Fridge woes

[pomp Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pomp]

Re: Fridge woes

Some great advice there guys,
I do use my fridge everyday as I work from my car/trailer and in this weather when Im working outside doing decks etc its an absolute must to have plenty of cold drink available.
I've started to take the fridge out at night and stick it on 240v in the garage, that way the fridge doesnt have to work so hard going from 28 to -2 first thing in the morning.
I drive around 2/3 hours per day so I reckon this could be the way to go for me.

PomP

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Fridge woes

hey pomp have you thought of a simple solar setup you can throw out when ya car is parked up between jobs :?: cheers samo

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Fridge woes

I had exactly the same experience with another brand of 4wd when I was in WA. Expected the dealer to keep an eye on the aux and it died about a week after a service. Oh the auxiliary, that isn't OEM stuff so we don't check it. Dry as a bone ............................................ Worse than that an experience with my previous company bus. I fitted different headlight globes (like the ARB ones) and the idiots at the service actually let me start to drive away in the evening with both bulbs blown. Same story not OEM so we didn't touch the bulbs even though the bulbs blew while the service wallies were testing the lights. So I wandered to an automotive parts place, bought two new bulbs and changed them in the forecourt of the dealer's yard. Took a while............ The dealer couldn't lock up because I accidentally left the car parked across the entrance they chain up at night. Never went back but I did enjoy the letters I wrote. Just pays to keep an eye on things yourself.

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Re: Fridge woes

Perhaps an AGM battery might be best if it is needed to be used on a regular basis, for running fridges.

Check out the advantages
http://www.fridge-and-solar.net/agm.htm

The jury is out for using them under bonnet , but one advantage they can be stored upside down , or whichever way, and need no filling.

[pomp Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pomp]

Re: Fridge woes

Perhaps an AGM battery might be best if it is needed to be used on a regular basis, for running fridges.

Check out the advantages
http://www.fridge-and-solar.net/agm.htm

The jury is out for using them under bonnet , but one advantage they can be stored upside down , or whichever way, and need no filling.

Thats an interesting read, I didnt even consider AGM.

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

Re: Fridge woes

There is a lot of info available about batteries and dual systems.
Basically, the vehicle alternator will not fully charge the aux battery. The aux battery will only charge after the main battery is charged with a normal electronic (diode) system and then with only a small charge as it references from the main battery.
The newer (expensive) dual battery systems work much better, however it still takes a long time to charge a flat deep-cycle battery.
Therefore, it is better to fully charge the aux battery using a battery charger before a trip. The aux battery will never charge fully on short trips and the battery will fail due to the constant state of discharge.
If you are using a fridge every day and only driving short distances, it would be better to charge the aux battery with a charger overnight and plug the fridge into 240volt.

[Chuck Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck]

Re: Fridge woes

Maybe you need to look at a system similar to Crammy's. (Here)


Chuck

[Gingerbeer Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gingerbeer]

Re: Fridge woes

Guys,

This is a message for all owners of Waeco fridges that are a couple of years old. Those that do not have the digital temperature readout are prime candidates.

Does your fridge have the red error blinking light coming on after a few minutes and then off, then on and off several times before the temp is reached (if it is reached at all). :cry:

I had this problem and went through hours of replacing wiring , checking plugs, sockets and batteries. :evil: In frustration I took it to Waeco in Burleigh, their HO for the south pacific. The girl at the service desk knew what my problem was before I even finished explaining the symptoms. You need a new poly fuse, she says, they were fitted with a 4 amp fuse from Europe, but need a 9 amp to suit Australian conditions - => cost you nothing, come back in 15 minutes. :wink:

Now fixed and running like new :!:

[xvprado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close xvprado]

Re: Fridge woes

Sorry to comment so long after the event

A common issue with Prado's and newer vehicles is the set up of the regulator and the voltage supplied to the vehicle

Generally batteries like to charge at about 14 volts, the Prado is regulated to charge at peak around 13.8 and charge at 13.2 to 13.4 in most normal conditions. this will limit the ability of the battery to achieve any state of charge significantly. It is arguable that most batteries cant achieve more than 70% charge under these circumstances, assuming your isolator even opens to allow the charge.

A large sydney manufacturer of after market battery gear has had to redesign most of their stuff because they were using 13.4 volts as their switchpoint on dual battery set ups, this means that in their case if less than 13.4 volts was being supplied, the second battery was isolated from charge

So if you took a 80 amp battery at 70% and applied common theory that most batteries will only discharge to say 75% of their available charge you are down to about 40amps useable. This will run your Waeco for maybe 12 hours at 32c ambient. If youre not driving 3-4 hours a day AND your isolator is not accepting charge below 13.4 volts then my experience has been that is the problem in most instances

The only work around I have found is to put the 2nd battery on a 3 stage charger every week to prime it at 100% charge
There are other devices to "step up" the voltage that you could theoretically put between Battery 1 and Battery 2 to ensure the isolator opens and that you are charging at 14v, I havent tried this but it is possible. Personally, I am terrified of the elctrickery in newer vehicles and would be very reticent to try anything that supplied over voltage to the vehicles electronics