engel 59 litre combi

Submitted: Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 18:51

ThreadID: 77264 Views:3072 Replies:8 FollowUps:5

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Battery Power

In this article we explain why you might need an additional power source independent of the starting battery installed into your vehicle and we look in detail at types of batteries,

cruisergeoff

hi just about my Engel, the fridge only last 24 hrs on my dual battery set up is that normal. It doesn't matter what setting i have it on. during the day it risers to plus 9 degrees it has Engel fridge insulated cover during night get -2 or 3
thanks any help would be great

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Reply By: Shaker - Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 19:03

Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 19:03

It is only drawing power from the second battery, have you had it checked?

AnswerID: 410795

Follow Up By: Tenpounder (SA) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 09:11

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 09:11

I agree with Shaker: if the Engel is dropping from +9 to -2 or 3 overnight, then the Engel must be working fine!! Sounds like the fridge is running off the second battery at night, like Shaker says. But as soon as the system fires up, the voltage drops so much that the Engel goes on strike. Is there a short in the wiring between the first and second batteries (isolator, solenoid or cable)?

FollowupID: 680870

Reply By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 19:08

Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 19:08

What type and size are the batteries??

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
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AnswerID: 410797

Follow Up By: cruisergeoff - Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 19:47

Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 19:47

its a deep cycle 110 ah just wondering if this is normal

FollowupID: 680795

Reply By: Jedo_03 - Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 20:38

Sunday, Mar 28, 2010 at 20:38

Nah - not normal...
I'm not a fridge guru -
Since you say that the Engel is showing temps of +9 during the day and -2 at night (no matter what setting), I'd guess that the Engel is the problem - and it's running full time to try to get the temps down so that's pulling your battery down.
Maybe the thermostat is kaput...
Maybe the fan is kaput...
the diagnostic boys will be here soon...
Jedo

AnswerID: 410814

Reply By: Member - Steve R (NSW) - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 09:03

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 09:03

Hi cruisergeoff

I have had one for 5 years and what you are experiencing is not normal. Are you stationary for the 24hrs? What other things are you running off the dual battery?

Regards

Steve

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AnswerID: 410852

Follow Up By: cruisergeoff - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 08:37

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 08:37

yeah mate stationery and not opening the fridge at all

FollowupID: 681041

Reply By: Alloy c/t - Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 10:51

Monday, Mar 29, 2010 at 10:51

Hard if out "on the road" but if possible try the fridge on 240v for 24hrs and see what the temps are , can be that your battery isnt holding charge / wireing to thin to fridge causing voltage drop / ,, there is no way that you should get a -2 thru to a +9 temp variation if you have enough power to the unit , in use you should expect to use 49+ amp hrs per 24 hrs so in theory and long life for your aux batt it needs recharge every 2nd day /24hrs use.

AnswerID: 410871

Reply By: cruisergeoff - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 08:36

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 08:36

thanks guys for all your replies i have checked i cant see i short, i have tried it on 240 volt runs perfect gets down to -17 and it cycles off so it sounds like 12 volt some where

AnswerID: 411010

Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 08:52

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 08:52

What size wiring do you have from the battery to the Fridge??

I think you may be getting to much voltage drop causing the fridge to stop working correctly.

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

Lifetime Member
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FollowupID: 681044

Reply By: Shaker - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 09:14

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 09:14

What setting have you got it on?

AnswerID: 411015

Reply By: Tenpounder (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 09:31

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 09:31

Hi again. You've now established that the Engel is working fine!! You also know that the second battery is doing its job when it can (at night!), and so the wiring from it to the Engel must be sound, without serious voltage drop. So it MUST point to the rest of the supply circuit, i.e. the wiring and components from the primary charging circuit to the second battery (isolator, solenoid and the wires). Have you tried checking the voltage across the second battery terminals in the various operating states (i.e. whilst the second battery is operating isolated, and also when the engine is running?). I'd put money (almost!) on a fault where, when the isolator tries to close, and connect the second battery to the charging circuit, something goes wrong. Where else can the fault be??
I'd like to know the conclusion to this one.

AnswerID: 411018

Follow Up By: cruisergeoff - Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 19:52

Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 at 19:52

hi tenpounder i let u know on the weekend im getting a dual battery in prado im using 4 b&s wire so hopefully i wont get any voltage drop.the wire in the cruiser is quarter of the size of 4 b&s wire im using in the prado.and isolator is redarc 2006 model least . because im sick and tired of the fridge not working.

FollowupID: 681158