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Author Topic: New to 12v fridges.  (Read 19286 times)

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Offline kiwipride

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New to 12v fridges.
« on: January 03, 2015, 06:28:51 PM »

Hi

Just had to go back the the mainland from Straddie has our 3way Aldi fridge died. Purchased a Chinese "gearup" 2way from Repco due to budget.

Anyway.....running off a fully charged 120 AH battery, also connect to a 180w solar panel. the thing beeps and stops at 8 deg C even though I have set it to 4 deg C!  It doesn't want to get any colder.

Is there something that I am doing wrong?

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Offline McGirr

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2015, 07:10:47 PM »

Is there a setting for low, med and high.

Mark
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Offline oldmate

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2015, 07:16:26 PM »
Is it a compressor fridge or a thermo cooler?
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2015, 07:16:47 PM »
Hi Mark

It has a LCD display allowing me to set the temp from -18 to 4
And just a freezer only setting.


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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2015, 07:26:13 PM »
Oldmate, it's a compressor style.


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Offline oldmate

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2015, 07:27:59 PM »
No drama mate. Tried to find some specs sheet for it without luck
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2015, 07:30:20 PM »
Yeah, specs ain't out there. It is a Companion Brand according to the manual.


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Offline koshari

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2015, 10:38:54 AM »
Firstly if it is a compressor fridge can you hear the compressor stopping or does it continue to run?

If its continually running the fridge is likely not getting down to temp. You can check this with a thermostat.
Alternatively if the fridge is stopping the thermostat may be innacurate.  Finally there may be an Under voltage protection on the frig.
Check battety voltage if its stopping prematurely.
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Offline Rumpig

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2015, 11:12:08 AM »
Was wondering myself if battery voltage may be an issue as mentioned above...what are you powering the fridge with from the battery set up you have? Is the wiring you are using big enough for the running of the fridge?
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2015, 02:39:16 PM »
The fridge does have a low voltage cut off. Around 10.5v I believe..

The compressor gets to about 3-4 dregs above what I have set then stops and beeps. The battery (120Amh) still is at 12.5v or more when it beeps.

Run it this morning direct on the car and it worked great. As soon as I changed it to my other batteries connected to solar it beeped and played up.




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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2015, 02:40:54 PM »
I am connecting the fridge direct to the battery using the supplied 12v cable to a fused cig plug receiver connected to the battery. Battery is connected to 180w solar panels..


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Offline gronk

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2015, 04:46:22 PM »
Quote from: kiwipride on January 04, 2015, 02:40:54 PM
I am connecting the fridge direct to the battery using the supplied 12v cable to a fused cig plug receiver connected to the battery. Battery is connected to 180w solar panels..


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Is this the exact same way you connect it to the 4wd battery......is the 4wd running when it runs "normal " ??

What is the voltage at the battery when the solar and fridge is connected and running ??

If you can....try and measure the voltage at the fridge itself when the above is happening ..

Any pics of your setup ??
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Offline oldmate

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2015, 05:05:20 PM »
have you got a multi you can put on your battery. my guess is the battery is stuffed. when the load goes on to it, it dies.
you have worked out the fridge is fine, as it works in car.
so what is different between the car set up and the set up you are using it off?
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Offline Nomad

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #13 on: January 04, 2015, 06:05:09 PM »
Having just been through this it does sound like your battery.
Was the Aldi fridge doing the same thing?

Cheers Nomad.
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #14 on: January 04, 2015, 06:09:09 PM »
Thanks for all your help..
The voltage at the battery and solar was around 12.6..
The only difference between working on the car is the batteries. None are actually deep cycle.
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #15 on: January 04, 2015, 06:10:03 PM »
Yes, the 4wd was running for the fridge to work
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #16 on: January 04, 2015, 06:11:05 PM »
The Aldi one was used on gas
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Offline gronk

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #17 on: January 04, 2015, 06:14:51 PM »
Quote from: kiwipride on January 04, 2015, 06:09:09 PM
Thanks for all your help..
The voltage at the battery and solar was around 12.6..
The only difference between working on the car is the batteries. None are actually deep cycle.

Unhook the solar and see what the voltage is while running the fridge ?
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Offline cayres_87

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #18 on: January 04, 2015, 06:24:54 PM »
I had one of the same Companion style fridges, they need extremely good wiring to run as they draw 7 to 8 amps on start up and running. I had the same dramas with mine and ended up selling it and buying a name brand which only draws less than 4 on start up.
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Offline jetcrew

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #19 on: January 04, 2015, 06:33:09 PM »
take a reading off the battery now that the sun has gone, i,d guess you have been measuring the surface voltage supplied by the solar panels rather than actually seeing what's in the battery. you have a voltage issue IMHO.

jet ;D
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #20 on: January 05, 2015, 06:55:13 AM »
How much voltage should I have as a minimum out of the fridge end of the plug?
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Offline Nomad

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #21 on: January 05, 2015, 07:21:51 AM »
It should be in the 12's.

If you disconnect your solar and don't run the car how long does the fridge run before it shuts down and what voltage does it show when it does shut down?

Cheers
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #22 on: January 05, 2015, 08:06:47 AM »
Without the solar it won't even reach 4c before it beeps and stops compressing. Led readout at that point says 10.9v. When compressor stops it shows back to 12+
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Offline jetcrew

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #23 on: January 05, 2015, 08:46:15 AM »
Your battery is cactus mate .. As soon as the load is applied the battery drops it's pants ..and fridge shuts down on low voltage warning.

Put the fridge on the car and start car for 30 mins ..then 2.5hrs car off 30 mins on and let the solar fill the other stuffed battery all day then repeat the test at days end.

Or get a new battery, but I would have a good look at the solar too.

Jet :D
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Offline kiwipride

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Re: New to 12v fridges.
« Reply #24 on: January 05, 2015, 09:51:54 AM »
 I think you are correct Jet. We never anticipated having to buy a 12v fridge so therefore, I don't have good enough batteries
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