Fridge on 12V killing the batteries
Just came back from the shop where I got my new batteries after I toasted my first set. I got them replaced 5 months ago, and already they were performing poorly, even thought they were supposed to be...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
I did a test yesterday running the fridge for 4 hours on the inverter/battery bank/alternator.
The RV had been on shore power for one week and the batteries were fully charged.
During the 4 hours the ammeter for the house batteries varied between 5 and 34 amps. When the fridge would cycle I saw 5 amps--and as the trip progressed that increased to 10 amps.
After the four hours (draw of 31 amps) when I plugged back into shore power the charging rate was 15 amps.
Clearly even with twin #8 wires from the engine chassis system to the "house" batteries, there is a slow but steady loss. The alternator is a 130 amp Ford. The problem is the ECM just doesn't "see" the house battery well enough.
The solution appears to be to add an external diode to the alternator and charge the house bank from that.
I did a test yesterday running the fridge for 4 hours on the inverter/battery bank/alternator.
The RV had been on shore power for one week and the batteries were fully charged.
During the 4 hours the ammeter for the house batteries varied between 5 and 34 amps. When the fridge would cycle I saw 5 amps--and as the trip progressed that increased to 10 amps.
After the four hours (draw of 31 amps) when I plugged back into shore power the charging rate was 15 amps.
Clearly even with twin #8 wires from the engine chassis system to the "house" batteries, there is a slow but steady loss. The alternator is a 130 amp Ford. The problem is the ECM just doesn't "see" the house battery well enough.
The solution appears to be to add an external diode to the alternator and charge the house bank from that.
