Fridge voltage drop

Hi All

I am kind of stumped with this, so thought I would ask here.

I have a cf25 waeco fridge, freezer. It works fine on 240v through an inverter, but I am having issues on 12v with voltage drop. Originally I just wired a another wire through to the cab using 10a wire and a cigarette lighter plug, but I get the a low voltage error (1 flash every 5 seconds error).
I have now used 12g wire and bought a new waeco lead and socket and used some 30a connectors (similar to a Anderson plug), however I still get a low voltage error. The wire is only 2 meters in length and is connect and earth straight to the battery.
When I run the fridge on emergency override I do not get the error.


Any thoughts as how to fix it.

Cheers

Patrick
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Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 10:25

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 10:25
Patrick,

On the fridge some where there is a setting for "low voltage cut out". This can be set to 3 different levels. The setting might be set too high and this might send the waring lights flashing.

I don't have a Waeco so I am not up to par on the details, I am just going on what has been said on this forum in the past.

Wayne
AnswerID: 349342

Reply By: Notso - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 10:36

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 10:36
Check the Voltage before and after any fuse in the line or fridge

I've had a problem with voltage drop across a fuse in mine although it is a different brand..
AnswerID: 349343

Reply By: Member - Cram (Newcastle NSW) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 10:55

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 10:55
Is it earthered properly? because recently I had voltage drop and it was related to earth.
AnswerID: 349346

Reply By: Tbreak - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 11:12

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 11:12
Also check the terminals on the socket - I've experienced problems with them.

As you will find out there is potential for problems in many areas.

Good luck.
AnswerID: 349347

Reply By: Robnicko - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 13:15

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 13:15
Patrick,

The problem is the Waeco lead.

I had the same issue with my Waeco CF40. Make up a fridge lead using the end of the original plug that goes into the fridge and cut it and join to 6mm cable. On the other end use a 50amp anderson plug and install another anderson plug in the vehicle where you normally power your fridge from. Also use an inline fuse(7.5amp) in the new lead that you make. I did this with mine and it works much better, gets down to temp quicker, is more stable connection wise and wont come loose(the cause of most problems).

Rob
AnswerID: 349356

Follow Up By: Jimbo (WA) - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 19:07

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 19:07
Patrick,

I second Rob's idea. I have done exactly as he describes and my Waeco cools down and stays down much better. I don't think any brand fridge lead is made well enough!

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FollowupID: 617658

Reply By: showelly - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 13:35

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 13:35
Thanks for everyones replies. I will have a look at replacing the waeco lead itself with 12g wire.

Two more questions, how do you test voltage drop or amps available. I have a read of over 13v when testing with a meter.

Also, anderson plugs, have people found smaller ones to use on 6mm or 12g wire. In jaycar they only had 8 or 4g ones.

Cheers
Patrick
AnswerID: 349357

Follow Up By: Robnicko - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 15:46

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 15:46
Patrick,
The 6mm wire will work fine with the 50amp anderson plug. That's what I used and it works very well. Make sure you crimp it well. I reckon the problem with the waeco lead is the way the fuse assembly is withing the cigarette plug.

Beleive me, do what I did and you will be right.

The symptoms mine had was that when the vehicle is not running and you pressed the turbo funtion it would give an error light. With the vehicle running it would eventually also give the error light. Everything else worked ok. But since making the new leadI can press the turbo function, even after 2 days with the vehicle not running and it works the way it should.

Withe the original plug when it fails pull the lead out and feel the end of it (+ve pole) it will be very hot. Now with anderson plugs they are cold.

ROb
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FollowupID: 617632

Reply By: greybeard - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 16:36

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 16:36
or it could be the issue that some of the fridges had with the internal fuse. it's covered under warranty if it is.
take it back to a waeco service depot and get them to check it.
AnswerID: 349374

Follow Up By: Robnicko - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 16:49

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 16:49
Greybeard,
Mine had the stronger internal thermal fuse installed and still had the dreaded error light. Ended up being the lead.

Rob
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FollowupID: 617635

Follow Up By: greybeard - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 17:13

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 17:13
hmmm, which end of the lead has the problem?
i've replaced the cigarette plug with a 2 pin low voltage plug ( like the 3 pin mains ones but only two pins ) and i still seem to have the problem. more so when it is hot.
i've got to take mine back and get the thermal fuse looked at.
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FollowupID: 617638

Follow Up By: Robnicko - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 22:35

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 22:35
I cut my lead at the end that goes into the fridge leaving about 1inch of cable. Then soldered 6mm dual cable, about 1m, to it with an anderson pug at the end where the cigarette plug normally goes. I also put an inline fuse holder with a 7.5a fuse. Covered it with flexible conduit and it looks like a bought one!

I think the standard thermal fuse is 5amp and when I took mine to the waeco rep he put in a 9amp thermal fuse as they can draw up to about 8amps when first fired up.

With the homemade lead it works as though it's plugged into 240v.
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FollowupID: 617701

Reply By: Willem - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 17:33

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 17:33
Patrick

Bloody Waeco's....LOL

It is a Waeco fault.

A starter card or something like that inside is corrupted. I had to take our cf40 back twice get repaired after it was in use for 14 months.

Waeco's explanation was that it was a bad batch of cards received from a supplier.

Waeco running OK now for the past 12 months after repairs.


Cheers
AnswerID: 349383

Reply By: PradOz - Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 22:00

Monday, Feb 16, 2009 at 22:00
hi patrick - does yours have the switch marked LOW - HIGH located near the COLD - FREEZE switch? i had same problem but fixed it as soon as i remembered to switch to appropriate setting: HIGH when 240V, LOW when 12V. not sure if its as simple as that with yours, but hopefully is, cheers
AnswerID: 349416

Reply By: Member - Howard T (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 at 11:58

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 at 11:58
Hi Patrick

Could be the socket pins on the fridge itself. Give them a cleanup. They seem to get gunk on them and it doesnt take much to stop 12 volts getting thru.

Cheers

Howard
AnswerID: 349464

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