Waeco Refrigerator
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:00
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bbuzz
Is this how a Waeco works? Have just come back from a 7 day trip to Crowdy Bay NP using a Waeco CCF45. It works perfectly however I had to drive or fast idle every day after the first two to keep it going. eg. Day 1 - run til 9 pm and then turn off. Day 2 - On at 8 am and off at 7 pm with the red light flashing. Day 3 - On 7 am, drive 3 hours. Off 7 pm. Day 4 - On 8 am, drive 30 mins. Off 7 pm with red light. Day 5 - On 8 am, drive 90 mins and off 7 pm. Day 6 - On 8 am. Off 6 pm with red light. Day 6 - On 8 am, drive 40 mins. Red light at 12 noon. Drive 20 mins and off 6 pm with red light. I have a second battery (75 a/h deep cycle). Can't use the generator in a NP and the nosie drives me mad. I park the LC as far way from everyone while it idles too.
Am I missing something here? If this is the normal expectation without a solar panel to charge the battery, I feel a 3 way must be the answer. I want to stay camping without a Leyland Brothers trek every day!
Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:18
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:18
I have a CF-40 hooked to a 115 amp hour second battery and find that in average conditions (25 to 30 degrees) it will last up to 2 days before pulling the battery below 11 volts.
A two or three hour drive each couple of days (which is easy as a day trip from
camp or playing in the sand dunes or whatever 4wd trails are nearby to explore) and I have never had the error light for low voltage.
Another member on here runs a 110 litre Weaco with a similar setup and rarely runs into trouble.
Suggest checking wiring for voltage drops and checking health of 2nd battery. Also having the fridge at a reasonable setting helps. Not toooo cold!
If your wiring between battery and fridge is not thick enough then the voltage drop may trick fridge into thinking that the battery is low when actually it is not. I found this when using the weaco temporarily in our Corolla. Was using a 12 volt coiled extension lead from the dash ciggy lighter, over the back
seat and into the boot. Too much power loss in the length and light weight of cable and the red light would start blinking. The Prado has proper thick cabling from battery to power outlet in rear cargo area.
Cheers
Muddy
AnswerID:
169386
Follow Up By: porl - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 10:57
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 10:57
I got a 2000 RV6 Prado and the wiring to the back socket is cr#p. It burned out over a weekend running a 45L fridge with a BDF35 motor, when I looked at it was more suitable for a AA battery than a compressor motor, irrespective of its 120W rating. i ran a very thick fused cable direct from the battery, suggest you do the same. If you do a search here i think people agree, stongly suggest you don't run permanently off the rear socket or maybe not this week, but sometime soon you'll have very warm contents as i did.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Trevor R (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:19
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:19
I would expect more run time from the battery than you got. Were you useing the waeco as a freezer? and was your spare battery fully charged when you first strarted?
As a comparison, my 32lt waeco will run off my 105a/hr deep cycle for 3 or 4 days no probs. Also make sure you didn't have the fridge set on battery saving mode (this will cut the fridge out when voltage drops below 11.2volts?? I think).
I think you would be expecting too much for the fridge to still be running after 6 days on a 75a/hr battery but you should get at least 2 possibly 3 days at a guess.
Good luck
Trevor.
AnswerID:
169387
Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:39
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:39
On the CCF45 you need to set the Battery Cutout to Low to get maximum run time.
Mike
FollowupID:
424704
Reply By: Member - AVA 191 (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:22
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 21:22
Hi bbuzz,
The answer to your question is yes.
What i was told when I looked into this matter was that you divide your battery a/h rating by about 3.2 (a/h) for Waeco or so 2.5 for Engels to see how long the battery would last. If you got 2 days upfront from the battery, that's about right b4 charging is required.
I have used my Honda 1ka for a few hrs in morning, then a few in afternoon to run our CF60 -but as you say, can't do in National Park.
There is a topic here
Site Link
that might help.
HTH's
AnswerID:
169388
Follow Up By: bbuzz - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 22:16
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 22:16
Hi all,
Yes the battery was fully charged. I have the fridge hard wired off my boat winch wiring - it runs thru 80 amp circuit breakers so plenty big enough. (yep big boat). Not a fan of travelling away from the
camp when I go so the 3 way seems to be the solution for that type of camping and that length of time.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: howie - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 22:54
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 22:54
just come back from a 10 trip moving a lot less than yourself and had no prob with fridge.
mine will go for about 3/4 days without moving in the colder months.
i dont think it matters how big the circuit breakers are if the wiring is too small or the connections are bad, they are just current limiters.
i upgraded my wiring to the back before my last trip for a trailer winch and included my fridge on this wiring.
there are several threads on this but as advised, i tested the voltage at the battery and the fridge (with the fridge on) and found a 1volt drop(not good!) on the old wiring.
FollowupID:
424719
Reply By: Muzzgit (WA) - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 23:06
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 23:06
bbuzz. Yes you may
well be better of with a three way fridge. My brother has used one for years and swears by it. A 9 kilo bottle will last about 14 days if the fridge is used wisely.
The down side is, as most people will tell you, the 3 way fridges aren't as good on 12v and don't like rocking and rolling around in the back of 4WD's.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 23:07
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 23:07
Hi Buzz
Your Waeco will draw around 40 to 50 amps per day so after the 2nd day you will need to charge the battery for about 3 - 4 hours per day. Your 75 a/h battery will only accept around 20 to 25 amps max per hour for the first 2 hours and then slow down even more. With the fridge running you will never get the battery fully charged and will only be running at about 75 to 80 % of its capacity. You will need to invest in a bigger battery and possibly a solar panel if the generator is too noisy.
I run a Honda EU20 on eco throttle even in the parks but do it for 3 hours at lunch time or when no one is around. The Honda powers a 20A Smart Charger and the 3 hours a day keeps the Waeco CF80 on a 100 a/h AGM fine for up to 10 days without running the car.
Regards Derek.
AnswerID:
169408
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 08:48
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 08:48
Good Points there Derek.
I use two auxiliary batteries.
The 55 A/H Orbital runs the fridge while its in the vehicle.
When I set up
camp I swap over to the 75 A/H Thumper, which is also "trickle charged" by a 40 watt solar panel. Seems to put back most of what I use per day.
Don't have any problems and if I do, I will add another 40 watt solar panel.
Both auxiliary battery systems can be charged simultaneously from the alternator while travelling.
Oh! and I have one other big advantage.........I have an Engel:-))))
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Nutter (QLD) - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 15:04
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 15:04
Hi Buzz,
I have a similar set up to Derick, just a different gennie, and also run the gennie at a time less likely to annoy, always
check with nearby campers before starting, I have often wondered what would happen if you were asked by the powers to be to turn off the gennie, then started the vehicle in lieu of, not trying to start an arguement here, just figured that a reasonably quite gennie was the better option.
See ya
Guy
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Brew69(SA) - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 15:43
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 15:43
And here I was thinking you were a man of taste Bill :)
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424831
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 17:47
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 17:47
You Cheeky Bugger!
FollowupID:
424853
Reply By: pojo - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 11:02
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 11:02
maybe worth looking at the new 3way fridge made by WAECO, i have not heard any reports on this fridge yet.If anyone has seen or heard a report on this model i would love to hear
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 13:00
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 13:00
It's not a fridge but a cooler, a cooling temperature of up to 25°C below ambient can be achieved so not be best for summer operations.
Runs for approximately 30 days on a 9 kg gas bottle.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Wizard1 - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 13:05
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 13:05
My CF50 has a switch marked HI/LO. You need to have it on LO when running on 12 volt. Perhaps it could be somethiong that simple.
You see, I avoid asking lay-people technical questions but prefer to contact the manufacturer or an agent. When my CF50 started doing what you describe I called Waeco. I was told about the switch and all has been good ever since, except when the 240V transformer went south after 4 hard years.
I would, however take the advice of some of the other forumites and upgrade your wiring. I got ARB to re-wire my standard Tojo plug from the second battery and they also fitted a Narva plug as
well. Get a multi meter and
check the voltage at the plug.
Best of luck fixing the problem.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: bbuzz - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 16:18
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 16:18
Hi,
THanks for the comments all. The wiring is extremely thick for the winch but yes the takeoff to the fuse box may be suss. Will
check the voltage there and at the lead. But they are at least as thick as the Waeco lead which is hard wired to the fuse box.
I have thought about the conflict between a vehicle on fast idle versus a generator. Not been asked yet!
The bottom line seems to be that I either run a generator, run the vehicle (either go for a drive or idle) and/or buy a solar panel. On a cost basis, I still lean to the 3 way as a once only purchase for not much more than the Waeco cost. I am reluctant to keep adding gadgets that I have to cart around and store at
home.
The 12v problem seems to have been addressed and solved on the
Forum over the years. Does not appear to be the major problem, once wired in correctly, that it was.
Thanks for your help and perspectives.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: bbuzz - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 16:21
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 16:21
Oh yes. I run it on LOW all the time. I did use it close to freeze too as the meals had to last 6 days. But that is a reasonable expectation, at least for a few days until its time to start on the cans and dry rations.Turning it off a night does extend the time too.
AnswerID:
169507
Reply By: Rigor - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 16:52
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 16:52
That one of the problems useing deep cycle batteries , take too long to recharge . I stick to dual standard lead acid batteries and isolate when stationary . When one needs rechargeing whack it back on line and the alternator will apply 50 or 60 amps (depending on lots of things) doesn't take long to put a fair charge back in but a different story with deep cycle.
my 2 cents worth based on what workd for me.
Dave L.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: bbuzz - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 17:47
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 17:47
Hmmm. Thats a can of worms - deep cycle versus standard lead. Maybe this post will stay alive longer than I thought.....
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Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 21:30
Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 21:30
That's why AGMs were invented - Deep Cycle ability plus fast charging.
Mike
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424916