Caravan fridge

Hi,

I am no expert in this, but we have a similar fridge and l know that you must have the fridge completely level to have it work correctly.

Also it must vent well, I had a mate who made up a better vent system as his fridge also did not work, after the mods to make it vent better, it worked beyond belief, fantastic.

Hope this helps.

Craig.

Hi,
Replaced mine with a waeco 12v and have not looked back.
Will refit the gas 3 way when I sell the caravan, had no joy with any 3 way fridge in any serious heat hense the change.

Wazzaaaaa

Ron, a few years ago we bought a small camper with a 3 way, and the previous owner said he only ever used it on electricity and said after some time running it did get a bit cool. It didn't. Our fridge mechanic tried a new element, which made no difference. He said the pipes easily become blocked and this renders the fridge totally unrepairable.

We purchased an Engel compressor 12/240 v caravan fridge and it is excellent. We also purchased a solar panel, deep cycle battery and a monitor gizmo (and set up also to trickle charge the battery whilst driving). My husband made a frame and stand for the panel to put out when we stopped. It charged the battery very quickly; even late in the afternoon and at first light. This ran the fridge and a couple of 12 v lights, although we often turned the fridge off at night with no ill effects to the contents, including the stuff in the freezer section. As soon as we plugged the van into mains power, the fridge ran from 240 volt - no switching over needed.

I am paranoid about gas fridges and won't ever use one on gas.

If it works O'K on 240v then you may have a partially blocked gas jet, I have had the problem and fixed it by cleaning the jet. The mistake I made was assuming that the flame was right when it was burning blue. The flame was lower than normal and not giving enough heat. Also make sure the flue is clean and the difuser is clean. Barnray

Simply fixed with a bit of maintenance. As others said if 240v ok, then its just the gas side, and I talk from experience here, which I gained from the local gas fitter when i paid him to do first time.

Leave fridge in situ, open outside panel, and locate the burner and flue.

some simple screws to get the jet out, be careful its fragile, and a bit fiddly, has a brass outer and a pinkish coloured ceramic interior with a micro hole in middle.

DO NOT INSERT ANYTHING INTO THIS HOLE

Clean it by submersion in some isopropyl alchohol (avail at chemist) a half hour soak should do it.

The flue needs cleaning / blowing out too, look inside the top, mine had a small metal ring, pulling this up brings a fluted cleaning device up and down the flue, then blow out with air.

When re-assembling there is a thermocouple shut off system. Small probe sits in gas flame, its job is to provide a micro voltage and hold on that valve you pressed to start it, in event of flame out, no voltage, and valve shuts under spring tension.

Make sure its right in flame, ignite with cover off and look at flame, should be nice blue flame.

If it lights but wont stay on when you let go of button, the thermocouple is prob duff, cost bout $80 for new one.

Post here if needed will give you link to good supplier site for this stuff.

Once working, good idea to do this annually a good clean out, they arent bad fridges but need all help you can give them in v hot temps.

I do this and my fridge works great even in 40deg heat, although I run it at max and I have an annexe which helps keep heat off it. Uses a sniff of gas.
In lesser temps if not turned down it will freeze the milk.

Hope this helps

Ron

Hi Ron
Had similar problems with a 3way Absolutely useless in the heat tried fans etc but to no avail, eventually on one harsh trip cracked the pipes and lost all the gas also on this trip spoke to another person who also lost their gas and a group of caravans travelling together and three on them lost their gas also .ONE TRIP FIVE BROKEN FRIDGES rang the agents in Sydney ??? Fridges not meant for outback road travelling no sympathy at all , about the lack of cooling ?? you should have specified a " Tropical Model " which is made to operate in the higher temps,unfortunatly I cannot find the model No for you so RING THE AUST AGENTS the local shop wont have a clue what you are talking about, I dont know why the caravan manufacturers dont fit this option
regards
Ron

I too have had problems with 3way fridges,I came across this website that answered all my questions & allowed me to fix my problem.
Take the time to read how these fridges work & you will find it easer to sort out faults.
Site Link

hi ron o, we had the same problem with ours goes well on 240&12volt,but gas no go. got it serviced they cleaned gas lines out apparently if u don't use it much on gas ,it gets a slime stuff in it,anyhow ours hasn't missed a beat since.cost about $180 including taking the fridge out,cheers mate