3 Way Caravan Fridge - Cactus
Submitted: Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 09:08
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obone
Hello all, I arrived at my holiday destination recently to find that my RM 2310 Electrolux fridge wouldn't work on any power source (gas, 12 volt or 240 volt)
I rang the
Sydney agent for dometic (formerly electrolux) who informed me that if the unit wasn't working in any of the 3 modes, that I had huge problems. They qouted me $740 (parts only, not including any installation) or $1200 for a new fridge (supply only, no installation). My questions are,
1. Does anyone have a suggestion as to why everything stopped working at the same time
2. If the problem is the heating element, does $740 seem a little expensive
3. If I need a new fridge can I install it myself
Thaks in advance
Obone
Reply By: Member - Banjo The First (SA) - Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 09:27
Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 09:27
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.
AnswerID:
139904
Reply By: Gerry - Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 09:31
Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 09:31
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
AnswerID:
139906
Follow Up By: Steve - Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 09:51
Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 09:51
don't know whereabouts you are but there are usually caravan repair workshops around who might fit you a second hand job. My caravan was recently written off but still has perfectly good electrolux 3 way fridge. There must be plenty about but they're not cheap. Good luck.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: obone - Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 at 09:11
Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 at 09:11
Thanks Gerry, when I suggested to the
Sydney agent that I might remove the fridge and turn it upside down, he laughted at me. Said "that only worked on old style fridges". After reading some of the posts here, I think I might still invert it and see what happens. I've got nothing to lose
Regards
Obone
FollowupID:
393720
Follow Up By: obone - Thursday, Nov 24, 2005 at 09:45
Thursday, Nov 24, 2005 at 09:45
Hi Steve, have tried all the suggestions and fridge still doesn't work.
I remembered your comment about the fridge you had, do you still have it, is it for sale and if so where are you located ? I'm in
Sydney.
Regards
Obone
FollowupID:
394404
Follow Up By: Steve - Thursday, Nov 24, 2005 at 20:03
Thursday, Nov 24, 2005 at 20:03
mate, I'll give em a ring in the morning for you. I'll have to call the insurance company to get the salvage company's number. If you don't hear back in a hurry.....It'll be because I'm waiting for the "we'll get back to you" call and I'll post their phone no. here
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Follow Up By: Steve - Thursday, Nov 24, 2005 at 20:09
Thursday, Nov 24, 2005 at 20:09
btw, it is in
Sydney. Carlton, if I remember rightly.
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Follow Up By: Steve - Friday, Nov 25, 2005 at 11:14
Friday, Nov 25, 2005 at 11:14
Rang the "salvage" people that it went to and the dozey bugger who answers the phone couldn't tell me where it went - she said they don't have it now and that they don't salvage them. Strange, cos I thought that's what salvage companies did. Not very helpful I'm afraid. (
St George Auto Salvage) I'd let your fingers do the walking and look for caravan repairer/dealers and see if anybody has one available. Try Barnes caravans/repairs. If they don't they might know who does.
I have an annexe going for a song to fit a 3m awning. It also has a 9 ft extension giving you a 19 ft annexe in all.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Ian from Thermoguard Instruments - Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 10:12
Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 10:12
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
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: obone - Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 at 09:22
Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 at 09:22
Hi Ian, fridge is 13 years old so no warranty (unfortunately) I did email Dometic for assistance in the first instance but they didn't want to know.
They told me to contact their
Sydney agent.
Regards
Obone
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Ian from Thermoguard Instruments - Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 at 12:12
Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 at 12:12
Sorry to hear Dometic were so unhelpful. Still, 13 years is probably more than you can expect from most domestic fridges these days and is not too bad for one subjected to the rigors of caravan duty. I'd definitely try the turn-over and shake-up treatment before ditching it completely.
Ian
FollowupID:
393731
Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 10:31
Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 10:31
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
AnswerID:
139920
Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 22:36
Friday, Nov 18, 2005 at 22:36
either waeco or Engal (I think it is Engal) sell a fridge specifically desighned to fit in to
the gap left by the smaller Adsorption fridges (about 800x800 very approx) expensive but could be an option
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Motherhen - Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 at 00:20
Saturday, Nov 19, 2005 at 00:20
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.
AnswerID:
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