Second hand Waeco fridge hissing

[Scratcingman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scratcingman]

Hi all,

I have an opportunity to buy a CF35 Waeco second hand for about $350 including cover from a family member who only used it once on a trip in a camper trailer as they couldn't take their vans big fridge with them. Only issue is it was sitting unused for a while and when we turned it on for the first time it let out a big hiss and an awful smell then turned off. We left it a minute then turned it back on set it on 1 deg and left it for a couple hours and it got cold fast and stayed cold for over 24 hours no problems and no smell. It obviously leaked a bit of gas that first time, but I am wondering if this is some sort of purge of old gas or something but can't find any info on that possibility. Does anyone think this would be a major issue down the track?

Thanks.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

The fridge shouldn't leak gas under any circumstances as it is a sealed system!

I don't think gas is your problem, from the sound of it I would say one of the
electonic components has failed, possibly an electrolytic capacitor on the circuit
board has failed and vented.

Shouldn't be to hard to find as it will have a split top and probably leaked electrolyte,
the electrolyte will need to be cleaned up or it will corrode the board and other parts.

If another component look for cracking and burn marks.


Cheers
Leigh

[Scratcingman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scratcingman]

Hi Leigh,

Thanks for the advice will try and get a visual of it when I can though it is a couple hours away from me at present. I forgot to mention the smell was very ammonia like which was why I thought a leak in the gas initially. Either way I'll arrange an inspection of it - having said that the wife had a look at a similar sized one at a shop recently and reckons its too small so a bigger unit may be on the cards now anyway. Either way it is still a good deal so might be worth picking up for now. Thanks again.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

That model is a compress fridge, it uses refrigerant gas such as freon etc, not ammonia.

Many electronic components will gives of an acid smell when over heated as will wire
insulation, the hiss though suggest a capacitor, resistor, sometimes transistors or IC's
do it but their more likely to just go bang, but then so will older capacitor without
pressure relief, dangerous these electronics at times

[sapradogxl Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close sapradogxl]

Had my cf80 for 7 years now, and not had one issue with it. Touch wood.

Just my two bobs worth

[wsp Member Find all posts View Profile Close wsp]

Im running a cfx65 and cfx30 cant fault them used to run cf50 for 5 years no issues.

[ithommo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ithommo]

Leigh,
Don't know if this will help solve your problem. However there is some usefull information for fault finding!



WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF THE ERROR LIGHT IS FLASHING
ON CCF/CF RANGE?
We have detailed the Danfoss compressor quick guide below. In the case the electronic unit records an operational error light on the CCF/SE and CF range. The number of flashes depends on what kind of operational error was recorded. Each flash will occur 1/4 second. After the actual number of flashes, there will be a delay with no flashes, so that the sequence for each error recording is repeated every 5 seconds. Once you have recorded the Red Flashes use the guide below.
Number of Red Flashes Danfoss BD35/50 Compressor Guide
Red Flash Guide Type
One Flash Battery Protection Cut-Out

If the error light on your fridge flashes once every 5 seconds, it is definitely indicating that you have a voltage drop problem.
This means that the wiring in your car may be inadequate to carry the correct amount of volts to the fridge.
To test if this is the problem, plug the fridge into a suitable AC adaptor. If you find that the fridge works, you can eliminate that there is a problem with the fridge and the car wiring configuration or plug connections should be stringently checked.
We recommend car/motorhome/caravan wiring to be a minimum of 6-8mm cross section wire for up to 4 metres. Above this length the wiring would need an extra millimetre for every metre.
If the fridge does not work on the correct Waeco AC Adaptor, further investigation is required. Contact Waeco if this occurs.
Three Flashes Motor Start Error

If your error light is flashing three times every 5 seconds, the rotor may be blocked or the differential pressure in the refrigeration system is too high. Turning off the fridge generally causes this whilst the compressor was in operation.
To overcome come this, simply turn the fridge off for a few minutes to let the compressor head pressure settle.
Five Flashes Thermal cut-out of electronic unit

If the error light is flashing five times every 5 seconds, the refrigeration system has been too heavily loaded, or if the surrounding temperature is high, the electronics will run too hot. This is generally caused by not allowing enough ventilation around the vents of your fridge. To overcome this, simply ventilate your fridge more effectively.


WHAT IS THE HIGH/LOW SWITCH FOR?
HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW Switch on other models CCF/CF
This is your battery saving device to protect your fridge and car battery. Battery protection is built into all of our compressor range of fridges. The fridge is not allowed to run lower than 10.4 volts because most common lead acid batteries in cars can be seriously damaged or destroyed by allowing them to become completely flat or completely discharge, not to mention the extreme inconvenience caused by not being able to start your car. Also, if the supply voltage from the battery becomes too low, electronics and motors tend to overheat. This occurs with all electronics and all motors no matter who the manufacturer is. And that is why we do not allow this to happen to Waeco products.
Basically, in most situations you should run your fridge on the LOW setting – this will allow your battery to run down to 10.4 volts then the fridge will cut out. On HIGH, the fridge will drain your battery to 11.7 volts then shut off. Therefore your fridge will run for longer on the low setting.


DOES YOUR FRIDGE FAIL TO START OR STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN RUNNING ON YOUR VEHICLE BATTERY. THERE'S ALMOST CERTAINLY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT!
If this happens you should be aware that there is almost certainly nothing wrong with the fridge. It is doing exactly what it should do to protect your battery. The problem is almost definitely in your wiring....please read on and we will explain....
*1. The Danfoss compressor and control unit used in all WAECO fridges will run on any voltage from 10.4 to 28 volts. In this respect it is the best unit available.
*2 These units are designed and manufactured to military specifications and have proven to be remarkably reliable in use in all over the world.
*3 The failure rate of this compressor and electronic controller has been the lowest of any mass produced DC fridge ever made by any manufacturer.
As with all DC refrigerators you must have enough voltage to run them properly. The battery in any vehicle can run your fridge just fine, even a small battery, but your must get all the voltage to the fridge not just some of it.
When running on a 12-volt car battery and with the switch on the fridge set to LOW (meaning lowest cut out battery protection voltage) the controller is very accurately set to cut off the unit to protect your battery if it sees less than 10.2 volts at the fridge. It must be understood that this is the voltage the fridge sees after it comes through the vehicle wiring and the cigarette socket not the voltage at the battery. You must deduct the voltage losses caused by your vehicle.
We have been receiving feedback from customers that the cigarette lighter in many vehicles, even some late model 4WDs is not adequate to the battery power correctly to the fridge, either the wiring is too thin or the cigarette lighter or accessory socket is dirty or has poor contacts.
Both of these will create voltage drop and if it is enough, the computer in the fridge will see it as too low and turn off.
You can prove that there is absolutely no problem with any WAECO fridge by plugging it into an AC adapter and you will see that it works perfectly, proving that it is in fact perfect. This is because the correct battery voltage is coming directly from the AC adapter and is not loosing voltage by running through your car wiring or cigarette lighter socket. If the fridge stops after a few minutes and flashes the red low voltage warning light then your wiring is creating at least 2.5 volts loss. Battery voltage normally is 12.2 with the engine stopped, less 2.5 volts lost in car wiring leaves only 9.7 at the fridge. So the fridge computer thinks your battery is flat and turns itself off to save it. It’s that simple!
The solution is also simple! Replace the two wires from your battery to the cigarette lighter with thicker wire of at least 6 mm cross section (this does not mean 6 mm thick it is just the way wiring is rated. Your auto electrician can sell you the right wire). An even better solution is to wire a special socket in the vehicle directly back to the battery in at least 6 mm wire and you will never have to consider this problem again.
The other advantage of a direct connection is you do not need to have the vehicle ignition switch turned on to run the fridge. This is in fact another major cause of low voltage because when you turn the ignition to the accessories position. You can just imagine how many other things in your car are now also turned on and draining power. This also lowers the voltage available to the fridge in just the same way the lights dim in your house when something big starts up like an air conditioner.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Think you meant scratcingman