Waeco HF interference

Submitted: Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 11:56
ThreadID: 31200 Views:2435 Replies:8 FollowUps:13
This Thread has been Archived
Some of these fridges emit enough interference that the use of a HF radio at the same time is "very difficult."
Some people have this problem and some don't. Previous posts have detailed some mods that can be made. Of course such mods will void any warrenty.
Waeco have informed me that some of their fridges have a metal shield around the electronics and some of them don't. This may account for the different experiences of different users.
(However they also told me that only a few fridges are used at the same time as a HF radio...I would hope that they now know better :)
Just how effective the shield is, I have yet to find out.

Just thought that some here may find it interesting.
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: signman - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 12:26

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 12:26
And those electronic battery condition gismos also create havoc with HF....
AnswerID: 157283

Reply By: Mike Harding - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 12:46

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 12:46
You may care to ask Waeco if their fridges meet Australian EMC emissions requirements?

Mike Harding
AnswerID: 157288

Reply By: Atropos - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 12:53

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 12:53
The "peltier" devices are very noisy.. but if you move a little way away from them you can be ok...

Regards
John
AnswerID: 157290

Reply By: Michael Carey - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:03

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:03
Last week I was called to have a look at a HF installation on a "pleasure boat". I don't know how much change the owner got from his 1.5M, but it can't have been much. I had to take my shoes off, and my belt, just in case I scratched something, and I had to lay my tools out on a towel.... crazy.... this boat wasn't very pleasureable at all!!
Anyway, virtually every HF frequency was drowned out by interference, some I worked out to be power line (coming through the shore power cable), but the rest of the interference was traced to a PLC/mini computer that basically runs the entire boat. It has a touch screen interface that allows you to monitor everything, engine paramaters, de-salinator, sewerage system, fridge, batteries, 240V inverter and genset... and it controls EVERYTHING!!
Needless to say that the boat doesn't work with the PLC turned off, but the interference was so bad, the only way I could do a radio check was to turn the PLC off!! The owners rep wanted to know what could be done, I passed the buck to the installer/service agent that installed the PLC. It will be a nightmare to rectify (if it can be rectified at all!), there are 100's of cables going from the PLC system to every corner of the boat, and all of these would radiate the interference.

You're lucky you only have a fridge to worry about (-:
AnswerID: 157292

Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:03

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:03
Michael, a friend of mine is involved in that industry. He's an electrics/electronic type, and has assured me that they don't have a problem with Waecos. Hmm...perhaps because when he sees them they haven't got HF I'd guess.
However your experiences are certainly going to impact on him...poor sod.
I agree...its only a fridge and can be turned off..unlike "computer". :))
0
FollowupID: 411542

Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:05

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:05
Jim I have been following the saga on the Yahoo group.

Hope you can get some satisfaction from Mr Waco.

Cheers

P.S. I have no issues at all from my 60 litre Engel on my NGT.
VKS737 - Mobile 6352 (Selcall 6352)

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 157293

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:35

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:35
May not be the fault of waeco. A previos workplace we would turn the Engal fridge off to use to HF because of static. But mine doesnt seem to interfere. I get some interferance with the vehicle running so maybe got more to do with Earths and instalation?
0
FollowupID: 411535

Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:05

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:05
Davoe, you may have one with the electrics boxed. Also mine is more obvious on 737 frequencies on 11 and 14 meg. However, spectrum analysis says it radiates from the broadcast band to over 30 meg
0
FollowupID: 411544

Reply By: hl - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:28

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:28
Hi,

I have a mod sheet that I can email you. It is quite an involved job and a fair bit of stripping down needs to be done.
The later ones with the built-in AC, don't seem to do it (you can still hear them running on HF, but it is manageable).

Let me know if you want it.

Cheers

(and to Mike, they do comply with the european standard, but.......
the one for OURDOOR type gear, which is much more relaxed about interference)

AnswerID: 157296

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:02

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:02
I had a suspicion it might be something like that - fair enough really.

Footloose: do you know if the noise is being radiated by the motor or electronics in the fridge or the 12V cable supplying it? Might be worth trying some ferrites on the supply cable - easy and cheap to do???

Mike Harding
0
FollowupID: 411541

Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:07

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:07
That's very kind of you, and yes I'd love to see it. Please email it to me at jimshire1atiprimusdotcomdotau
Much appreciated
0
FollowupID: 411545

Follow Up By: hl - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:11

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:11
Hi Mike,

Unfortunately, it is not as simple as that. The mod involves ferrite beads and capacitors in various places inside the unit. Clamp on units on the outside make very little difference. I must say my CF40AC is quite good (being an AC device it probably has to meet the more stringent standard). My friend had the older (slide control) version and that one was real bad. The noise comes from the compressor drive electronics.
I was doing a "Jamboree of the Air" at the local Narrabeen caravan park, and the noise from all the Waecos around the joint made for interesting radio conditions!

Cheers
0
FollowupID: 411547

Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:14

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:14
Mike, still under warrenty. I'm going to see them tomorrow, and if no joy then I'll start operating on it.
0
FollowupID: 411549

Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:16

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:16
Hl, mine is a CF35 which has the slide control. I can definately relate to your friends troubles :((
0
FollowupID: 411550

Follow Up By: Robin - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:16

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:16
Hl , I Wouldn't mind a copy of that mod sheet, I might see if I can improve my CF25 a bit. I might be able to come up with some
other improvements to, as have the equipment to monitor radiation etc.

I couldn't find other posted mods , with a quick search but I thing that is often a quick help in these matters is to run the 12v power cable thru one of those clip on EMI suppression filters from dick smith etc (need the one big enough to do a couple of loops though).

A previous post implies a Yahoo waeco group is there such a link.

Robin Miller
0
FollowupID: 411551

Follow Up By: hl - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 15:05

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 15:05
Hi Robin,

Just email me direct and I will send you info.

hhl@bigswamp.net.au
0
FollowupID: 411556

Follow Up By: Robin - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 15:52

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 15:52
Hi Hl
tried unsucessfully to email that address - my address is robinannemiller@hotmail.com

Robin Miller
0
FollowupID: 411560

Reply By: Darian (SA) - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:41

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 13:41
Even a small 12V computer fan that I used for circulating air on the back of my 2 way fridge was ticking away on the HF - could still be used most times though - the engine on the other hand made 90% of the HF traffic unusable though. Problem is, the incoming HF signals are very weak usually, due to the distances involved - most modern HF radios have "big ears" (like me) and they "listen" to everything nearby as well. Bugger of a problem - we usually do the daily comms in camp, at the end of the day - easy to turn fluoros and any motors off for 10 minutes, if needed.
AnswerID: 157299

Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:11

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:11
Darian, sounds like you're working out in the bush. Hard yakker but probably made up for by a bit of peace and quiet along with that 1 million star hotel :))
Unfortunately I have the HF on most of the time. I never know when someone is going to be in strife where I can lend a hand. Plus travelling on my own it's my substitute for a 6 stacker cd and dvd setup :))
0
FollowupID: 411548

Follow Up By: Darian (SA) - Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:49

Monday, Feb 27, 2006 at 14:49
No unfortunately Footy - urban bound most of the year, but out bush at every chance we get - we leave the B 950 on selcall watch while mobile (usually) - so if any VKS members or head office want us a selcall will spring the system into life. IF we hear any good comms even while mobile, we may leave it open - its just that good "mobile" comms are the exception in these modern fangled cars it seems. We did chat with the Alice yesterday from south of Adelaide while mobile - last October while wrestling with the wheel in Finke Gorge we commed well with Perth base too - early and late in the day usually bring very good comms on HF, overall. Anyway, during the day, the UHF is usually warmed right up comming with others in the group !
0
FollowupID: 411555

Reply By: Member - Doug T (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 00:57

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 00:57
I have same trouble with my Waeco when i want use HF so i installed a switch up on the roof console to cut power to it when the sked is on, don't forget to turn it back on after or the beer goes warm.
gift by Daughter

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

AnswerID: 157431

Sponsored Links