I depends what is the definition of a problem. I currently have 3 cold days limit without solar charge. So the third day is an iffy. Would like to increase to more, if smart controller truly works there is value for me.Do you ever have a problem with low SOC? Not much value if not.
The way I read the specs, the smart controllers primary benefit is the ability to use excess power to pre-cool/over-cool the fridge. In the situation you describe I don't see a large benefit from the smart controller as you won't have charging available.I depends what is the definition of a problem. I currently have 3 cold days limit without solar charge. So the third day is an iffy. Would like to increase to more, if smart controller truly works there is value for me.
Thank you for reply. I agree that for an extended stay without charging available, the benefit of precooling with excess energy is limited to just the first few hours. The active compressor speed control will be operating throughout the time but I don't have numbers of how big these savings are going to be.The way I read the specs, the smart controllers primary benefit is the ability to use excess power to pre-cool/over-cool the fridge. In the situation you describe I don't see a large benefit from the smart controller as you won't have charging available.
You could likely get similar benefit from turning your fridge down a few notches during peak charging time prior to putting the vehicle in the shade?
A random note about Danfoss/Secop compressor speeds. There is a connector on the control unit that can have a resistor added/removed to change compressor speed. In low ambient temp usage some users reported lower power consumption by reducing compressor speed by adding a resistor.
Conversly in high ambient conditions the fridge can struggle to maintain a low temp. The compressor RPM can be increased on some models. In fact adding a SPDT switch to change compressor speed seems entirely possible. If you are leaving the fridge for 3 days (with no opening) adding such a switch for low/high speed might be useful? Just brainstorming here, but setting the fridge on a lower RPM setting may reduce overall A/H consumption?
http://www.danfoss.com/NR/rdonlyres/174259FF-A5C6-4AAD-B935-1494FE1AF3C9/0/DCcompGBtest3.pdf
Thank you for the manual and the keeper bars pointer.hmmm, well after doing some reading, the price seems reasonable if it can cut daily usage by the 30% claimed. 20AH a day is nothing to scoff at. Due to the brushless design of the DC compressors they are perfectly suited for variable speed operation. It seems a shame to waste it.
You may have convinced me to try one...
I also noticed these spring loaded fridge bars. No more shifted produce?
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|2276204|2276226|2276232&id=1241722
Edit:
Here is the install/configuration manual.
http://www.indelwebastomarine.com/f...ne/Manuals/smart-energy-control-manual-en.pdf
I don’t think the AC power would not help, on the road the fridge is DC powered.George:
Would there be any value running the refrigerator on AC from the Morningstar 300 watt inverter stead of the house battery while driving? (Assuming you have a AC/DC refrigerator)
There are three major things I have done to reduce the refrigerator run time:
1. Added 1 1/2" rigid polyiso on two sides and the top and bottom of the refrigerator.
2. The 4" x 4" hole in the floor to provide cooler air flow past the coil.
3. Let van get cold at night so it runs less.
Hope you try the variable speed drive and document if it has value. Hard to understand how it will help in a dry camp application without running the engine. Suspect it only has value if the refrigerator is more efficient at a lower speed in certain conditions. Same amount of heat loss with/without the controller.
Move to a location where the sun shines more often for more solar power?