Mike,
File exclusions, table exclusions, extra databases, etc. are all part of the Backup Profile that you set up in the main screen of Akeeba Backup. When you do a CRON backup, you are using one of these Profiles to control the options in that backup, just as you would in a back end backup. If you don't specify a backup profile, Profile #1 is used as the default. So, did it skip your exclusions? I can give you a definite maybe. You need to make sure the exclusions are in the profile that you're using for the CRON backup.
It is easier to find big stuff in the backup log than it is in the archive itself. Download the log, open it in a text editor and search for "Large directory" or "Large file". Look in the root for a backup archive that shouldn't be there. There are lots of possibilities.
Dale L. Brackin
Support Specialist
English: native
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