240-12 Volt - Cheaper Alternatives

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 09, 2006 at 23:47

ThreadID: 31599 Views:8178 Replies:9 FollowUps:16

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Member - Hughesy (SA)

I cooked (melted) my Waeco inverter the other month when it was 50 plus in the shed and I put a hot carton of beer in the 60L fridge on Turbo. I went down to the hardware and I've been looking on the internet for a replacement and they all seem to be around the $100+ for the big fridges. Is there another brand/manufacturer out there that has a similar product for less?? That can be used for running a fridge. They don't pull big amps and its typically only intermittant draw. Any help would be great.

PS No jokes about Waeco / Engels........I've heard them all!!

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Reply By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Thursday, Mar 09, 2006 at 23:54

Thursday, Mar 09, 2006 at 23:54

Inverter, you sure you're not looking for a 12 volt power supply ? input 240 and spits out 12 volts or 13.8

AnswerID: 159625

Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 00:46

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 00:46

ok I see you have 240v 12 v in the subject

I'm not sure how much currrent your fridge draws but DSE have a 12 volt supply 3 amp continuous, 5 amps peak for $69.98. Maybe not big enough

cat M9941

Output Voltage - 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 12V DC
Rated Output Current - 3A
Peak Output - 5A
Load Regulation - 300mV
Line Regulation - 60mV
Ripple and Noise (P-P) - 60mV
Input voltage - 230VAC ⁄ 50Hz (or on request)
Indicators - Power on LED
Cooling System - Natural Convection
Protection Devices - Output overload and Short circuit protection
Dimension (WxHxD) - 90 x 50 x 140 (mm)
Weight - 450g

FollowupID: 414260

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:11

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:11

Might be a bit small, but thanks for the suggestion Ray. I think that was why I melted this one because it was only designed for my old 40L fridge.

FollowupID: 414334

Reply By: Member - Ed. C.- Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 02:15

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 02:15

Engel do a 12V DC Regulated Switchmode Power Supply...
Sticker on the box says "Made in Australia".. I have reason to suspect that they're made by GME, though I'm happy to stand corrected if that's not the case...

Input voltage... 240V AC 50hz (1.3A)
Output voltage.. 13.65V DC +/- 2%
Rated output current.. 10amp continuous
Overload protection... Current & temperature
Operating temperature.. 0 to 80 deg.C
EMC .. Conducted/radiated EN55022-B
Input connection .. 3 pin, 10 amp AC plug
Dimensions (mm).. 230L x 115W x 66H
Weight.. 1.2kg
N17018
Approvals.... { C tick to AS/NZS 4417
Complies with AS/NZS 3260

Picked one up at my local BCF store for a touch under $80.00...

They also had Primus branded ones (12A rated) for around $10.00 less, but these being Chinese made, I was happy to pay the extra for an OZ-made product...

Regards, Ed. C.

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"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
....Not necessarily mechanic!!"

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AnswerID: 159636

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:14

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:14

Thanks Ed - whats a BCF store?? Think I might go for the 24v version so that it runs cooler with less amps.

FollowupID: 414337

Follow Up By: Member - Ed. C.- Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 15:15

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 15:15

Hughesy,

BCF is 'Boating Camping Fishing'... I believe it is the former Campmart chain that was taken over a little while ago by SuperCheap...
Q'ld. based I think, so no idea if they have interstate outlets...

online at www.bcf.com.au (no affiliation, etc. etc.).....

Regards, Ed. C.

Confucius say.....
"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand,
....Not necessarily mechanic!!"

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FollowupID: 414361

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 17:39

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 17:39

Thanks Ed, I knew it would be something simple. Sounds like a place I could spend A LOT of time at!!!

FollowupID: 414394

Reply By: Mike DiD - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 07:12

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 07:12

The Waeco Power Supply that came with my Waeco CCF45 is rated at 5 amps.

You can buy an equivalent for $30.
www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=GH1379

It puts out 12 volts - the same as any battery when the engine is off. It is switchmode - as efficient as the Waeco original. It has a two-pin output so you would have to change the connector.

With any power device, make sure you allow air circulation around it to avoid cooking or having it catch FIRE !

btw an Inverter converts 12 volts to 240 volt.

Mike

AnswerID: 159643

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:15

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:15

Thanks Mike I never thought of Jaycar. Will have to jump on the net and check them out.

FollowupID: 414339

Follow Up By: Dilligaf - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:31

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:31

That particular model Jaycar is not at all suitable for your Waeco.
They are only suitable for powering a Peltier unit. I bought one and tested it and found it wanting for any other purpose than the Peltier coolers. That is the reason there are no specifications or other info on the power supply. They have the correct plug to plug into a Peltier unit.

FollowupID: 414455

Reply By: Shane (QLD) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 07:44

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 07:44

I use the 24v Waeco power supply & never have any problems. They seem to go much better on this voltage.

AnswerID: 159646

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:17

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:17

Yeak looks like 24V supply for these fridges is the go. Thanks Shane. I was just trying to find something cheaper than $100. That's over 10% of the price I paid for the fridge.

FollowupID: 414341

Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 08:23

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 08:23

There is also a Evapower made by Evakool.

It is a 6 amp power supply as well as a 6 amp regulated float charger. With a built in thermo fan it could be what you need in the shed.

Regards Derek.

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AnswerID: 159649

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:20

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:20

Thanks Derek, how much for one of these units though?? Sound like they would be expensive.

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Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 14:33

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 14:33

No, I have seen them on ebay for $160.00

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Follow Up By: Dilligaf - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:33

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:33

The Evakool units have a damn noisey fan and are poor value for money.
You can get a 10 amp regulated power supply from Jaycar for under $100

FollowupID: 414456

Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 23:03

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 23:03

They run a computer fan.

Where are you sitting right now.

Does your computer have a damn noisy fan ?

Please !

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Reply By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 08:55

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 08:55

I use a cheap ($60-odd) "Pro-User" battery charger/power supply from SupaCheap. It incorporates a ciggy-lighter socket on the front panel that is rated at around 8-10 amps according to the badging.

It charges my batteries AND runs the EvaKool at home..... and it's cheaper than the MobiTronic-type alternatives that are only good for one thing - running a fridge.

AnswerID: 159653

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:23

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:23

Actually that brings around an interesting point, could I hook the fridge up directly to my Battery Charger (8amp rated) or does yours actually have a seperate outlet for power supply??

FollowupID: 414344

Follow Up By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 15:31

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 15:31

Hughesy - it's actually a separate socket, but I can't imagine that is comes off a separate circuit. It's probably just wired up in parallel to the two charging leads. It was too cheap to be anything "special"....http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Default.asp?s=0&PN=1#31599

FollowupID: 414364

Reply By: Member - MrBitchi (QLD) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 09:04

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 09:04

The Waeco power supply is 24V. Don't get a 12v one cause the fidge actually runs better on 24v. They don't pull big amps, as you say, but a 12v power supply will have to provide twice the amps to do the same job.
Would probably cost you about the same anyway..;-)

AnswerID: 159654

Reply By: Geoff M (Newcastle, NSW) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 09:14

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 09:14

Hello Hughesy,
Mr Bitchi is on the money for Waeco's, they'll run on 24 volt and the secondary or output of the power supply needs only to supply half the 12 volt current.
Word of caution, if you have an older Engel as well as a Waeco like me the 24 volt supply will only run the Waeco. It'll over voltage and cook the Engel.
I use a GME Electraphone power supply designed for their radios, it's just a 12.6 volt DC power supply.
Mine is a PSA1210 model. Input 240 volt AC, output 13.6 volt DC @ 10 amps. If you're patient you can pick one of these up on EBay fairly cheaply.
The Waeco/Mobitronics units also come up on EBay from time to time.

Geoff.

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AnswerID: 159657

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:26

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 13:26

Thanks Mr Bitchi and Geoff, I definately look at the 24v version. Only thing is its handy having a 12v one because a lot of other things I have in the shed can also be run off 12v. I will scan the internet for that model you mentioned Geoff and see what I can find.

FollowupID: 414345

Reply By: rolande- Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:36

Friday, Mar 10, 2006 at 21:36

G'Day Hughesy,

May be a bit agricultural but buggered if I was going to spend extra $$$$ just to run the fridge in the shed. Had an old car battery which was O.K. but down a little bit on CCA, hooked this up to my little 2amp Battery Doc charger and connected the fridge to the battery, (with fuse in-line).

Have had it running now for 6 months and never had an issue with battery, fridge or charger. Charger cost $64 on special from supercrap, battery cost $0, lead, fuse and aligator clips lying aorund the shed

Regards

Rolande

AnswerID: 159808

Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 17:22

Saturday, Mar 11, 2006 at 17:22

Thanks Rolande, I actually did this initially after I melted it but found it very messy and was worried that I would stuff my Deep cycle battery.....because you never actaully know if its getting enough charge etc (I had the fridge cut out on low voltage once with the charger permanently hooked up???).

Actually I think the cheapest option is to look for a 2nd hand normal size house fridge (240v) for $100 and whack that in the shed. And have the advantage of about 3 times the storage capacity.

FollowupID: 414585