12, 240, Gas fridge playing up

Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 00:08

ThreadID: 63797 Views:3211 Replies:6 FollowUps:1

This Thread has been Archived

Portable Fridges

The debate over which fridge is the best on the market is one of the most contested discussions in the camping recreation. In this article we look at the range of features and the major issues to

Goona

Hi All,

I have a 3 way Dometic fridge in the camper of which has just turned 2 years old. It works fine on 240 volt and on gas but when travelling on the 12 volt I just watch the degrees climbing (Have a digital remote reader) by the hour and by days end it can be as high as 10 degrees. Has always seemed to do this but never really travelled for that long in the past. I have checked the voltage at the camper battery and this is 12.6 at rest, nothing turned on. The back of the car at Anderson plug has 12.6 at rest but goes up to 13.8 when reving so it appears charging is not an issue. Checked the volts at the fridge termination, when not on 12 volt and switched off completely off it to is 12.6 volts. I start the car and then volts go to 13.8 at this termination at the fridge but when I switch to 12 volt on the fridge the volts drop the 10.2. Does this mean that the wiring is to light or is there a fault with the fridge?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Goona

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Richard Kovac - Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 00:25

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 00:25

did it ever work on 12 volt? I have a 3 way in mt CT and CV both don't work any good on 12 volts. graet on 240 volt and gas.

Cheers

Richard

AnswerID: 336918

Reply By: dedabato (SA) - Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 00:35

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 00:35

Hi Goona,
I've had a same problem with my Dometic fridge in the van and was told to replace the wiring to heavier gauge and Bingo.......
It works a treat ever since.
Regards
dedabato

AnswerID: 336919

Reply By: Peter 2 - Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 06:05

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 06:05

They all struggle on 12v especially in +30 temps.
All the ones I've had could never maintain temps when the ambient climbed past 25 deg.
As has been mentioned make the wiring as heavy as possible and if stopping for lunch or look at the view change over to gas while stopped in hot weather.

AnswerID: 336924

Reply By: Ray - Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 08:20

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 08:20

I had a similar problem with my fridge, too low a voltage at the fridge.
On my caravan I have two DS batteries mounted on the draw bar. When moving these batteries are being charged from the car.
I am running my Electrolux fridge off the two batteries on the draw bar when the car engine is running but a solenoid cuts the power to the fridge as soon as the car ignition is turned off.
Cabling used from the car to the batteries, via a 175a Anderson plug, is 4 aswg and from the batteries to the fridge is 8 aswg.
Also improvements can be made by installing an extraction fan. I am using a 4" 12v. computer fan fitted near the upper cooling fins.
It also pays to seal off all areas where possible so that air can only pass over the fins ie. sides, top and back.

AnswerID: 336929

Reply By: oldtrack123 - Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 22:15

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 22:15

Hi Goona
"but when I switch to 12 volt on the fridge the volts drop the 10.2. Does this mean that the wiring is to light or is there a fault with the fridge?"
Simple answer & the usual one ,YES your wiring is to light as it is in virtually factory installation.
The fridge need 12v to operate sucessfully ,at 10.2 vit is only getting about 75% of the power it is designed for. same as triny to operate it around 200v on ac OR with low gas pressure [ smaller flame]

AnswerID: 337020

Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 22:19

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 at 22:19

oldtrack123 replied:
Hi Goona
"but when I switch to 12 volt on the fridge the volts drop the 10.2. Does this mean that the wiring is to light or is there a fault with the fridge?"
Simple answer & the usual one ,YES your wiring is too light as it is in virtually every factory installation.
The fridge need 12v to operate sucessfully ,at 10.2 vit is only getting about 75% of the power it is designed for. same as trying to operate it around 200v on ac OR with low gas pressure [ smaller flame]
Reply 5 of 5
LOTS of spelling errors in last post

FollowupID: 604729

Reply By: Goona - Thursday, Nov 27, 2008 at 19:36

Thursday, Nov 27, 2008 at 19:36

Hi All,

I took the advise and ran a 6mm cable and hey presto fridge is now running at just over 12 volts when the car is running. No the driving test will occur tomorrow but I am expecting a lot better due to the increase from 10 volt to the 12 volts.

Thanks again.

Goona

AnswerID: 337129