DC Current Draw

oldtrack123 · Guru

DC Current Draw

Gazook · Member

Would anyone know the 12v DC current draw for a new Waeco CR-1110 model upright Fridge.

Replacing the old 3-way and are considering buying one, need to know the current draw for solar reasons.

Can't stand the thought of taking a generator along anymore.

Palebushman · Senior Member

Ours is a Waco 2210 with separate small freezer, and it draws 4.3 amps when running. As Pete said, there are variables involved eg; outside temperature day and night, insulation and air movement behind the fridge radiator. Yes, 70Amp/hour in every 24 hours is a reasonable consumption to expect.

03_troopy · Guru

Over to you Peter.. ;)

oldtrack123 · Guru

Hi
Based on a consumption of around 70Ahrs per 24hrs, you need around 200W of solar to just keep even,
then you have to decide how you are going to make up for those days when you do not have a full solar output

Thats where more variables come into it such as :
[1]how much reserve battery capacity should you have to last until you can get the batteries fully charged??
[2]how will you recharge if the weather remains bad
[3] how long do you expect to be away from 240v,[bush camping]
[4] what ,if any, limitations are there on fitting more batteries & solar panels
[5]then ,what other loads do you hope to run

LOTS to consider before making the move to a compressor fridge

Peter

hako · Guru

Waeco website say it draws between 2.2 and 2.5 amps at 32C.

oldtrack123 · Guru

hako wrote:
Waeco website say it draws between 2.2 and 2.5 amps at 32C.

Hi

Just so long asyou understand ,THAT isthe AVERAGE current drawn over 24Hrs

2.5A x24 =60Ahrs per 24hrs

A 100Ahr battery will need to be fully recharged every day

Peter.

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Thursday 24th of January 2013 10:16:49 PM

Gazook · Member

Thanks for the information guys, I think I will go with it - just got to get the right price .....

oldtrack123 · Guru

johnnz wrote:
. I spoke with a traveler last year trying to run a 120 litre 2 way fridge on solar, he said he was constantly replacing batteries due to actually boiling his house batteries due to the large amount of amps going in and out of the batteries.
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Johnnz

Â Â Â Â Â Hi John

I would suspect that he ,like many has badly UNDERESTIMATED his battery & solar requirements for use with a compressor fridge

I suggest his problem is not high amps going in & out butÂ high daily AMPHRS used

His problems could be

[1]Insufficent Amphr batteryÂ capacity leading to over discharging

[2]insufficient solar to recharge the battery on a daily basis

but none of those would boil the batteies but would cause early failure

[3] If [1] &[2] are not the problem then as P&M has suggested check the reg settings

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Friday 25th of January 2013 05:51:45 PM

johnnz · Senior Member

When ever I catch up up with another traveler, the fridge and powering the fridge seems to come up. I have met lots of people trying to run their fridge/ freezers from solar. I spoke with a traveler last year trying to run a 120 litre 2 way fridge on solar, he said he was constantly replacing batteries due to actually boiling his house batteries due to the large amount of amps going in and out of the batteries.

Now I'm no expert on solar, batteries or fridge/ freezers for that matter, I have a 3 way fridge/freezer, also I use a solar panel for keeping my house batteries topped up. I have for the last 5 years had absolutaly know issues with house battteries or running my fridge, I use gas when parked up. A 4kg gas cylinder last me 7 to 10 days depending on conditions.

For the price of refilling my LPG cylinders, I don't think that I'll be changing how my vehicle is set up in the future.

Johnnz

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

johnnz wrote:
I spoke with a traveler last year trying to run a 120 litre 2 way fridge on solar, he said he was constantly replacing batteries due to actually boiling his house batteries due to the large amount of amps going in and out of the batteries.

Then there is something very wrong with his charger settings or he is running his batteries much too low, or both.

Cheers,

Peter

johnnz · Senior Member

What ever the issues, house batteries are just too damned expensive to mess around with. I realise that refilling LPG cylinders can be a chore and sometimes cost over $20.00, if your away from everything and free camping as I do for much of the time planning for LPG refills is not that much of an issue. So having said that I'll go with what I have until I run accross a better way.

Johnnz