I have had my Engel 39lt fridge since 1992 , its the first of the grey coloured Engels , when they changed from the original , green / yellow colour , its still going strong . 

But I'm wondering if the newer model Engels are much more efficient as far as amps , 

I did ask at the Super show in Melb a couple of weeks ago but the bloke on the Engel stand didn't know .

Its draining the battery more than it should , might be time for a new fridge , I will check out the whole system first , 

We are away Atm and will try and contact Engel when we get home , 

Sadly just last year my 1985 model gave us some trouble.

It drained a 82ah battery very low over the course of a short day, at first blamed the 2nd battery set up and wrecked tye near new battery.

Then we use old faithfull to back us at Christmas and I went and checked it at different times and throught it had not started when I touched it old faithfull would fire up.

I then took it for drive to see a repairer who had serviced it about 15 years ago, like a old friend he remembered her but after a couple of test told me to go buy a new one.

He said some of the electrics are not obtainable any more.

So now own a grey plastic one, very pleased, really its early days, now comin up 2 months old but so far very easy on the battery.

Hi All;

        Try and phone Engle world ( i think in Perth ) and ask them, Have delt with them befor and are very helpfull in advise or spair parts.

I too have one of the older model 39 litre Engels. I noticed a few years ago that my battery was running down quicker than it used to so I had the battery tested and found it was OK.

I then purchased a gauge that read the power that an appliance was using and it showed between 3.8 and 4.5 amps. A check of the Engel website found their boast that the 40 litre only used 2.5 amps.

I went to a local repairer of Engel fridges thinking that maybe my lid wasn't sealing and during the conversation with the gent he advised that the older models like mine when new used about 3.2-3.5 amps and as the compressor gets older and worn it will use more power. The numbers I recorded from mine he said was consistent with that model and the age of it.

I've since purchased one of the anniversary models (gold coloured ones) and it uses about 2.7-3.1 amps. Having regard to the fact I live in the tropics and the fridge is going to work harder than it would in a cooler climate I'm happy with its performance.

It may well be the case that your Engel is not faulty, just showing its age.

 Hope this helps
John.

DieselJack wrote:

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 and it uses about 2.7-3.1 amps. 

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All my testing and measuring of the Engle swing motor says the current draw of an operating compressor is about 2.5 Amps.   Perhaps you are confusing power use measured as Amp Hours.

Iza

Changed batteries today , to a Overlander - All rounder , I have had for a few years , I will see how that goes .

I connected the AGM Batt to my 240V , 5 Amp -Ctek charger , I have never taken much notice before , but the CTEK is getting bloody HOT , can't touch the back of the charger for more than about 10 seconds ,

Any opinions ? ..

 another thing I managed to do , I have a Solar Panel with a remote reg , I connected it arse about , I tried to charge the panel,from the battery , if you know what I mean , then went fishing for several hours , would that have the potential to bugger the battery , 

I was having batt problems before that . 

Regards Stupid . 

Bass wrote:

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Hey jacko did ya manage to increase to wattage of the solar panel, ha ha, I have a new fan belt for you when I see you next remind me.
Cheers bass.

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 G'day Warren , I think I got away with it , don't think I have buggered anything . 

Hi
Hmmm
Something went wrong with the above post
but I should point out that a Amp meter cannot give a true reading of the  DC current draw of an Engel type load
The current is actually pulsing from zero to max around 100 times per second
The best way is to look at the units WATTS rating, as stamped on the name plate & divide by the applied voltage eg 48W/12V = 4A
Then the actual Ahrs used over24hrs will be 4 A x actual Hours the unit is running [pumping]

Those "Actual hrs" are dependent on:
ambient temp
The thermostat setting
warm loading
frequency & time opened

This is the Wave forms fed to the Engel compressor, about 20V & 50 Hz. The square wave is from the 12V drive, the sine wave is from the mains.

DeBe wrote:

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This is the Wave forms fed to the Engel compressor, about 20V & 50 Hz. The square wave is from the 12V drive, the sine wave is from the mains.

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Hi DB

Thanks for those Scope  wave forms

They  verify  what I posted ,that the DC current draw is not constant DC, but pulses at Approx 100 per sec which a  DC         Ampmeter cannot read  with any degree of accuracy.

& since its form  at the compressor is   Square wave , not sinusoidal AC,  using the  AC ranges there  ,the readings would be even worse.

One thing that I have not seen in the specs is the PF when on AC

.Have you ever checked that with the new models???

MY old Scope has given up

Un able to check on that as I dont own an Engel. That was taken on one I repaired.

oldtrack123 wrote:

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CR50 12V 5.7A AVERAGE CURRENT =68.4Ahrs per 24hrs 40W [ MAX WATTS 48]
CR80 12V 5.9A '''' ' ' = 141Ahrs per 24 hrs 48W[ "' " 70
CR110 ' ditto " 50W[ " " 70
Cr140 Ditto 70W 70

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