Page 2 of 2
Re: Compressor fridge and Zig CF8
Posted: 08 Mar 2018, 15:53
by hightop ratty
We swear by our Waeco CR50 (running off a 150w fixed solar panel) - after putting up with a rubbish 12v cool box that killed a few leisure batteries.
Was about £500 to have it fitted properly by a caravan repair place - but well worth it (we use it as an overflow fridge for the house all year round
The solar also keeps the main battery charged when not in use
The future is solar
Re: Compressor fridge and Zig CF8
Posted: 27 Mar 2018, 17:29
by pondering
Thanks LeeME3 for your comments; your install looks good !
I'm having (choosing?) to work within the confines of the Autohomes Kameo layout and with a very small battery box (under passenger seat) I can only fit a 60Ah LB; but I've opted for a Victron Super Cyle AGM because of it's apparent depth of discharge tolerance (300 times @100% DOD etc.,) and added a 50W FlexiSun monocrystaline panel (on long leads to move about/follow the sun !) to help tick things over... all theory yet, but fingers crossed. I've also opted for a Vitrifrigo 39i compressor fridge (to fit a shallow depth) with 240V upgrade; a bit smaller than the Waeco but needs less power 2.1amps. Easter intall ahead...
Re: Compressor fridge and Zig CF8
Posted: 29 Mar 2018, 14:11
by LeeME3
Good luck with the install, not heard of that fridge but i'll take a look as I have a couple other 'projects' on-going!
At that battery size every reduction in power draw you can eke out will help so that 2.1A is not to be sniffed at. I would expect the same issues to apply re cable length / thickness for that fridge as for the CR50; if in doubt, go for girth!!!
Movable panel is a good idea so long as you don't forget to keep moving it - i use one on my Bay and it works very well.
And just keep telling yourself...the more the sun shines the colder my beer gets...it's a motivating factor!
Re: Compressor fridge and Zig CF8
Posted: 29 Mar 2018, 14:28
by LeeME3
pondering wrote:...with a very small battery box (under passenger seat) I can only fit a 60Ah LB...
I had a similar issue so I just built an extra battery box behind the passenger seat (which also houses my on-board mains charger and 2000w inverter and functions as an extra seat when parked up!). Mine is maybe 18 inches square but if it just housed a second battery it could be quite a lot smaller. you can just see it in the picture circled in red.
When using multiple batts they should be as close to identical as possible so a second 60Ah LB would give you 120Ah...
