Fridge Electrics

Questions & answers about kitchen units, stoves, fridges, heaters, water tanks, seats, mattresses etc etc.

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Alan2016
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Fridge Electrics

Post by Alan2016 » Sat Jun 16, 2018 12:42 pm

Hi all,

I'm thinking of getting one of these for the bongo https://www.dometic.com/en-gb/uk/produc ... 20-_-64133. Looking at the manual it says that I need 10mm wiring for a 6m 12v run. The spot where I want to put it already has 2 x 12v sockets each with independent 6mm cabling. Can I just splice these together to get the diameter I need or should I run a new 10mm length?

Thanks

Alan
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g8dhe
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Re: Fridge Electrics

Post by g8dhe » Mon Jun 18, 2018 7:53 am

Yes that would give you 12 sqmm, but you would also need to remove the sockets or you risk overloading it, also check the fusing arrangements and the quality of the earth run itself, often problems are caused by the connections to the chassis, from experience installing radio equipment, its better to run your own return wire of at least the same size directly back to the -ve of the battery, in addition to any chassis connection.
Geoff
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Alan2016
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Re: Fridge Electrics

Post by Alan2016 » Tue Jun 19, 2018 2:44 pm

Brilliant, thanks Geoff. Unfortunately after having a look the current wires only seem to be 4mm2 so I'm going to have to run new cables anyway. 10mm2 seems huge for a supposedly low amp fridge but I guess it is what it is :s

Cheers

Alan
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g8dhe
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Re: Fridge Electrics

Post by g8dhe » Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:58 pm

The problem comes at first switch on of the compressor, as with all electric motors there is an initial surge current to get the motor turning, once up to speed then the current reduces massively. The cabling has to handle this surge for just a few seconds, otherwise the voltage would drop and the protection circuits will cut in to prevent problems either to the compressor or in terms of flattening the battery.
Geoff
2001 Aero V6, AFT, full side conversion.
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Alan2016
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Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2016 9:22 am
Location: Skipton, Yorkshire

Re: Fridge Electrics

Post by Alan2016 » Tue Jun 19, 2018 9:00 pm

Thanks Geoff. I'll have a think about how to plumb in a positive and negative run back to the battery.
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