Aux Battery help

[rochjas]

Guys,

When I purchased my GU IV around 6 weeks ago, it came with a dual battery system already installed. I also have recently purchased a Waeco CF50 fridge ..... Its about 8 years old... but in great condition.... Last weekend I went camping and around this time last week I put the fridge in the back of the patrol just to see how it went etc.... The chap that owned the patrol before me also had a 12v outlet installed directly to the Aux battery...

I did a bit of driving for work with the fridge connected in the rear...After a few days I noticed that the error light was flashing once every 4 to 5 seconds.... According to waeco this means that there is not enough power for the fridge and this would disappear after about 1 minute after starting the car....

So on the weekend I was able to get a powered site and the fridge ran off a 240v to 12v Weaco converter with no issues at all...

I hooked the fridge up to the car for the run home an all seems ok. Today I took the Aux battery out and noticed that 3 out of the 6 cells were very very low on Water/acid. Could that be the end of my battery? Also I have charged the battery up after topping up with distilled water. I have the battery on the Gararge floor and the fridge direct connect to the battery... The error light again has come on.... once every 4 to 5 seconds.... Thought guys.... Am I up for a new battery?? Not sure what to do....

[lorrieandjas]

If you have a multimeter might pay to check out what is going on with the battery. From recollection the error is low voltage getting to the fridge? If so you can easily check what is happening with the battery. Might also be that the aux is not getting fully charged depending on type of battery, battery management system, etc. Or it could be a dying battery - multimeter will help you isolate the issue.

[oncedisturbed]

sounds like your battery is clagged and time for a new 1. if it was running on only running 3 / 6 cells, would more than likely have damaged it.

try borrow another battery and see if the light comes on, if not then your battery is knackered

[MudRunnerTD]

If the battery is stuffed and it sounds like it may well be then even if you have 12v at it on a Multi Meter it may not stand any load draw and will drop below 11 when you plug the fridge in.

Test it on the floor in the garage. put the fridge on it and test the voltage then. test again when the error occurs.

Buy a new battery

[threedogs]

NEVER put a battery on the floor insulate it with some timber planks or similar, rubber matting
may have save battery but doubt it, Might be getting to 12v but not holding it.
As Mudrunner suggests test with your Multimeter To be sure

[nissannewby]

NEVER put a battery on the floor insulate it with some timber planks or similar, rubber matting
may have save battery but doubt it, Might be getting to 12v but not holding it.
As Mudrunner suggests test with your Multimeter To be sure

This isnt so bad any more with new age materials and the materials used in the battery. If you can the best thing would be to load test the battery this is the best way to know if a battery has had it. Throw it on your main battery for half an hour and see if the same thing happens. It could even be a voltage drop in the wiring if it has to travel a distance to your 12v outlet.

[2TROLLFAM]

Just asked the boys in the workshop about this and they all agreed with above diagnositic tests interesting about the battery sitting on the floor, general consenous was not to put it on a concrete floor for any extended period of time as it 'can' (not will) cause the cells to collapse prematurely.
Good Luck Batteries aint cheap - just replaced Amelia & Franks then added a 2nd to Amelia ... ouch!!

[threedogs]

I'm old school newby, plus son and Brother in law auto sparks

[megatexture]

id check it with a multimeter also and i think you will find its not holding its charge
battery world can run a load test on it for you but i dont think id bother by the sounds of it, just flip out for a new one for piece of mind also last thing you want is a waeco full of spoilt food or hot beer! if you do decide to get a new one check out this site http://www.allpurposebatteries.com.au/index.php
personaly i dont like to risk putting a battery on the floor either batterys have come far but i dont think that far yet

[the evil twin]

snip...

I also have recently purchased a Waeco CF50 fridge ..... Its about 8 years old... ...

Aahaaaa... the dreaded Waeco low voltage light problem eh....

Problem number 1 is the age of the Waeco. The low voltage sense in the early Waeco's is an absolute PIA and even with a good battery will go into "error" after several hours. The CF80's were esp bad for it.The later ones since about 3 or so years ago are better. Some (maybe all) models have a selector switch, usually a three position slider which you can set to the lowest value. The only other fix I know of is to have a higher capacity battery in good condition with a great connector (ciggy plugs totally suck) and short as possible leads to the fridge.

Problem number 2 is the suss battery. If you aren't up to speed on how to troubleshoot batteries(correctly) with a multimeter then simply go to any friendly auto eleccy and they will usually load test the battery for free.

Problem number 3 about batteries and concrete floors etc. A hangover from the good old days when they also used to sell the Batteries dry IE they came with the electrolyte in a container and you (or the servo/sparkie/whoever) filled the battery yourself when it was sold/installed.
Very valid problem years ago but the technology of the composition of the case of modern batteries has all but totally eliminated the issue which was the extremely low but omnipresent discharge current path from plate to plate thru the case material via the concrete because the case was not a very good insulator.
Nowadays the main issue is if the battery vents (esp if it is being recharged) or you spill some electrolyte on the concrete so still not a practice to be encouraged but won't affect the battery itself like it once did..