Dorm Fridge + Inverter

I have a little dorm fridge from Lowes and a 2500 watt cobra inverter. The inverter is hooked up directly to the battery. Roughly 4 foot away with #2 copper cable. I also put a 250 watt inline fuse. The exact one that Cobra recommended.

Prior to last week I had a 1500 watt PowerDrive but it was not directly to the battery. It was clamped to terminals behind the sleeper. Probably had 5 foot or so of cable from inverter to the posts. Then they were probably 6 foot or so from battery. Every time fridge would kick on the inverter would beep. Plus, if I wanted to run anything else, I had to shut fridge off. Microwave, Xbox, coffee pot etc... I figured it was due to the distance away from battery and just not big enough inverter.

So I bought this Cobra one and hooked it up exactly like the pamphlet said. It said use #4 cables if 4' or closer to battery. If not, use #3. Everything works great except every so often when fridge shuts off, the inverter will sound alarm saying OLP. Overload protection.

It makes no sense. The fridge never shows more than 30 watts, even when it kicks on. Initially, I thought the fridge was messed up so I took it back and got a new one. Does same thing. Doesn't happen every time. Also doesn't matter if truck is running or not.

It's got me stumped. I'm wondering if it's just the brand/model of fridge. I've read mixed reviews of these fridges from Lowes. Or could it be the extension cord? It's a surge protector type cord.

Wondering if anyone else has had this type of problem and if so, what was the remedy.

 

I don't know....all I can find is "115 volt, 60 Hz, 15 amp" and 60-80 watts(last 1/3 of cycle) and Amps(running) 1.0-1.4.

Also, it's when it shuts off that I get the OLP alarm....weird.

I did just read in big, bold letters....Do not use an extension cord....

Maybe that's it?

 

Figures....I bet it's this style of fridge. Maybe I will get a different one from somewhere else and try it. I have to use an extension cord. I've read that a few places now in the owners manual. lol Thanks

 

I run my microwave without any issues. It's 1100 watts. I'm less than 5' from battery. I'm using #2 gauge copper cables. The manual said use #4 if 4' or less. If more than 4' use #3. I'm using heavier than they recommend.

It's just weird that it only does this with the little fridge. Nothing else. And not every time or when the fridge kicks on. Only when it kicks off and maybe every 4th time. It just makes no sense. I've even plugged it directly into inverter and it's the same thing.

Its gotta be this fridge and it's compatibility to the inverter? Nothing else makes sense. I've never seen it draw more than 50 watts on the inverter, even when it kicks on. Usually it is 20-30.

It did it with the other inverter and now with this one. Gotta try a different style of fridge, I guess.