12v fridge consumption

[Hunter34]

Last year I installed a waeco compressor and evaporator plate in the existing ice box on my Hunter which is pretty well insulated (200mm on bottom and 150mm on sides and top).
It seems to work well and cools the box down enough, but when the compressor is on it uses over 7 amps.
Is that normal?
I am sure I saw the spec somewhere before I chose the waeco which estimated 4amps but I am not sure if that was an average or not.
I have tried emailing Waeco but have received no response as yet.

Does anybody know what the comsumption should be.
Andrew


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[Robin]

We don't have a Waeco but I have spoken with them in the past and found them very helpful, why not try a phonecall?

My feeling is that when running it should consume just under 5 amps, are you sure your ammeter is accurate?

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Rohorn]

Hi...you would have the latest Danfoss compressor with that Waeco unit and thats supposed to be more economic than the earlier model I have which uses between 4 and 5 amps depending how far along one is with the compression cycle. 8 amps is a lot...as Robin infers, are you sure there's nothing else affecting the ammeter reading?
Cheers...R

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[colin_jones]

As far as I can gather by rough(ish) test, my Waeco 60 litre fridge, which was new in April 2004 - so has the new Danfoss more economic compressor - consumes 3 amps +/- in a cycle which runs it for about 15 mins per hour.

That is in Mediterranean summer conditions, when we 'turn up the wick' a bit to cope with the ambient heat.

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[pvb]

Waeco info...

The bigger units can easily draw 7 amps, but current depends on compressor model and evaporator type - there are details (expressed as wattage) on the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.waeco.com/pages/products/mk/agg.htm>cooling units page</A> of the Waeco website.

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[Talbot]

This is excessive, so something else must be running. Your compresor will be either a danfoss 35 or a 50. Neither of these on their own even on full output will draw 8 amps - The 50 being rated at 6.7 amps at full wack. With that much insulation, the duty cycle should be less than 50%.

How large is your fridge? is the compressor water cooled, with a pump drawing water from under the boat?

need more info before can really say that there is something wrong - but looks a tad suspicious. Have you worked out what the duty cycle is yet?

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[pvb]

Take a look at...

Take a look at the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rparts.com/Catalog/Major_Components/compressors/Danfoss/bd50.pdf>Danfoss BD50F data sheet</A>, which shows that the max current can be as high as 9 amps.

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[Talbot]

Re: Take a look at...

Numbers are lower on the documentation for the same compressor from the penguin site - which is where my data came from. I dont understand their table of power against temperature, but suspect that the 9 amps might be a starting load.

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[pvb]

Running load...

It's a max running load, depending on compressor speed, evaporator choice, ambient temp and evaporator temp. The BD50F has a max power input of 104 watts, which is about 9 amps at 12 volts.

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[Talbot]

Re: Running load...

It would only be providing that max power on a 400 litre fridge or a 120 litre freezer, unless the system was set up with holding plate rather than an evaporator.

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[Rick]

I've got a Waeco BD35F unit with a VD09 evaporator, and here in Queensland, Australia (lowest temp this year was 5C overnight, and we regularly have over 30C daytime summer), my unit keeps my 120 litre box at 4 to 5C (and the oval plate -3C) on a cycle of 1min 40 secs running at 4.8 amps, 10 minutes off. If you're drawing 7 aamps, I'd first check the measurement, and if it's up there, I'd talk to Waeco. BTW Waeco downunder are hopeless too! - call them 5 times, and you'll get 5 answers to the same question.

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