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Vitrifrigio 3 way fridge is freezing - why?

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 13:50

rawill

I am new here, I hope this query is within the guidelines.

I have a new 105 litre 3 way fridge, it works far too well on 240 volts. The fridge section goes down to -15 at times. We have checked it out for some weeks and the temperature only seems to vary on 240 volts in relation to the outside temperature. We have replaced the temperature (thermometer-sensor-sender) and the control panel but nothing has changed. It works fine on gas but as you know you have to keep an eye on things as the temperature sensor sender doesn't work on gas. We have a thermometer inside the fridge to check on temperatures. The agent we bought it off doesn't know what is happening and in fact found that another brand new unit in his showroom did exactly the same. He only tried it after we alerted him to our problem.
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AnswerID: 250149   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 13:54

rawill replied:

I meant to ask if anyone has had a similar problem and if so what they did to stop the fridge part freezing.
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AnswerID: 250176   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 17:26

Mick replied:

You've done all you can do I think rawill. Just consider your options - you can turn it down. If that fails you can replace the control mechanism. If that fails as it has with you then there's nothing more you can do. I've never heard of Vitrifrigio - perhaps try for a refund or back to manufacturers. Probably a lesson to stay with known and proven brands with service back up - I assume you've not had any luck with a warranty claim.
Reply 2 of 3
FollowupID: 511321   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 18:11

rawill posted:

Thanks for the time you took to reply. No you can't alter the temperature. I should have mentioned I have it set on the "warmest" setting, if you set it on the coldest setting it makes little if any difference. The control panel has been replaced, Yes it will be going back if it can not be fixed. Oh and it is of Italian manufacture, quite well known here in NZ. There are many many of them in Campervans around the country, possibly the most popular. The local agents are sub agents of the NZ importers (I think).
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FollowupID: 511332   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 18:45

Mick posted:

Oh OK rawill - I'm in Australia and that accounts for not having heard of them. Yes I assumed that you have tried the warmest setting. If you've replaced the control panel, did that include the thermostat? If not, get that replaced - actually it's not your responsibility to diagnose - it's the manufacturers or their agent's job to fix it!! Italian stuff is usually good so they should be able to do it.
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FollowupID: 511335   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 18:50

Mick posted:

Just read your original post again and the fact that there is another one doing the same suggests that the quality is not high. I'd be inclined to be looking for a refund of the purchase price and look elsewhere. Can you get Dometic over there - Every Aus caravan is fitted with Dometic which are backed by Electrolux and they just don't fail.
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FollowupID: 511337   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 18:55

SARocks posted:

Mick Dometic fridges fail constantly. I know I work right next door to a Dometic fridge repairer here in SA. The backs fail all the time and cost a fortune to repair. Had a compressor fridge fitted in my caravan due to the laments of the Dometic repairer and the costs and frequency of repair. Big problem is Dometic do not work in the heat and your food goes off.
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FollowupID: 511352   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 20:08

Mick posted:

Well SARocks you must get on the phone to every caravan manufacturer in Australia as you obviously know something they don't. I have had mine for 29 years without a problem. It's been all over Australia in all temperatures and works beautifully. I also have a Finch which many people say don't work on 12 volts. Set them up correctly and they work well. I've had frozen beer on the Oodnadatta track because I left a can too close to the top and that was at the end of a day driving in high temperatures. So SA just don't shoot your mouth off about something you know nothing about and good luck next time you want to camp without power for an extended period. I'll be running on gas. By the way I'm not knocking compressor fridges. I have 3 in my house and they work well.
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FollowupID: 511409   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 07:22

rawill posted:

Yes I know it is not my job to fix the thing, and in the end i will be going for another unit if it is not going to work properly. Yes I did replace the thermostat/sensor/sender. I, (the agents) did that first. At the moment it is at a service agents to see what the fault is. I am curious to see if others know of the issue. And yes I think it will be a Dometic I get if this one doesn't deliver the goods, unfrozen!!!
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FollowupID: 511594   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 22:43

Mick posted:

Good luck anyhow - it's a pain when you pay good money and it doesn't live up to expectations.
FollowUp 7 of 7
AnswerID: 250180   Submitted: Sunday, Jul 01, 2007 at 17:52

Mainey (WA) replied:

rawill you posted "I have a new 105 litre 3 way fridge"
if you actually mean 'new' as in brand new just outa the box new, then send it back

If it doesn't work now it will give you problems you have never even imagined

Have it replaced with a NEW one that actually DOES work !!

Welcome, as to being 'new' - we've all been 'new'
unfortunately, some of us just can't remember it lol
Reply 3 of 3
FollowupID: 511411   Submitted: Monday, Jul 02, 2007 at 07:26

rawill posted:

I will be doing as you say if it isn't an easy and obvious fault. However the design is so simple I can hardly see what the issue can be. After all a heating element is a heating element and a sensor is a sensor, not rocket science really. We never had a problem with our previous fridge, it was a smaller Dometic. I only replaced it because the controls were on the bottom by the floor and it was too small, and sometimes it was hard to start on gas.
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