Adding a new DC Fridge during a LA Heatwave

[themexicandoctor]

Or maybe the non-stop operation for 4 weeks has cooked something?

The Potentiometer works as instead of adding resistors, i use that and by increasing the knob it causes the compressor to run at a higher speed?

[booster]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Just called my RV Guy & he said "just crank that knob up", it cannot use any more power than it

The knob is just a thermostat so it is true it won't use any more power if cranked up, sort off. If turning it to a colder setting actually makes it get colder, it will use more power to get there and stay there. If the unit is heat maxed out, turning the thermostat colder does nothing as the unit is already running 100% of the time.


Didn't a bunch of the Novakools have the thermostat wired incorrectly a while ago?

[themexicandoctor]

I think that was a situation two or three years ago - its only gotten progressively worse the last 48 hours

[avanti]

Do you have the means to measure the voltage across the input to the fridge? Unless I missed it, you haven't reported this yet. Along with the ambient temperature at the back and the duty cycle, this should be considered as one of the "vital signs" of the fridge.

If the voltage is good and if it is steady, you can rule out wiring and battery issues.

[booster]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Or maybe the non-stop operation for 4 weeks has cooked something?

The Potentiometer works as instead of adding resistors, i use that and by increasing the knob it causes the compressor to run at a higher speed?

Yes that is how the potentiometer would work, but the one listed appeared to go only to 1000 ohm and you would want a zero to 1500 ohms.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by booster

Yes that is how the potentiometer would work, but the one listed appeared to go only to 1000 ohm and you would want a zero to 1500 ohms.

Any suggestions?

The Novakool Engineer did mention 1500 being the ceiling.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by avanti

Do you have the means to measure the voltage across the input to the fridge? Unless I missed it, you haven't reported this yet. Along with the ambient temperature at the back and the duty cycle, this should be considered as one of the "vital signs" of the fridge.

If the voltage is good and if it is steady, you can rule out wiring and battery issues.

I do knoe when we put a Clampmeter on it a couple of days ago it was running 2.2amps.

All I know about the ambirnt temperature is that we are in a huge Heatwave right now & on hard surfaces, its about 115°.

[booster]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Any suggestions?

The Novakool Engineer did mention 1500 being the ceiling.

Nope, as I mentioned earlier, when I did ours a quick search of easy to get ones didn't show up the right range, so I did individual resistors on a rotary switch.

[avanti]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

I do knoe when we put a Clampmeter on it a couple of days ago it was running 2.2amps.

I asked about voltage, not current.

[eric1514]

This

or

This

And here's an article about variable speed compressors. LINK

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by avanti

I asked about voltage, not current.

Avanti,

In this subject you are now talking to the wrong end of the Horse - actually I meant to write 2.1amps. Will check with the R Guy when I go back next week for the Battery Box changes.

As for the ambient temperature during the hottest part of the day, it averaged 87.9°F but went as high as 106°F at peak.

Good questions!

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by eric1514

This

or

This

And here's an article about variable speed compressors. LINK

Thank you Eric,

Originally Posted by eric1514

This

or

This

And here's an article about variable speed compressors. LINK

Eric,

I am going to send this to the Engineer & ask what he suggests - i do see in the second photo the electronic module block & its the same unit I have in mine but purchased for about $200 installed at the factory.

Now that I understand what it means, I feel fooolish.

Going to ask the Head Engineer about the best add on for my needs, of it comes from Novakool leadership, there shouldn't be any issues with Warranty, etc.

[themexicandoctor]

I am NOT going to post any more reports for a few days & see what happens.

The Seesaw is not good for anyone, my Blood Pressure or the reputation of Novakool who I believe are an excellent company, with a fine product & support service that far exceeds most of what we as modern day Americans experience.

Its a small company but when the Head Engineer calls you each morning proactively on the sale of a singular Class B fridge (our group), I was more surprised at the phone ringing than I calling someone like Dometic & knowing as one poster said, he was 26th in Line.

Plus he was able to see (tbc if this was the fridge issue next week), a electrical issue with my rig long distance, I have complete confidence in getting over my "teething problems ..."

As to fine tuning the unit to improve performance during a Heatwave as well as to reduce the amp draw, of this too, I am completely confident on a very positive outcome.

So next are my figures presently & from the last 17 hours

[themexicandoctor]

I am now in Mar Vista/Santa Monica area since nightfall, my 41° degree box temperature plummeted after I left the Death Valley of Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley/Burbank area.

It's approximately 15-30° cooler over here at night depending on how close you get to the beach - during the day its approximately 8-15° cooler plus there is more of a breeze.

I have been parked with the fridge facing the morning sun. The unit is reading 25.8°F!

Here is also the Victron BMV712 Smart Meter showing that my batteries an hour ago were at 89° SOC & that it had been almost 17 hours since my last Full Charge & that 17 hour period with the Fridge, Fantastic Fan & a couple of hours of a Carado Personal Fan was a draw of 32ahs.

The Victron MTTP Charge Controller is showing what its showing.

[themexicandoctor]

Here are the photos;

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Here are the photos;

Yesterday it was about 115° where we were working on the truck electrical & I had the fridge off for 2 hours, had to get it down from 43 something degrees & then it went to 40 & then later in the afternoon as the sun hit that side of my tig it went to 433, 45, 47 & 49 very quickly.

This has to be an anomaly.

Did it happen?

You saw the data.

But now its running perfectly & I do not have to visit Dante's Inferno for another week, in fact its probably running too cold & it has nothing inside.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Yesterday it was about 115° where we were working on the truck electrical & I had the fridge off for 2 hours, had to get it down from 43 something degrees & then it went to 40 & then later in the afternoon as the sun hit that side of my tig it went to 43, 45, 47 & 49 very quickly.

This has to be an anomaly.

Did it happen?

You saw the data.

But now its running perfectly & I do not have to visit Dante's Inferno for another week, in fact its probably running too cold & it has nothing inside.

Plus in Burbank there was zero breeze & even in the shade it was 115 when those temps occurred

[themexicandoctor]

Now I am at only 26.7°F in direct sun.

If you want an idea of the heat yesterday in the back of the box, look at these 111°* figures.

*as it so happened, the Sensorpush came off the back of the upper refrigerator cowl/vent baffle & had fallen to the base of the fridge & was reading 102°F average & I added the 4% - not scientific but reasonably accurate

[themexicandoctor]

Here it is, a reading from Dantes Inferno

[eric1514]

What temp are you trying to achieve in the refrigerator?