Low voltage disconnect switch

Submitted: Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 10:47
ThreadID: 139623 Views:34441 Replies:8 FollowUps:13
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Hi, I'm just wondering if these are good things to have as part of your house battery wiring set up? My fridge ( Engel 40 ltr Eclipse) does not have an auto turn off switch and I don't want to wreck the battery. Thanks
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 10:52

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 10:52
Absolutely. Adjustable voltage ones are available.
I suspect the Engle does have a low voltage cut out, but that voltage is probably about 10.5V (which is the Danfoss cut out).
Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: Trevor G5 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 11:29

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 11:29
I looked at the Projecta one and it looks good. I’ll have a look at the other one, thanks.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 13:37

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 13:37
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Trevor, at $60 und upward, I would avoid Projecta.
There are plenty of good alternatives at about $40.
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 14:49

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 14:49
Trevor, further to the above, I have found a suitable switch on Ebay for $4.72
Click here...... Cutout switch then look in "recently viewed items".

Drop-out setting voltage is adjustable.
It comes without enclosure but does not necessarily need one.
Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: Gronk - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 11:29

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 11:29
All depends on how you look after your batteries.
I only run my fridge while camping, and keep an eye on battery voltage several times a day, so don't use a disconnect device. As I try never to let the batteries get down to the 12V area, a device is no use to me, but if someone doesn't mind running their batts down to a low level, then yes, a disconnect is probably a good idea.
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Reply By: RMD - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 12:12

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 12:12
Trevor
If handy with electronics. Search low voltage cutout/disconnect it may suit your purpose.
If only for one fridge you can use an electronic circuit from Ebay/ seller, { auto-department2018 (10625) } which has selectable OFF and resume ON voltage, two adjustable variable resistors so you can set it to the OFF point you desire and return restart ON voltage. The ON voltage being so the charge system has had sufficient time to put a bit back in before the fridge resumes action. It's relay is 10 amp rated so will run an Engel ok. Just ensure cable sizing is good though to prevent cycling because of a voltage drop. It is a bare circuit, no case. YX-X801 is the circuit board number. Just a few $$$$'s around $5:92 from memory. Can't buy the relay for that. Although the instantaneous switch on current for the Engel is higher than the run current the relay should handle it ok, just not sure what the instantaneous current is at startup. The relay will only have to handle startup loads IF it ever had to cut off the supply and resume. If larger than a fridge supply is needed to be disconnected/reconnected automatically then other units may be a dearer but more suitable option.
Remember, any low cutout unit does use a small milliamp draw too. ie, small relay ON when supplying current.

Full electronic units, ie, with mosfet transistors are used in some and they draw very little when operating.
AnswerID: 629848

Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 14:42

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 14:42
I made my own low voltage cutout to work with my 2 fridges. As suggested, you can find them on eBay - 12V Battery Low Voltage Undervoltage Anti-Over Discharge Protection Board LED for under $8.

I used 2 relays across the load, one for each fridge.





I think the all up cost was around $20.
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Follow Up By: RMD - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 17:01

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 17:01
Good work. If buying again I would get that one with the LED display too. Makes it a bit simpler to set.
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Reply By: Mikee5 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 12:34

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 12:34
I use a Jaycar part number AA-0262 wired with male and female merit connectors so I can use it in line with the fridge (which also has a merit connector). Simple easy programmable for $44.95
AnswerID: 629849

Reply By: Rangiephil - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 13:31

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 13:31
I have used an ABR Sidewinder battery protector for m any years.
Cost is 24.95 and cuts at 11.2 volts.
AnswerID: 629850

Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 15:13

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 15:13
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Trevor, all Engle fridges are fitted internally with a low-voltage cutout which is set at 11.5v and is not adjustable. The setting of 11.5v will maybe prevent immediate absolute destruction of your battery but it is not good practice to discharge to that level too often.
Perhaps Engel are more concerned with protecting their fridge from low voltage than in protecting your battery!

If you think that it will only happen once in a Blue Moon then it would be sufficient protection but, I would rather see it set at 12.0v.
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Member - rocco2010 - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 15:42

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 15:42
Maybe not all Engels, Allan.

Certainly not in my 40-year-old family heirloom! Though my three-year-old model has it and it can be adjusted to two settings (10.5 or 11.5) or left off.

The oldie flattened my aux battery when left for a couple of days (due too my negligence) . Battery was a lead-acid marine type and seems to have recovered from the near-death experience.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 17:36

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 17:36
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Maybe not all Rocco.
But my first Engel in 1983 had a low switch so I just presumed that they all did since then.
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Trevor G5 - Monday, Feb 03, 2020 at 08:41

Monday, Feb 03, 2020 at 08:41
I’m just going on what the guy told me the difference was between the eclipse and a more expensive one. Haven’t been on the site. Probably should of started there.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Feb 03, 2020 at 14:38

Monday, Feb 03, 2020 at 14:38
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Trevor,

The Owner's Guide for what I believe to be your model, MR40F, states under "Battery Maintenance & Cautions" - "Should the DC voltage at the fridge input terminals fall below 10.7 volts, the cooling efficiency will immediately be reduced."...... So it appears that it does have a low-voltage cutout.
As it is addressing "Battery Maintenance" I would take it they mean that the fridge will be 'immediately shut down'. This is fine except that, as I said earlier, I consider 10.7v to be too low for regular operation and that it would be better set at 12.0 volts.

Maybe Engel are less concerned about your battery and more concerned about protecting their electronics. It is impossible to determine this as Engel are not forthcoming with advice beyond their published sales documentation.

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Rangiephil - Thursday, Feb 06, 2020 at 11:53

Thursday, Feb 06, 2020 at 11:53
No all that 10.7 volts refers to is that the compressor does not work under 10.7 volts. It will still draw current until the battery is at zero but it will not cool down .
I have a MR40F and I have an ABR Sidewinder low voltage cut out on the input cable.
Once a very old cutout failed and I had a very flat battery as a result.
Regards PhilipA
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Thursday, Feb 06, 2020 at 12:56

Thursday, Feb 06, 2020 at 12:56
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Hi Philip,

I agree that your MR40F has no automatic low-voltage cutout.
Nor do early model Engels.
But some models with digital controls, since maybe 2016 or thereabouts, are fitted with low-volt cutouts of selectable voltage.
The panel below for Models MT35 and MT45 describe its operation and how to select Hi or Lo setting.
And it does claim "in order to protect the battery".
Both of these settings (10.5v & 11.5v) are too low in my opinion.

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Rangiephil - Thursday, Feb 06, 2020 at 17:04

Thursday, Feb 06, 2020 at 17:04
Yes I know about the later ones.
My daughter has 2.
We poor pensioners have to soldier on with my 2000 model which still chugs away.
it has had 1 thermostat and 1 fan in 19 years so cannot be all bad.
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Reply By: swampy - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 16:42

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 16:42
Hi
The cut out voltages Engel use will over time reduce the cycle life of your battery .
12.0volts is ideal approx. 50% battery capacity .
BUT
The more basic cutouts donot have a delay built in eg when the fridge cuts in the volts will dip and then recover . The LVDisconnects with out a delay have there volts set lower to prevent false cut outs .
On the premium cutouts they have adjustable time delay . Some have a warning alarm that's adjustable also.

Either have in wired at
[+] battery post to LVD to fuse box to consumers . This covers ALL users 100%
OR
have a unit on each circuit why would ya !!!
AnswerID: 629852

Reply By: Member - peter_mcc - Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 21:12

Sunday, Feb 02, 2020 at 21:12
If you use the Projecta ones watch out where you install it - I put one under the bonnet and ended up with a warm fridge and no UHF radio in hot weather.

The Projecta one wasn't rated for under bonnet use and on a hot day when the car was working hard it got too hot. It interpreted this as an "overcurrent" error and shut off the load. We mostly travel by ourselves so didn't notice the UHF or fridge going off until things in the fridge were warm.

In cool weather it worked ok. It would probably work ok in the cab.

I don't think they have changed the design - according to the website the max temp is 65C before it cuts out. It's not hard to go over 65C under the bonnet on a hot day. For some reason they talk about installing it under the bonnet though - I just can't see how they justify that when it isn't suited for it. I worked designing automotive electronics for a while - the proper auto standards for something under a bonnet are much higher (I don't have access to the SAE standards any more for the exact number).

Data with 65C temp figure:
https://www.projecta.com.au/power-management-products/intelli-volt-12v-30a-low-voltage-disconnect

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Follow Up By: Trevor G5 - Monday, Feb 03, 2020 at 08:38

Monday, Feb 03, 2020 at 08:38
Thanks for the information. It will be go in the back of my van.
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