas pressure at the same time. Whilst uncommon, an LP gas fridge may suddenly stop working. This is usually caused by a ‘vapour lock’ due to the caravan being excessively out of level. You can usually fix this by turning the fridge off, and make sure the caravan is level (within 3 degrees) — then turn the fridge back on after a few hours. A cause of cooling issues with gas fridges in imported RVs (or imported gas fridges) is if they are made for LP gas in a different country. If so, the jets can be the wrong size. If so, seek expert advice. Use three-way fridges as their makers intend. Run them on 12 volts only whilst driving or an hour or so from the battery because they draw too much energy to run from solar. For caravans, use heavy cabling — ideally 10 to 13.5mm² — from the alternator to the caravan battery. Consider installing a dc-dc alternator charger close to that caravan battery. Use at least 6mm² cables from that battery to the fridge. Make caravan fridges work as claimed — in cars and 4WDs Making caravan fridges work as claimed in cars and 4WDs is more of a problem. Keep them out of direct sunlight, and leave air space around the grill’s vent areas. It is fine to pack stuff close to or touching them — except for the types shown below (these must have a 50mm air gap each side as the heat dissipates from their sides). You can improve all types of fridges (some dramatically) by running a 6mm² (8 AWG) cable directly from the battery to that fridge (a maximum of four metres away). Use 6 AWG if the distance exceeds four metres. A few boat and RV fridges, such as this Australian designed and made Autofridge, (right)dissipate heat from their side-walls. These fridges must have an air gap of 50mm each side. Pic: Autofridge Australia. Fridge issues generally Do not over-pack RV fridges as space is needed to allow cool air to circulate. Door seals leak after a few years. To check, insert a strong strip of this paper (e.g. a banknote) between the door and the seal (at various places around the door) and see if it grips. If not, cool air escapes, so replace the seals every three to five years. Fridges with external cooling fins benefit by adding extra heat insulation. Some fridges, however, such as the Intel and Autofridge (pic above), dissipate heat from their side-walls. If possible have a cool air feed to the base of their sides. They must have an air gap (of 50 mm or so) at either side and their top. Make caravan fridges work as claimed – summary It is totally possible to make almost all RV fridges work as claimed (or even better) via the work described above. Except for the very cheapest fridges, dismiss claims of inherent deficiencies. If a fridge is appropriate for its proposed use, problems are almost always due to faulty installation. For domestic fridges, and fridges in cabins, virtually all of the above is relevant. n Further reading A great deal more on how to make fridges work as claimed is in my book Caravan & Motorhome Electrics. It even shows how to build your own fridge that leaves commercial units for dead in cooling and economy. It also includes a lot of information about running them from solar. ckw.nz/c-m-electrics Reproduced with permission. rvbooks.com.au . GO TO Celebrating Summer problems are almost always due to faulty installation Up Up 7 Autumn 2024 , p 29 ISSN 2815-827X (Online) | ISSN:2815-8261 (Print) ISSUE 4 editor@campingthekiwiway.org

2 Summer 2022 Summer 2022 ISSUE 2 CONTENTS PDF BUY Up Worth a detour: The Marokopa River Valley Fiona Thomson Up Next time you’re in the Waitomo area (the Waikato region of the North Island) it’s worth the detour to check out three natural landmarks that are really close together, on the Te Anga Road. Mangapohue land bridge The naturally-occurring Mangapohue land bridge is the 1st attraction. There is a well-formed DOC path through pleasant bush to view the spectacular 17 metre high naturally occurring land bridge. The fern-covered land bridge spans across the cliffs each side of the Mangapohue stream, forming a stunning bush-covered arch. (October ’22: the track is closed due to weather-related erosion. Check the DOC website for updates.) PiriPiri Caves The second stop is a short drive further down the road, to the Piripiri Caves. The walk in was even more fascinating than the cave itself, with this area being filled with interesting rock formations: you could spend a bit of time spotting ancient sea life fossils. Marokopa Falls The third stop was to the Marokopa Falls. Another short bush walk leads to the viewing platform where the 35 metre classic waterfall sprays out above you. Sturdy footwear is recommended, as scenic tracks can sometimes be muddy (and slippery) in this gorgeous river valley. Note: You can’t take your dogs with you on any of these walks. Up Up Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle Mangapohue land bridge © 2022 Julian Thomson, © 2022 Fiona Thompson, © 2022 Margaret Earle 1/17