Waeco 60 litre, excessive power draw

Submitted: Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 19:29
ThreadID: 57639 Views:7613 Replies:8 FollowUps:13
This Thread has been Archived
Yet another Waeco thread,

Have searched forum and can't find a thread that helps. My Waeco has recently been pulling my 80A/h battery down quite quickly and I initially assumed that the battery was on the way out. Checked it and all appears well. A work colleague then checked the amps that the fridge is pulling and it just above 5 amps. When I use the boost option it pulled up to 9 amps before we turned it off. Sometimes around the 7 amp mark the fridge would error on its own.

Anyone else had this problem and know what the issue was. A friend thought the lead might be the issue and I'll try his in it in the next few days. Failing that I'm off the find a fridge mechanic.

Thanks Ben
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Footloose - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 19:34

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 19:34
Why don't you just email/ring Waeco and ask the same question ?
AnswerID: 303982

Follow Up By: 93 Navara - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 19:38

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 19:38
Will try tomorrow but being on the impatient side I thought I'd try the forum tonight.
0
FollowupID: 570063

Reply By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 20:06

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 20:06
Ben,

I don't think that 5 amps is excessive for a 60 litre fridge when the compressor is running. My 50 litre fridge draws 4.5-5 amps when running. The issue is more how often it is cycling. When you say it draws your 80 A/h battery down quickly, how long, what type of conditions and what type of battery is it?

Probably telling you to suck eggs, but you won't get anything like 80 A/h useable power out of an 80 A/h battery. Depending on the battery type and its initial charge state, half that is not unreasonable. With a 60 litre fridge in warm conditions, you could easily chomp through 40 A/h in 1-2 days.

Still worth checking your lead though.

Matt.
AnswerID: 303992

Reply By: autosparky - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 20:36

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 20:36
5-7amps is probably the correct current draw depending on setting of temp, however the fridge may not be cycling when it reaches a certain temp, and is just continually running,instead of cutting out on the thermostat at temp
AnswerID: 304000

Reply By: 93 Navara - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:02

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:02
From memory the 'turbo' option is meant to be 5 amps max, and when operating normally, less than that. It is going into error mode within half a minute of the turbo mode being activated, even with the battery at full charge.
I put it on recently at 4 in the afternoon, drove it to and from work (1 hour all up), and the battery was drawn down by 7 the following morning. Cold Victorian night and the fridge on a low setting. I'm confident my battery is alright now and think the fridge is pulling too much. I'll speak to Waeco tomorrow and see what they have to say.
Thanks for your replies, Ben
AnswerID: 304007

Follow Up By: Visitor - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:18

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:18
I had,,, the word being "had"..... a waeco 50litre fridge and it drew 4amps in normal mode and 6 amps in turbo...
Very thirsty fridge for power...
With the low power cut off feature it will trip early every time...
You will wake up with warmish drinks most mornings if you have been camped since the afternoon before..

The fix was an engel 40litre...
2.5amps when running and no turbo mode...
And no low cut off....

You get what you pay for...
It is simple...
0
FollowupID: 570101

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 22:21

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 22:21
Visitor

I think your full of sh1t!

"You will wake up with warmish drinks most mornings if you have been camped since the afternoon before.."

What was you running it off?? a 9 volt eveready duracell???

Or perhaps you sat it on your campfire all night!!

Mate i have a CF50 Waeco , and im not saying that its better than an Engel, but it certainly isn't as bad as you rave on

Another clown in the forum...

Cheers.....Dave
0
FollowupID: 570118

Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 22:24

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 22:24
Dave,

LOL tell us how you really feel :)))

0
FollowupID: 570120

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 22:40

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 22:40
G'day Gramps

You wouldn't be able to read a word mate ...to much censorship.....LOL

Cheers......Dave
0
FollowupID: 570123

Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 23:29

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 23:29
Calm down Borgy, some people would sooner bag an appliance than have it fixed. Quite often a minor problem, usually related to voltage.
Some people hate the error light on the waeco, but HELLO its telling you there is something wrong!!!
Personally I know of more engels giving trouble to friends and mates than waeco's, none of them are faultless.

Cheers Pesty
0
FollowupID: 570128

Follow Up By: Visitor - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 09:21

Friday, May 16, 2008 at 09:21
a waeco 50litre fridge and it drew 4amps in normal mode and 6 amps in turbo...
Very thirsty fridge for power...
With the low power cut off feature it will trip early every time...
SO FAR ALL TRUE......

You will wake up with warmish drinks most mornings if you have been camped since the afternoon before..
SO FAR ALL TRUE......

The fix was an engel 40litre...
2.5amps when running and no turbo mode...
And no low cut off....
SO FAR ALL TRUE......

You get what you pay for...
It is simple...
AND AGAIN TRUE......

Thanks for the public roasting Dave....
Why would you do that?
Am i not entitled to my opinion?
I am sure i am not the only waeco owner whos low power cutout has tripped the fridge in the early hours of the morning...
Remember it is a low voltage and not low amphere cut out...
An apology would be accepted.....
0
FollowupID: 570154

Follow Up By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:24

Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:24
Visitor

"An apology would be accepted..... "

"It is simple... "

All abov are your words....the ones below are mine

You dont need to thank me for the public roasting.. as you put it...i would do the sam for anyone.

Secondly , i dislike people who talk bleep

Thirdly ..apology from me ...Haha forget it buddy

Cheers ....Dave
0
FollowupID: 570165

Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:38

Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:38
Sorry visitor, but you fell over on you first "so far all true"
If a waeco fridge is drawing 6 amps there is something wrong with it, even my 110 draws less than that and if it didnt, there would be something wrong with it.
You wake up to warm drinks, Doh, refer paragraph one !!!
Yes you get what you pay for, and some things are over priced, including all mobile fridges, compared to household units.

Cheers pesty
0
FollowupID: 570167

Follow Up By: wazzaaaa - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 11:01

Friday, May 16, 2008 at 11:01
Well I have an engle and 2 x waecos can't fault any of them, I don't notice any less draw from the engle when running and it is a smaller fridge than the 2 x cf50's.
Wouldn't bag either one.

Wazzaaaa
0
FollowupID: 570173

Follow Up By: bruce - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 11:30

Friday, May 16, 2008 at 11:30
I have had a Waeco 50l f/f for the past 5 yrs and have been very happy with it, on a recent trip it seemed to be playing up a bit ..it would not switch off cycling , just kept on running...so went in to Rays for a squiz and ended up purchasing a Engel 40l(very smart salesman)..(and got a good deal) just in case the Waeco stopped....the Engel pulls a lot less power than the Waeco and in the finish the supposed fault in the Waeco was traced to a slightly loose spade connection in my van wiring...but ...we had been considering buying another fridge anyway , this just brought the purchase forward a bit...cheers
0
FollowupID: 570179

Follow Up By: Visitor - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 13:46

Friday, May 16, 2008 at 13:46
Sorry visitor, but you fell over on you first "so far all true"
If a waeco fridge is drawing 6 amps there is something wrong with it,

I cant believe you guys are mis-quoting me so badly...
I said in turbo mode and then pest controller says it back like i have quoted that current draw in normal mode.

Sheesh,,,, i get it...
You guys must have this site all sussed out as your own and when outsiders come in you are very insecure...
Thats fine..
0
FollowupID: 570208

Reply By: 93 Navara - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:36

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 21:36
Visitor,

Maybe you do get what you pay for, but it hasn't missed a beat for four years til now. It used to last for a couple of days at least.

Ben
AnswerID: 304017

Follow Up By: Member -Dodger - Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 22:32

Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 22:32
Ben,
Get a multi meter and check the Battery when under load with the fridg and see what voltage it is. If it is still 12v or more 12.5 This will tell you if the battery is ok.
After you have talked with Waeco let us know how you got on.
It appears to me that your fridg may have a serious problem.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 570121

Reply By: Gronk - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 00:59

Friday, May 16, 2008 at 00:59
One of the 4x4 mags had a comparison with all the fridges and the Waeco drew slightly less than the Engel ( 40 ltr )......so even though the Engel is a good fridge, it's not the best at everything..
AnswerID: 304053

Reply By: Boobook2 - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 06:32

Friday, May 16, 2008 at 06:32
From Waeco's UK web site which does have current draw.

Waeco UK Currnet draw page

At 30 degrees ambient and fridge mode set to set to +5 degrees.

CF80 / 110
Average amps per hour 3.6
Max amps in fridge / freezer mode 5.5A,
Max amps in turbo mode 6A

The 80 l does suck a lot of current, especially if you use it as a fridge freezer as it is going almost continuously. The web site does not give the freezer and fridge figure but it is an average of about 4 - 4.5A.

However if you are drawing up to 9 A, you have a problem.
AnswerID: 304060

Reply By: 93 Navara - Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 08:18

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 08:18
Problem solved,

Went to the auto elec, fridge is fine, as is battery. Rear plug was the issue, sub 11 volts and would decrease until fridge errored. 12.5 at the back of the plug so a replacement and all was well.
As for the fridge pulling up to 9 amps on turbo, tried it repeatedly again and only reached sevens.
Thanks for your responses, the waeco lives on.

Ben
AnswerID: 304804

Sponsored Links