Refrigerator on shore power on C242

[cjs]

On our C242, refrigerator worked fine while under weigh. However, after a day plus on shore power, refrigerator died, then other 12 volt systems died. Power meter on boat showed consistent 120 (slight variations) and battery charger switch was on. Refrigerator and other systems fine while under weigh back to home port.

Marina suggests that the charger may be too small to power the refrigerator:

"You have a 20A charger, split 3 ways, (6.5A, 6.5A, 6.5A) trying to keep up with a 15A load refrigerator. Off hand, it appears that the charger will not carry the load by itself – on shore power. The engine alternator is probably 40-65A so it can carry the load, hence the failure when the boat’s engine is not running."

Please advise.

 

[BB marine]

The battery charger should be more then enough to keep your refrigerator and other accessories running and house battery with usable capacity. The refrigerator once on and maintaining temperature doesn't run all the time. It doesn't have max draw to the batteries 24/7 just when it cycles on. Assuming you have two house batteries @ 92 amp hr. you have plenty of reserve battery capacity and with a 20 amp hr charger you should be fine. The charger output is not split up in 3's. it senses battery condition and charges accordingly. It has three outputs but probably not charging equally to all battery banks. The only time it would be is if all batteries are equally charged and the ACR's are all closed. Each charging lead coming off the charger has a fuse. The fuse link is normally found close to battery terminal connection. This would be my first check confirm charger is connected to the house battery and inline fuse is not damaged. Check the charger is it on and showing output? Is there output at to the positive terminal of house battery from battery charger lead?

 

[cjs]

Thanks, I'll check as you suggested.

 

[bobsail]

This is in response to an older post that includes good advice. I'll add that I had a similar problem with the shore power charger not charging the batteries and found it was not the battery fuses, but a bad ground wire to the charger.