not your normal fridge question

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 11, 2007 at 21:45
ThreadID: 44216 Views:4450 Replies:2 FollowUps:15
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G'Day all,
I have set up a unusual fridge set up in my car, I am running a 40lt Waceo 240v fridge I got for $150 on special from a camping store. With a 1500W inverter to run it. Doing its first overnight test tonight. My sums say it is drawing 6.75 amps going by watt reading on the inverter. Now what I would like to know is what sort of run time do the guys with the proper 12v fridges get? E.G in say 18 degrees overnight temp would the fridge run for say 1/2 out of every hour. So I can see how it compares with the 240v only model. Of course ALL precautions have been taken with the install of a 240v system into the car. Don't want any cooked kids ect.
Also what sort of batteries do you guys run for the second battery....I am thinking normal style as I have the basic isolator set up. Any ides would be a great help

Cheers Stefan
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Reply By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 07:58

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 07:58
Hi Stefan

You are refering to duty cycle and my compressor Waeco is rated at 25% with ambient of 30c and this is a pretty typical figure.

The absorption type are not as efficent (about 1/2 very roughly) and generally have thicker insulation to compenstate partly, so this is model dependant.

Guess you are talking about recent Ray's Nylex one. Nearly got one to play with but ran out of time before easter. They certainly had thick insulation.
It consumes 65w - and I thought it wouldn't be hard to put in a direct 12v heating coil , but probably easier to use inverter anyway.

Only have one car battery here (exide oribtal 50ah) which is fine for my style camping but I think you would need more capacity as that fridge should use in region of 2 amps per hour average hence minimum standard N70 for overnight use.

Robin Miller

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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:11

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:11
Thanks for that Robin, yes sold as Nylex (but it is a waeco for a fraction of the price, made by waeco sticker on the back and waeco book!!!).
Well it ran at -2 all night for 13 hours, Battery voltage dropped from 12.9 to 12.2 after 13 hours. My second battery is a 80ah, would like something bigger in the future but this will have to do for now. Well it seems like this will work for me as most of my trips are over nighters with some 2 nighters.
Total cost works out at $400 exactly
Fridge $150
Inverter $178 from Ebay
2G Cables $50
Connectors $10
240v cable and outlet $12
Time will now tell how it works in the long run

Cheers Stefan
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Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:35

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:35
Good Value there Stefan as long as one accepts that you use more current.

I have long made the equation thats its simpler to run car for a while each night/morning to top up batteries than carry extra 30 kg + of batteries and support stuff.

The product must have been a marketing flop. Strange though I thought I would get plenty of use out of one even at home to take fridge overflow at party time etc.

But you have a lot of options with that inverter.

Did a terribly decadent thing with mine - I got a $14.95 1kw radiator from Warehouse and ran it with car running.

Its a marketing flop product also - It works really well but puts out a lot of light which makes it a bit useless to have on at home keeping you warm while watching TV.
However its downside (to much light) meant that camping you need no other light.

Robin Miller
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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:48

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:48
Yep fair call about the current, But for the $1100 saving over a 12v fridge it seems like a fair compromise. Plus I have the option of 1500w for power I can use for other stuff camping. Could really light up a camp site with that wattage!!! LOL. My thoughts as well about being handy around the house as a spare fridge, plonk it next to the barbie, or a deck chair next to the pool ect. Nylex don't even have it on their web site. Waeco do. Well My sister and I got the last ones from the Penrith store as they really were a bargain. Its main usage will be to keep food cold as I hate my meat floating in water in the Esky!! Still prefer my cans covered in ice!!
My only concern is the fact I have 240v in the car. I think I may put some of that stuff they put over aircon pipes around the 240v side to be extra extra sure it doesn't rub through to a live wire. I can't see how it can with the way I have installed it, but you don't muck about with 240v hey

Stefan
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Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 11:28

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 11:28
I just like to stuff around with electronic things Stefan and as was saying I expect you could add in your own 12v only heating wire as thats all it is.

I had thoughts about "high power version" if I got one.

You could probably not even plugged in it and just stick a soldering iron down there and make cold.

If you were really lucky it could even be just a cut down 3 way fridge and the element might even be running off 12v via a transformer etc.

As you say though , better not to play unless you have experience in that area.

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Reply By: On Patrol (Aust.) - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 09:21

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 09:21
OK it's now tomorrow, how did the test go????
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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:13

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 10:13
Worked well....minimal voltage drop....-2 temp in the fridge at mid thero setting. And car still starts!! woo-hoo

Cheers Big ears
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Follow Up By: Member - Russell H (WA) - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 11:55

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 11:55
GQ, I see on your list:

Inverter $178 from Ebay

Is that a modifvied sine wave inverter or pure sine wave inverter?

The reason I ask is that I was warned not to use modified sine wave inverters with fridges in general, although I had asked specifically about my Waeco fridges.

I can understand that from a technical viewpoint each wave type has a different amount of energy, but I don't see how it would be a problem with a fridge compressor motor.

Maybe there's a fridgy out there who can answer this?
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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 11:59

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 11:59
Hi Russell, It is a modified sine wave for that price, I was told by a guy from Dick Smith store that they don't recomend fridges on inverters, So this is a experiment really, in the short term it is running like a champ, long term well who knows? If I have dramas with the set up I will post here for sure.

Cheers Stefan
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Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 12:54

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 12:54
That inverter is fine with fridges including Waeco's.

In your case Stefan there isn't even a hint of a problem because yours doesn't use compressor its just a heating element.

Robin Miller
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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 13:00

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 13:00
It does say 240 compressor on the box? it is a fridge/freezer.

cheers Stefan
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Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 13:52

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 13:52
Yes I did notice that Stefan and assumed that wrong and part of reason why so cheap.

Mind you only saw it briefly in a shop and could really examine it.

Absorption type units can freeze to . A motor compressor is of reasonable size, and theres nowhere in that package for it.
I think you'll find it silent in operation to.

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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 14:36

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 14:36
It is compressor, you hear it come on and off, very quiet I must say but does make the noise. Only slightly louder than my fathers 12v waeco. Thats why I grabed it cause it was a bargain at $150, the same one in the waeco box was $399. Just came back from a 20 min drive and the battery has recovered from last nights test.

Stefan
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Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 14:55

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 14:55
Hi Stefan

I don't know that one then , its the Waeco Coolfun CK-40 in a 2005 catalogue I have at $299 . In current catalogue they show only Ck-40D which is 3 a way unit .

Musn't use their normal danfross compressor , maybe someone else knows more about it ?

Thats the way , short drive and alls back to normal !

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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 15:11

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 15:11
On the back it says made by mobicool for Waeco.

Look at the link.

coolfun

Not trying to be a smart bugger, it is a compressor thats why it was a bargain

Stefan
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Follow Up By: GQ_TUFF - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 15:13

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 15:13
sorry $299 my mistake!!! :)
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Follow Up By: Robin - Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 15:28

Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 at 15:28
A bargain either way Stefan - heres the international version

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