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Old 10-31-2015, 09:58 AM   #1
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Help with battery power-possible upgrade

So I haven't run my fridge (norcold) for more than a day or two.

I decided to leave it on for about 3 days on max cold. Last night after work I got in, and the co2 alarm was beeping indicating a low voltage. I also noticed the fridge wasn't cold. I'm assuming the batt died.

I only have one house batter, its in the rear of the Van, by the portapoty cupboard.

I'm new to rvs and really have no idea where to start, or even proper power management. I'm assuming the battery is weak, or just not powerful enough for what I need.

Can anyone in the oc area assist me with a shop, or if you can help I'll be happy to learn!

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Old 10-31-2015, 12:56 PM   #2
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

What kind and how many battereries do you have?
Norcold fridges should be set to around 3-3.5 for optimal cooling vs power consumption. Cranking your fridge to max will have put your fridge onto essentially 100% duty cycle draining your battery and possibly ruining it.
What is battery voltage at now?
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Old 10-31-2015, 02:16 PM   #3
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

Quote:
Originally Posted by reelchef67
What kind and how many battereries do you have?
Norcold fridges should be set to around 3-3.5 for optimal cooling vs power consumption. Cranking your fridge to max will have put your fridge onto essentially 100% duty cycle draining your battery and possibly ruining it.
What is battery voltage at now?
So I don't have a battery reader, do you have one you recommend? I have one car looking battery ( that's not under the hood). It's about the size of a standard car battery.

I do know that this current battery was installed in 2013, and had gone fully dead at least once. I'll take a few pics of my setup when I get off work.
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Old 10-31-2015, 02:17 PM   #4
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

To start with, you need one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Batte ... te+lighter

Make sure it's a 4 digit model. Then you can watch your battery through a charge / discharge cycle and find out exactly how wrecked it is.
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Old 10-31-2015, 02:21 PM   #5
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

Quote:
Originally Posted by Viejo
To start with, you need one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Batte ... te+lighter

Make sure it's a 4 digit model. Then you can watch your battery through a charge / discharge cycle and find out exactly how wrecked it is.

Great! It will be here Monday. I love prime
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Old 10-31-2015, 03:08 PM   #6
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

Do you know what size/type of battery you have? On top of the battery, it should say the group size and if its a marine or deep cycle, etc.

If you have a small battery, then it just wont have the juice to run your fridge for a couple days. If you have a larger battery and its still not able to run it, you may either have a weak charge or a weak battery.
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Old 10-31-2015, 07:42 PM   #7
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

A good start for understanding RV electrical is the 12 volt side of life pages

http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm


and


http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volta.htm

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Old 11-01-2015, 10:00 AM   #8
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikracer
Do you know what size/type of battery you have? On top of the battery, it should say the group size and if its a marine or deep cycle, etc.

If you have a small battery, then it just wont have the juice to run your fridge for a couple days. If you have a larger battery and its still not able to run it, you may either have a weak charge or a weak battery.

Here's what the battery says on top

675 mca
550 cca
182 rc mins
105 ah @ 20 hr rate

Exide stow away deep cycle
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Old 11-01-2015, 04:22 PM   #9
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

DerPo: I'm local if you need some assistance with your battery sizing......I'm in Coto De Caza.

Do you have any solar?......The run time for your fridge sounds about right for a 105ah battery.
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Old 11-01-2015, 08:15 PM   #10
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Re: Help with battery power-possible upgrade

Quote:
Originally Posted by boywonder
DerPo: I'm local if you need some assistance with your battery sizing......I'm in Coto De Caza.

Do you have any solar?......The run time for your fridge sounds about right for a 105ah battery.
I don't have solar yet. Still on the fence about that. And I may take you up on that! Theres so much about this van that I don't know about yet.


I got the battery tester thing and heres the results.
Plugged into the dash I was at 13, then just up to around 14 when I turned it on.

Plugged in to the sink area, I was at 10! Then it jumped up to 13ish when I turned on the car.

When I flip the black switch that allows me to turn on the radio with the engine on, and turn the fridge on max, after about 15 minutes the radio turns off. I'm assuming it's a low voltage issue.

Thoughts so far?
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