Continual Running of Waeco CR110 frdige over long periods of hot weather

Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 12:07
ThreadID: 91879 Views:6296 Replies:5 FollowUps:14
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Just went away for a weekend in van and found our smartcharger was continually running below float level for most of the times the generator was going. On previous occassions , most it seeemed to take to bring 110ah deep cycle back up was usually 3 hrs,from overnight use. Leading up to this trip the fridge had been continually going since just before Xmas(wife was helping daughter while she was waiting to have twins) and a lot of that time was in extremeley hot weather. On the 2nd day out after running gennie for 8 to 10 hrs , the charger finally got ahead of the fridge. Leading up to that i had noticed the compressor running for long perods of time. when got home disconnected battery and put on 6amp charger to check battery. Once battery had reached float level i disconnected to check on "leakage" and found that battery overnight had dropped from 13.45v down to 13.33v.........What I am trying to work out is what is the more likely cause, the fridge, or the battery(12mths old reasonable use) Had covered the terminals at one stage with petroleum jelly, which appeared to have broken down after a while. After cleaning terminals and connections etc it did improve for a while.

Sorry if confusing, but thought best to list everything

any help /advice greatly appreciated
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Reply By: pepper2 - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 12:58

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 12:58
what is the output of your smart charger?
AnswerID: 477839

Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 13:04

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 13:04
it is a 20amp smartcharger and always brought batt back up(while fridge running) within 2 - 3 hrs....for most of this trip, best it seemed to be able to do was get it back up to 85%

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Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 13:44

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 13:44
How long had the battery rested before you took the first measurement? That difference could just be the difference between a hot (just charged) battery and a cold one. Voltage measurements should only be taken after the battery has rested for about 2 hours.

Where was that measurement taken from? A fully charged battery should read approx 12.8v
AnswerID: 477842

Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 13:47

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 13:47
first reading about 2 hrs after charge and next one was the next morning
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 13:49

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 13:49
Was the reading taken from the battery terminals? It looks too high to me..
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Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 14:11

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 14:11
definitely the terminals but open circuit voltage..........
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Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 14:13

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 14:13
was Telstra tech for 30 yrs so reasonable knowledge, cept for deep cycle batts

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Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 17:15

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 17:15
Hi kevmac,

Not trying to put myself up as a battery expert, only speaking from personal experience. I have 2 105AH DC batteries connected in parralell in our van. After charging up with a Smartcharger I let the batteries settle overnight and usually come up with a reading of 12.8v. Without further charging or draining they will sit at 12.8v for weeks before I can measure a slight drop off. As John has said 13.45 or 13.3v sounds a little high. Almost as if the batteries haven't settled down after charging. As I said, only my experience.


Cheers
Pop
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FollowupID: 753194

Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 17:44

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 17:44
surely that wouldnt be the root of my problems tho?

is only this trip i started using multi meter to check voltage.

normal conditions smart charger is charging battery which is running the fridge and in that situ was measuring very similar voltages


That is smart charger kicks in once frdge drags voltage down to certain level
and drops out again once reaches float....(cept for trickle)
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FollowupID: 753201

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 17:59

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 17:59
Not sure mate, but I wonder if this characteristic has been there for a while but not noticed until you started using your multi meter. Maybe make sure the battery is fully charged and then let it sit for a couple of days with nothing connected and then start checking the voltage over a few weeks. My batteries are AGM's so not sure about wet or gel types. I have been told the AGM will hold its charge for a longer period without charging.


Cheers
Pop

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FollowupID: 753203

Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 18:23

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 18:23
have a funny feeling be making visit to where i bought battery from and gettem to put battery tester on, although my underlying impression of the cause of the problem is the fact that the compressor on the fridge is running too often to allow smartcharger to catch up as quick as it used to......

just need steadily go thru all options I guess
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FollowupID: 753204

Reply By: Andrew & Jen - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 18:20

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 18:20
Hullo kevmac

When I bought our C/T a few years ago, I remember readng in the CTEK manual that when on 240v, it was recommended that the fridge be plugged into the 240 socket and NOT run on 12v, as that would not be good for the charger trying to manage the currrent/phase/time for the battery.

Given you state that it was very hot, presumably the fridge was working most (all?) of the time and hence the continual current draw might have been interferring with the charging program.

Cheers
Andrew
AnswerID: 477868

Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 18:44

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 18:44
with 20 amp smartcharger would think be enuf to quickly overcome current drain of 2.6a( even continually)???
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Follow Up By: Andrew & Jen - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 21:58

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 21:58
Hullo kevmac

Have noted your post below - join the club! :-)

My comment re running on 240v still stands as it was recommended.
It may be that the way the charger is programmed to monitor voltage / current / battery status that the current flow out in some way upsets how the charger is reading / interpreting the situation.

Cheers
Andrew
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FollowupID: 753235

Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 22:12

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 22:12
thx Andrew............will keep ya posted hahaha
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Follow Up By: Bernie C - Thursday, Feb 16, 2012 at 12:38

Thursday, Feb 16, 2012 at 12:38
I'm agree with Andrew, why not let the battery charger do what it is there for, charging the battery system and connect the 240 to the fridge.
Might as well use more of the 240 output of the genny than just running a battery charger, well that's what I do anyway.
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FollowupID: 753295

Reply By: kevmac....(WA) - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 21:35

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 at 21:35
Must be ready for becoming a grey nomad................

Looks like wife and I have both had seniors moments..........


At a good guess I would say I have found the cause of our problems...................


THE DARNED FRIDGE WAS SET AT MAXIMUM COLD FOR SOME REASON.


No wonder the compressor always seemed to be continually running & the gennie having to keeep the smartcharger going for so long.


If you wish to have a laugh at our expense please do , because we did!!!!!!
AnswerID: 477889

Follow Up By: kevmac....(WA) - Saturday, Feb 18, 2012 at 10:21

Saturday, Feb 18, 2012 at 10:21
All tested out at home, with fridge set at 4.5 and all working ok as before.YES even yhe smartcharger behaving properly as it used to. Thanks for all the advice from a great forum . As I keep saying maybe some day I will be able to help someone. Is now a note on fridge door to check thermo setting is on 4.5, hahahah
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FollowupID: 753496

Reply By: wombat100 - Thursday, Feb 16, 2012 at 10:18

Thursday, Feb 16, 2012 at 10:18
We run our CR1110 just above '5' to try to retain a fridge temp. of about 4 degs.
Have installed a Engel inside/outside temp. unit to monitor, but it's very dificult to maintain a constant temp.
Also found the fridge to be very power hungry, and not very efficient.
Have just had the voltage thingy replaced, as it worked OK on 12v- but shat itself when on 240v.
I really don't think the CR110 is the 'bees knees'- but I'm trying a few ideas to get a bit more efficency out of it.
It does have the optional fan kit installed- but even that doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
AnswerID: 477914

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