BCS Battery Current Saving Device for Fridges

Cruisin
thoughts/Commennts

Not enough info. I would like to see overall results. Watts consumed over a twentyfour hour period.
Same result may be achieveable by widening the throtlling range on the thermostat.
Resent post questioned the temperature control of various fridges. This method widens the range by three times.

regards

Cruisen

Very interesting topic.

How about posting your results when you have them? I for one would be grateful for any info re this subject

Cheers

Cruisin
Like I said interest subject this.
It is not my intention to knock this product, just have lots of questions.
Can I achieve a similar result by changing the setpoint from 4deg C to 7deg C? Same resulting max temp but min 6deg C. Therfore 4deg C difference at min between fridge and ambient space. Saving?
I am not trying to be smart but this is an area I have worked in every day for over thirty years, therfore many questions.

Regards Wim

Cruisin
Thought about this some more and I guess the only way I am going to accept the product claims is to see data similar too:
Two identical camping fridges in the same room with the same setpoint (note this may not be based on dial setting) and the same product in side. Vary the room temp over 24hrs to mimic actual outdoor conditions. Have one fridge installed with savings device. Monitor the total watts consumed of each fridge for the entire 24hr period
After 24hrs change the savings device onto the other fridge. Without changing anything else re run the test.
The results should then prove without doubt the savings gained.
Seriously Cruisin this is a worthwhile subject and I for one would buy this device if it saves my batteries.

Have a good weekend.

One point though is if the fridge is getting as high as 8 degrees and the normal temperature to keep food fresh and not spoiling is 4 degrees, what happens to the food. Several years ago made the mistake of putting a plastic container in the Engel to divide the engel in half which was too close to the sides. Over two trips found the cryovac meat bags where expanding, felt that the Butcher was the problem, went to see him. He check the fridge, the temperature in the fridge was 4 degrees, in the plastic container 6-7 degrees. After cutting large holes in the plastic container around the sides the temperature dropped to 4, meat ok on next trip
Ray

Wise to keep an eye on your fridge temps.... you don't want to be outback with a fridge full of spoiled meat! There is a reason why most refrigeration systems run4 degrees C. So while I am interested in the outcome off the tests on this BSC device.... I don't want to get crook either!!!

Hi all

Have done some more research on refridgeration. Whilst to some this may have seemed obvious but I did not know this. I found the following on the Internet and it talks about safe temperatures for storing meat. At the end of the day this is the only item apart from beer that needs to be protected by cooling at a certain temperature. Please read below. The temperatures quoted are in Farenheit so 40 degree's farenheit = 4.4 degrees Celcius.
So its looks like its back to the drawing board for a sollution to longer battery life.
You could possibly use the device but with a narrower temperature range but then the current saving benefits drop also. Before I disregard this device altogether I will talk to the manufacturer to see what he says.

All these threads may have been for nothing but at least I have learnt something.

Cheers Cruisin
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Importance of Refrigeration Refrigeration slows bacterial growth. Bacteria exist everywhere in nature. They are in the soil, air, water, and the foods we eat. When they have nutrients (food), moisture, and favorable temperatures, they grow rapidly, increasing in numbers to the point where some types of bacteria can cause illness. Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 and 140 °F, some doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. A refrigerator set at 40 °F or below will protect most foods.
Types of Bacteria in Refrigerated Foods There are two completely different families of bacteria: pathogenic bacteria, the kind that cause foodborne illness, and spoilage bacteria, the kind of bacteria that cause foods to deteriorate and develop unpleasant odors, tastes, and textures.
Pathogenic bacteria can grow rapidly in the "Danger Zone," the temperature range between 40 and 140 °F, but they do not generally affect the taste, smell, or appearance of a food. In other words, one cannot tell that a pathogen is present.

On the other hand, spoilage bacteria can grow at low temperatures, such as in the refrigerator. Eventually they cause food to develop off or bad tastes and smells. Most people would not choose to eat spoiled food, but if they did, they probably would not get sick. It comes down to an issue of quality versus safety:

Food that has been left too long on the counter may be dangerous to eat, but could seem fine.
Food that has been stored too long in the refrigerator or freezer may be of lessened quality, but most likely would not make anyone sick. (However, some bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes thrive at cold temperatures, and if present, will grow in the refrigerator and could cause illness.)

Safe Refrigerator Temperature For safety, it is important to verify the temperature of the refrigerator. Refrigerators should be set to maintain a temperature of 40 ºF or below. An appliance thermometer can be kept in the refrigerator to monitor the temperature. This can be critical in the event of a power outage. When the power goes back on, if the refrigerator is still 40 ºF, the food is safe. Foods held at temperatures above 40 °F for more than 2 hours should not be consumed. Refrigerator thermometers are specifically designed to provide accuracy at cold temperatures. Be sure refrigerator/freezer doors are closed tightly at all times. Don’t open refrigerator/freezer doors more often than necessary and close them as soon as possible.

Nice ad cruisin', how much do you sell them for???
Rolande
P.S. Did you get any replies on the campertrailer forum at Yahoo! groups before they deleted the ad?

Why would the run time be any different. You are still asking the fridge to do the same job. To maintain 4 deg with a differential of 1 deg will consume the same amount of power as 4 deg with 3 deg differential. The time between cycles will be longer and the run time will be longer with the greater differential. Minimal differential will cause the time between cycles to decrease but the run time will also decrease due to the lesser temp it has to drop. Start up current will be negligable as far as overall current consumption is concerned because it is only inrush current. We use an Engel 40l for day/overnight trips and a Chescold(running on gas) for extended stays. This setup ensures plenty of capacity without the need to maintain charge in the secondary battery.

Paul

So it all comes back to the sensible things we learn like Have enough of a power cord to be able to store the fridge out side the Fourby when Camping. Have a good insulated cover. They really work. Actually I reakon I use the most power keeping the beer cold. Well on the way to the camp the cars running and it's full O beer. The the next day you fill it up and then you may add some more during the day cause it's tasting realy good. (It does that) So to stop all this cycling that happens I turn the car on and set the temp as low as it goes for about an hour. Even though the temp will show -6 or so the food wont be in an hour and if you have some meat at the bottom it will not hert to be real close to freezing. Then turn it back to your 4c setting and the start ups are a lot less. The battery cops 40 amps or so as well and I don't mind running the car at idle. You can go for a drive a s well ?