Dead batteries?

[squaw999]

When i frig switc on, voltage drops from 13 V to 11.9!

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by squaw999

When i frig switc on, voltage drops from 13 V to 11.9!

Without knowing what battery/how many batteries, what capacity, SOC, voltage drop, etc..., there is no answer, just guesses.

[Empty Pockets]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Without knowing what battery/how many batteries, what capacity, SOC, voltage drop, etc..., there is no answer, just guesses.

That said, I’d guess yes...

[Dan Mosby]

Troubleshooting guide:
1. Battery charge / use cycle
- Some batteries requre a certain percentage of juice left in them to fully charge, and if you go above or below that level, it reduces the charge. So while you think "I just charged the batteries", what really happened is that they did not become fully charged due to a failure to use the proper charge / use cycle.

2. Insufficient voltage from engine alternator to re-charge battery bank
- Some boats have added extra electric kit over the years without adding the extra battery bank to run them, or the extra powerful engine alternator to charge the bank. Remember that your alternator will only produce power at the rate of engine rpm's, so if you have a weaker alternator it may not be possible to charge your bank fully at simple idle speeds, so you may need to monitor your charge rate based on your rpm's and adjust as needed.
3. Corrosion / electric bleed
- Could be some kind of corrosion or poorly grounded line from the fridge to the power source.

Trace the route from the fridge to the power, and if all's good, then you have a power storage (batteries) or power generation (alternator / whatever) issue.

Check the levels with a multimeter and you should be able to find the issue.

[tkeithlu]

While I learned a bit from Dan Mosby's post above, I would also point to the refrigerator itself and the gauge of the wire feeding it if the drop is continuous, and the start capacitor on the refrigerator motor if the drop is for a few seconds. Still I think the most likely source is either corroded contacts or your no longer having enough battery, as above.

Does the wiring heat up?

[john61ct]

check your grounds

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by squaw999

When i frig switc on, voltage drops from 13 V to 11.9!

What does it read when you turn the frig back off?

Where and with what are you measuring the voltage?

[squaw999]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

What does it read when you turn the frig back off?



Where and with what are you measuring the voltage?

13 V. V-meter is build in control plate. I have lead-acid batteris 5 years old (2 x 130 Ah), charged by 2 solars (each 100 W). I also have another V-meter connected to the battery terminals. This one constantly shows 12.4 V regardless switching frig off or on. Tomorrow i will check contacts.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by squaw999

13 V. V-meter is build in control plate. I have lead-acid batteris 5 years old (2 x 130 Ah), charged by 2 solars (each 100 W). I also have another V-meter connected to the battery terminals. This one constantly shows 12.4 V regardless switching frig off or on. Tomorrow i will check contacts.

least reliable reading there is

Try reading the voltage at the battery and at the frig

the small current from the frig shouldn't pull down voltage as much as you said in post 1