WAECO fridge question
Submitted: Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 12:44
ThreadID:
44628
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2378
Replies:
9
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wendsvet
Hey guys
I was wondering if there is any way disable the crappy voltage protection cutoff on a Waeco fridge? I think it was invented to protect the car battery from going flat but with 2 battieries I don't really care.
Thanks
Reply By: Robin - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 12:51
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 12:51
Hi Wendsvet
Never tried , but it couldn't be hard, probably just move a single wire to a nearby terminal.
But why would bother ? - it works , but if it didn't your no worse off.
Robin Miller
AnswerID:
235278
Reply By: leachy_9 - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:01
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:01
Even with 2 batteries it is not a good idea to discharge the auxiliary battery until it is dead flat. Batteries are designed with a life expectancy of about 5 years based on a Minimum State of Charge (SOC) of 30 - 50 % depending on the type of battery. By exceeding the minimum SOC you will DRAMATICALY decrease the life of the battery.
AnswerID:
235282
Reply By: Russ n Sue - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:05
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:05
Hmmm. Why would you want to do that? Are you having problems with the error light flashing? If so, the problem is with the guage of wire running to the connection socket of the fridge, not the low voltage cutout. I had a few problems with my Waecos in my NP Pajero until I cabled direct from the battery to the fridge in 6mm sq cable. Problem solvered!
Cheers,
Russ.
AnswerID:
235283
Follow Up By: wendsvet - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:07
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:07
The wiring is fine and I am happy with it but it flashes error when the battery is a around 40%. All I want to know is if it is possible?
FollowupID:
496363
Follow Up By: Russ n Sue - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:24
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:24
40% used or 40% left? If your battery is down to 40% left you are doing some serious damage to it.
I have some information about this and at 50% depth of discharge you would expect to get around 1000 charge/discharge cycles. At 60% depth of discharge it is down to 800 cycles, 650 cycles for 70% discharge and so on.
I think that you should be looking to charge the battery somehow - be it solar or genset or wind or whatever.
I've set my outfit up to have about 20% depth of discharge and that should give me about 2300 cycles.
You can
check it out here... Site Link
Cheers,
Russ
FollowupID:
496368
Follow Up By: Gronk - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:25
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:25
Of course its possible, just pull apart the thing and have a look !!
Wire it up so all it does is run the compressor and thermostat !!
Don't worry about the error light, its only there to tell you the voltage is low, and the cutout is only there to stop the battery(s) from going into a" can't recover from " flat as a tack state !!
When you say 40% charge....that means the error light is coming on at approx 12.4V.......????????
FollowupID:
496369
Follow Up By: wendsvet - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:16
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:16
Already had it apart. Just wondering if anybody has done it?
FollowupID:
496377
Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:17
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:17
It's frustrating on here sometimes , isn't it . You get everything except the answer .
AnswerID:
235288
Follow Up By: Robin - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:27
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 13:27
Can be Willie , but in this case you would have to supply motivation for some one to take the time to figure out how to do whats seems pointless.
Robin Miller
FollowupID:
496370
Reply By: wendsvet - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:22
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:22
Sorry I asked
AnswerID:
235303
Follow Up By: On Patrol (Aust.) - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 19:16
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 19:16
wendsvet
People are trying to help you. Don't you see that???
Disabling something that is designed to protect the unit is NOT WISE. You will damage the unit and waste your money.
Review your attitude mate.
FollowupID:
496456
Reply By: Red Frog - Vic - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:26
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:26
Bad move, the cut out is there to protect the danfoss compressor which is damaged by low voltage. All Danfoss compressor fridges have a cutout
AnswerID:
235304
Reply By: Gramps (NSW) - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:59
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:59
Butcher the wiring or buy a fridge without a cutout. Can't be easier than that LOL
AnswerID:
235311
Reply By: Granpa Joe - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 20:26
Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 20:26
Take a moment to think about the current that the fridge uses when running.....
as the voltage drops on a constant load, the current rises (dramatically). The manufacturer of the compressor would have specified a voltage cutout to prevent damage to the compressor motor thus ensuring long life.
If the battery you have is not sufficient I think you should look at other alternatives such as larger batt capacity and or a solar panel and regulator.
AnswerID:
235403
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 00:08
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 00:08
OK, no one else has given the obvious alternative, so I will.
You could buy an Engel to get around your problem:-)
An Engel fridge has no such protection device and its compressor will not suffer from low voltage.
I should know. I've buggered two deep cycle batteries up by running them too low, too often.
Now I have a low voltage cutout device and wouldn't run the fridge when stationary, without it.
Cost was about $30. One of the buggered batteries cost me around $280.
Now the Waeco already has such a device and you can adjust it to any of three different settings, so I am led to believe.
Your choice, of course!!!
AnswerID:
235461
Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 02:52
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 02:52
No prizes for seconds Sand Man :))))
Check above
FollowupID:
496594