Clearcut Campervan Design CR50x 12v Compressor Fridge User Guide
- June 12, 2024
- Clearcut Campervan Design
Table of Contents
Clearcut Campervan Design CR50x 12v Compressor Fridge
Product Information
The Alpicool CR50X 50/65/85 is a 12v compressor fridge that provides efficient cooling for your food and beverages. It is designed for easy installation and offers various features to enhance its performance.
- Additional air vents: It is recommended to install additional air vents on the sides of your furniture, both high and low, to improve the efficiency of the fridge.
- Flush fitting frame: A flush fitting frame (sold separately) can be used to securely install the fridge into its aperture.
- Temperature control via Bluetooth APP: The best way to set and control the temperature on the Alpicool CR50x range is to use the Bluetooth APP. This app provides easy-to-use temperature and settings options.
- Power source and solar input: When connected to a good 12v 110-amp deep cycle lead acid, AGM battery, or Lithium battery, the fridge can operate for approximately 2-3 days before the battery requires recharging. For extended off-grid usage, it is recommended to use an 80-100 watt solar panel in conjunction with a good battery during the spring and summer months.
Product Usage Instructions
- Prior to installation, ensure that additional air vents are installed on the sides of your furniture, both high and low.
- Install the fridge and secure it in place using a flush fitting frame (optional).
- Before securing the fridge, install the fuse and perform a test. Turn the thermostat to its maximum setting (cold) and listen for the fridge to start up. It should chill down within approximately 20 minutes.
- To set and control the temperature accurately, download the Bluetooth APP and follow the instructions provided in the accompanying manual. Refer to Fig.7 for operation instructions.
- Ensure that you have a good 12v 110-amp deep cycle lead acid, AGM battery, or Lithium battery connected to the fridge for optimal performance. Check the connections on your cabling and ensure that all cables and crimps are firmly fixed. Use cables with a suitable thickness (4-5mm cross section).
- Check for voltage drop by measuring the voltage across the (-) and (+) terminals on the back of the fridge. It should be the same as the voltage across the battery terminals. If there is a voltage difference of 0.5 volts or more, it may affect the fridge’s performance and cause it to turn off earlier than expected.
How to Install and Use Your 12v Compressor Fridge
Your compressor fridge is quite straight forward to install but there are a few points to consider prior to installation. The most important installation points are:
- • Ventilation for fan
• Cable thickness
• Adequate battery power/size
Allow adequate ventilation behind the fridge, we usually allow approximately 30-40mm clearance behind the fridge for air movement when fitting compressor fridges. There also needs to be an air gap above the fridge at the front to allow warm air to escape. (FIG. 1)
Additional air vents to the side of your furniture both high and low will also
benefit the efficiency of the fridge.
Your fridge can be connected directly to your leisure battery, or to a power
management system. If connecting to a power management system, you must ensure
that adequate cable diameter size is used throughout the wiring loom to the
fridge. A reduction in cable diameter can lead to voltage drop and the fridge
turning off.
The cable used to connect the fridge needs to have a cross section of 3-6mm,
depending on the length of the cable run to the power supply. As mentioned,
this is to avoid any voltage drop between the power supply and the fridge. The
fridge has a low voltage battery protection built into its electronics, this
means that the fridge will cut out and stop working if the voltage at entry
point to the fridge drops below the pre-set voltage.
Even a small voltage drop along the cable can mean that the fridge could cut
out earlier than it should do and therefore not utilise the full extent of the
battery’s stored power. In the worst instances of voltage drop/cable
resistance then the fridge won’t start up at all. For most fridge
installations in a small campervan a cable size of 0.3mm strand thickness x 44
strand cable (rated at 35 amps) is adequate.
The back of the fridge has 2 wires, red (+) and black (-). (Fig. 2)
The black (-) should ideally be run directly to the (-) of your leisure
battery, or the earth block of your Power Management System.
The red (+) cable on the back of the fridge is run to the (+) of your leisure
battery via a 10–15-amp fuse, (Fig. 4 or 5) or to a permanent live (+) on your
power management unit. N.B. Check adequate cable thickness has been used from
the power management to the leisure battery is using this option.
Allow some extra cable length on both (+) and (-) cables so that they can be
connected while the fridge is outside of its housing, the fridge can then be
carefully slid back in place and secured. Avoid any unnecessarily long cable
lengths as this can lead to voltage drop along the cable.
Once installation is complete (but before the fridge is set back and secured
in place) the fuse should be installed and the fridge tested. Turn the
thermostat to its maximum setting (cold), you should hear and feel the fridge
start up. The fridge should have chilled down in about 20 minutes. If the ice
box is opened, then there should be frozen condensation on the ice box inner
housing. At maximum setting the fridge will be able to chill to approximately
-15 degrees Celsius within the icebox. A usual setting for efficiency is at
around 30%- 50% of maximum setting, this should maintain the main compartment
of the fridge at 4-5 degrees Celsius and the freezer at -8C.
Once all the connections are secure and you are happy the fridge is
functioning properly then the fridge can be secured in place. Inside the
fridge are 4 capped holes, remove the caps and use screws to screw the fridge
into the surrounding wooden panels.
Alternatively, a flush fitting frame (sold separately) can be used to secure
the fridge into its aperture.
ReVace RV50/RV85 12v Compressor fridge Controls and Setting.
The controls for the fridge are quite straight forward. (FIG. 6) Firmly press
and hold the left side power button for 2 seconds to turn on and off.
Control the temperature with the thermometer icon button, the larger the blue
light the cooler the setting.
The upper light above the on/off button will be Blue when the fan and
compressor are in operation and will be Orange/Red when the fridge has
achieved the desired temperature (The fan and compressor will turn off at this
point).
The lower light above the On/Off will slowly flash red if the fridge has de-
activated due to low voltage supply – less than 11.8v (battery is nearly
depleted). This is to protect the battery from being over discharged.
Alpicool CR50X 50/65/85
Best way to set and control temperature on the Alpicool CR50x range is to use
the Bluetooth APP. This presents easy to control temperature and settings
options.
The accompanying instruction manual also provides full instruction, operation
instructions can be seen in Fig.7
Function and operation
- Power Supply: DC 12/24V or AC 100-240V power (using dedicated adapter). Display Screen Initialization: when the fridge is powered on, the buzzer will make a long beep, and the display will be on for two seconds then enter the normal operation,
- Power ON/OFF : press to switch ON/OFF.
- Night mode: under running state, long press for 3 seconds to enter the night mode, the screen will turn off and the night light will be on. Short press to return to normal display.
- Temperature Setting: press to switch Freezer/Refrigeration, when the left screen flashes, press + or – to adjust the freezer temperature, when the right screen flashes, press + or – to adjust the refrigeration temperature. The setting will be saved automatically after stopping operating for 4 seconds (Note: the temperature displayed is the current temperature of the compartment, it’ll take a while to reach the set temperature.)
- Battery Protection Mode: under the running state, long press for 3 seconds until the left screen flashes, then press again to switch High, Medium and Low (*Factory setting is High).
From left to right: Low/Medium/High.
- the voltage is theoretical value, there may be a deviation in different sceneries.
- H should be set when the product is connected to car power, and M or L should be set when it is connected to a portable battery or other back-up battery, +
- Temperature Unit Setting: switch off the fridge, long press for 3 seconds until displays E1, and switch to E5 by pressing again, then press + or – to switch Celsius or Fahrenheit. (*Factory setting is °C.)
- Reset: switch off the fridge, long press for 3 seconds until displays El, under E1 mode, long press + – at the same time for seconds to reset the settings.
12v Power source and solar input.
When used with a good 12v 110-amp deep cycle lead acid, AGM battery or Lithium
battery under normal conditions the fridge should operate for around 2-3 days
before the battery requires recharging.
The use of a 80-100 watt solar panel in conjunction with a good battery should
allow you to remain off-grid permanently through the spring and summer months.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
Factors limiting fridge performance.
The fridge performance will be directly linked to your leisure battery quality, installation, cabling and recharging capabilities. 12v compressor fridges are extremely reliable, generally we have found that if a problem in performance becomes evident it is usually connected to the leisure battery’s efficiency at charging and holding suitable charge. In order to rule out a battery related issue we would recommend the following trouble shooting is undertaken.
- Check the User manual for fridge fault code. In order to establish the problem with your fridge function first consult the troubleshooting guide in the fridge user manual. This will help to identify if the problem is connected to the wiring/installation or if there is a genuine problem with the fridge components.
- Check the voltage across the terminal (-) and (+) of your leisure battery, this should read 12.4v.(Less than 12 volts indicates that your battery is low on stored power or is failing to hold a reliable charge).
- Check the connections on your cabling. Ensure all cables and crimps are firmly fixed and cable of suitable thickness has been used (4-5mm cross section).
- Check for voltage drop. The voltage across the (-) and (+) terminals on the back of the fridge should be the same as the voltage across the battery terminals. If there is a voltage of difference of 0.5 volts or more then this will affect the fridge performance causing the fridge to turn off earlier than it should.
- Check operation of fridge directly off battery. If the above checks have been made and are sound, then the fridge and battery should be removed. The battery should be fully recharged on a good 240v battery charger. Once the battery is fully recharged the (-) and (+) connections of the fridge should be connected directly to the battery with no more than 30cm of cable. Function of the fridge should then be checked. If there proves to be a problem with the fridge function at this point, then we will arrange a replacement/repair under warranty.
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