WAECO 215 LT FRIDGE /FREEZER

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 01, 2016 at 17:49
ThreadID: 133878 Views:4570 Replies:7 FollowUps:5
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Has anyone had problems with there fridge holding temperature below 0c +5c when the air temperature is 35/40 c .
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Reply By: Gronk - Thursday, Dec 01, 2016 at 19:45

Thursday, Dec 01, 2016 at 19:45
I have a 110 ltr, but yeh, upright fridges will struggle at high temps, as the 3 way ones will to.
Every time you open it, all the cold air falls out and it will take ages to recool that lost air.

In a house on a hot day, it may run nearly all day, but you don't notice it or don't care, but in a van, with a different type of cooling system than a home fridge it is quite noticeable.

Apart from parking in the shade and having all windows open, there isn't a lot you can do..
AnswerID: 606353

Reply By: Wayne B16 - Thursday, Dec 01, 2016 at 21:39

Thursday, Dec 01, 2016 at 21:39
To add to Gronks comment is the fridge in a space you can get more air around it , .even a small fan would really help it . Also maybe you need to ckeck what its drawing.
AnswerID: 606356

Follow Up By: Member - G G 4 7 W A - Thursday, Dec 01, 2016 at 23:07

Thursday, Dec 01, 2016 at 23:07
Thanks for the replies have added a fan ,removed the cover over the inlet ,no shortage of power using a 300 amp Lithium ,the van is only 1 year old and was bought new .
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Reply By: Stone Stomper - Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 07:18

Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 07:18
We also have the RPD215 and find it great,
The only thing I don't like which took ages to find out is that it goes into a defrost cycle and won't come on even if the fridge temp rises, I got sent details on how the fridge works from the Weaco below, they didn't even know to start with as they changed the thermostat in the fridge because it would stop working and would not come back on no matter how long you held your hand on the thermostat the fridge would still not kick on.

So in hot weather when I see it's in defrost I switch off for a few minutes then switch back on and resets the defrost time, it really needs a switch so you can decide if it goes into defrost.

I also run mine on 4-5 during the day if warm and I also filled the sides of the fridge cavity with polystyrene also doing the top and back of fridge and found the fridge now holds -3 when it was 48deg outside.
Christian

AnswerID: 606358

Follow Up By: Member - G G 4 7 W A - Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 12:56

Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 12:56
Thanks for the defrost cycle details it would be good if it just went on and off ,I will keep trying to solve the problem ,may be another brand of fridge .
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FollowupID: 876094

Reply By: humpback - Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 10:21

Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 10:21
Hi we have the waeco 215 lt fridge in our van, and we had problems with it getting to 5c and -10 in the freezer.I rang Waeco and spoke to there tech support who advised me that all the fridges are set to 2c and the the freezer is set at -18.
So i was in Adelaide and took the van to Atlanta refrigeration where the tech guy came out and within 10 mins fixed the problem,he told us that the fridge was to the wrong spec and that he had adjusted it back to where it supposed to have been and we are getting 2c in the fridge and -18 in the freezer and we are very happy with the fridge now.
Hope this may help.
Cheers
Humpback
AnswerID: 606366

Reply By: toffytrailertrash - Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 15:03

Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 15:03
Get hold of a Valterra fridge cool fan aerator, put it inside your fridge, front and centre on the bottom and bingo.. It is amazing the difference it has made.


Cheers

Merv
AnswerID: 606374

Reply By: Frank P (NSW) - Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 16:31

Friday, Dec 02, 2016 at 16:31
In our Karavan we have a small (130 litre) front-opening 12V compressor fridge that needs all the help it can get in hot weather.

We bought some storage containers that fit neatly top to bottom and side by side between shelves and take up the full depth of the shelves. These act as "buckets of cold" and stop much of the cold air spilling out when you open the door.

They also allow more efficient packing of the fridge because you can fill a shelf, and all shelves, from bottom to top. A full fridge is more efficient than a half empty one once everything has cooled to temp.

These, plus a couple of other higher tech mods have made the fridge far more efficient than ex van factory.

Cheers
FrankP

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AnswerID: 606375

Follow Up By: Gronk - Sunday, Dec 04, 2016 at 07:38

Sunday, Dec 04, 2016 at 07:38
Frank, I'm trying to picture how you have put containers on the shelves ??
Do they not take up heaps of space that food would otherwise take up ?
Any pics ??
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Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Sunday, Dec 04, 2016 at 09:42

Sunday, Dec 04, 2016 at 09:42
Gronk,

The van's in storage, but I'll get to it today or tomorrow and get some pics for you.

It's very simple. The containers are just plastic boxes with no lids. Two fit neatly side-by-side on a shelf. They also take up the full height of a shelf, and the full depth front to rear. There are three shelves, so six boxes. A bit like two crisper drawers on every shelf.

If you want you can totally fill the boxes with food, which means the fridge would be nearly all food, not much empty space. You can certainly put more food in the fridge using the boxes than not, and you can keep it organised.

You don't have to fill them completely if you don't want to, in which case, when you open the door the cold air in a half empty box stays there, rather than spilling out as it would without a box.

We use a similar system, though not as tightly packed, in the home fridge.

Cheers
FrankP

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Follow Up By: Gronk - Sunday, Dec 04, 2016 at 16:28

Sunday, Dec 04, 2016 at 16:28
Ahh, I get it now !! We only have a 110ltr Waeco upright with 2 crisper type draws down the bottom and the next shelf up is usually full ( or empty ) of 1 carton of beer and a wine cask.
I'll give that idea a thought for the 1 remaining top shelf !!
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Reply By: Batt's - Tuesday, Dec 06, 2016 at 00:33

Tuesday, Dec 06, 2016 at 00:33
Have you checked for dust, dirt build up it may need a good clean.
AnswerID: 606439

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