3 Way Caravan Fridge - Cactus

The 12 and the 240V have seperate elements - the gas is a burner, all running in a common chimney (as I see it) - if you can feel a hot chimney top on all 3 modes (give each a good run) it should not be the heating factor - must be the refrigerant circulation system - the thermostat could be faulty too (if it responds to all 3 power modes - some of them only run on gas and 240v - not the 12 V.
Hmmmmm.......those of us with portable 3 ways would want to give it a good tip over - roll the fridge side to side and stir up the fluid - then get it quite level and give it a good run on gas first - that seems to fix them if they get a bit sluggish - maybe your van model just needs a damn good tip over ? Maybe get it out and give it a "good tinkering" on the shed floor.

Hi Obone,
If it's not working on any heat source then it's not an element, but probably in the fridge system itself. If the fridge has been standing a long time, it is possible to get separation of the refrigerant gases inside the unit. To fix this, you need to take the fridge out and turn it upside down overnight. This allows the gases to mix and might be all it needs. After doing this, simply try it on 240 volt before putting it back in to make sure.

If this doesn't work, chances are that you have a leak and the refrigerant gases have partially or completely escaped. This is expensive to fix as there aren't many places that can do this kind of work on absorption fridges. If this is the case, you might be better off replacing. Do you have batteries in your van? Perhaps even consider a compressor fridge instead.

Cheers
Gerry

At the price they quoted they believe the system has a leak and have quoted to replace the sealed system. Kick it around the shed for a while like suggested above you would be surprised how often this fixes them they sometimes get small bits of crud blocking a tube (does not take much) and shaking it around will dislodge it have done this several times when i worked in the refrigeration industry many years ago
Not many good fridge mechanics left with experience on 3 ways - where do you live i may be able to put you in touch with one
if you want to keep the fridge you could retro fit a compressor unit for around the same money
regards Kev

Hi Obone,

I'd agree with the idea of removing the fridge and giving it a good shake-up, turn over, etc. BUT only after confirming that's it's not still covered by warranty and/or that Dometic can't/won't assist with repairs.

Forget about agents (the monkeys), get onto Dometic Pty Ltd (the organgrinders) directly with the full details of your fridge (including age). Their details (from a recent Caravan World magazine) are: PO Box 1140 Clayton South Vic 3169, Ph. 03 9545 5655, Fax 03 9545 5966, email: dometic@dometic.com.au. They have service reps in many regions centres as well as major cities. [And I have no connection to them - they don't tend to buy a lot of EGT gauges!]

Ian

If it were me and I'd found our 3 way cactus and beyond economical repair, I'd go for a good quality compressor fridge as a replacement.

With the tempermental problems these fridges have (need to be dead level, need fans to remove hot air, etc, etc) you'd be better off fitting a battery system and a 12/24/240 volt fridge.

Wizard
Gold Coast

If you've gotta shell out that sort of dosh to fix it, I'd be inclined to have a good think about getting a 12v/240v compressor fridge. That is exactly what I did in our camper trailer when the electrolux let me down just one too-many times about a year ago.
I now have an 80 litre front-opening engel and couldn't be happier. If you have the battery capacity to run it, why not? I realise you don't wish to have the vehicle and trailer electrics integrated, but would suggest you could at least set it up so that the alternator runs the fridge when the motor is running.....this is how the people at Ultimate set-up their 3-way fridges....so there is no drain on the vehicle's batteries when you turn the motor off.
Just a thought....hope you can get the 3 way working properly if that is what suits your camping/travelling style the best.
Cheers
Roachie

Sure sounds dear! A few years ago we bought a little old wind up camper van. The guy assured us the 240v + gas fridge worked OK on mains power and that it got cool after quite a while, and that he'd never used it on gas. We won't use gas fridge in a caravan either, but that's another story. He must have measured the cool of the evening, because that's the only time it got cool for us.

Local refrigeration mechanic tried a new element (quoted us around $80), and said if it didn't cool after that, it was most likely a blockage in the gas pipes and not viable to repair. We took it to the dump, gave the part back to the guy (we hadn't paid, and i reminded him we still had it every couple of months for about 3 years before we got him to take it away - so it can't have cost him much). We bought an Engel 12v/240v compressor fridge and yes, it fitted neatly in the same spot with very minor adjustments to dust seal around it. Excellent fridge, which worked on 12 v until we plugged the van into mains power, then worked on mains power. No switching over, and quick to cool in the heat of our NW. Ran it and the lights from one deep cell battery charging from the car, and from a portable solar panel when we stopped. Whole set up cost us around $2,000.

Thanks to everybody for your replies. We always travel with an additional 40 litre Engel fridge (in the car). Even with a dual battery system and a substancial solar panel (4.3 amps) we've always had problems providing enough power to run the caravan lights and the Engel particularly when the cloud cover comes in. We rarely
stay in caravan parks and don't like the idea of annoying others with a generator.
We like the convenience of a gas powered fridge and although we agree that a compressor fridge is better than a 3 way we don't think it's for us
Thanks again
Obone

Just been through a similar situation. Bought a van and the fridge "blew up" the day before I took delivery. Seller took 1k of the price. Got the fridge out of the van, had a new cooling unit installed in fridge, and took opertunity while fridge was out to repair damage to back of cupboard area where water had got in over last 15 years, and added extra insulation around fridge cabinet. Now works a charm. Also rewired the 12v feed through heavy cable to a anderson plug at tow bar, to a tap straight off the back of the alternator, via a heavy duty relay, only on when engine is running.

Nick