3way Electrolux fridge not working on 240V!
Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:19
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Redbac
Does anyone know what may be wrong with my little fridge! I have a Jayco Dove and the fridge (Electrolux RM 2300) just stopped working on mains power all of a sudden. I am wondering what I may need to replace or if it is a specialist job roughly how much $$$ I may be looking at?
Reply By: 80seriescruiser - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:24
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:24
Transformer perhaps? Is it under warranty? If you have to get a newie, buy Engel - can't go past quality.
AnswerID:
290940
Follow Up By: Redbac - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:49
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:49
Ahh ok! Can I access that if I remove the side panel behind the fridge?, I would assume so? How much would I be looking at to buy an Engel?
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 00:19
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 00:19
No you can not access it behind the side panel because the transformer does not exist. As for replacing it with an Engel, Do they make upright styles and more to the point do they have one that will fit. If you get one of the usual Engels, it will be a top loader.
PeterD
FollowupID:
556484
Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 13:07
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 13:07
Hi
Engel do make upright fridge/freezers, in 240/12v models with auto voltage selection but you need to consider your batterry capacity & charging ability before you go that path.
Be aware also that a front door spills all the cold air every time it is opened & is therefor is not as efficient as a chest type.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: landed eagle - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:44
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:44
Make sure your van is level. My Jayco Eagle spends most of its life in the yard on a slope to let water run off. Fridge wont go. Level it up....goes great.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Redbac - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:55
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:55
I have leveled it up and had it running on gas with temps reaching -8deg in freezer and 3.5 deg in lower part of the fridge.
I haven't tired 12v supply yet as I have only had it a few days.
Also would you reccommend running it whilst I travel on 12v? If so how long do you get out of your battery or gas bottle (using gas)??
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: DIO - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:42
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:42
Have a read of this link
Link if you haven't already. General consensus is don't run fridge on gas whilst travelling.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:56
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:56
Running a 3 way fridge on gas whilst travelling is a bad idea, particularly when you stop to fill up with petrol! It can also make you unpopular with other users of that service station :)
12V is better when travelling but you must ensure you have good, beefy cables from the vehicle to the fridge as 3 ways do draw a heap of current on 12V and you need to ensure you get as much of the available voltage to them as possible otherwise they don't work too
well. Essentially... 12V is a "needs only" operating mode.
Mike Harding
FollowupID:
556370
Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 13:28
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 13:28
Hi
Just a few figures to show the need for heavy cables to reduce voltage loss to fridge terminals.
with 13v at terminals [obtainable with engine running & fully charged batts] heater output is 140watts
with 12v[really mininum for decent operation]120 watts
with 10v [commonly found due to inadequate cable size for run length] heater output is 83 watts.
A 41% LOSS OF POWER FOR A 23% LOSS OF VOLTAGE
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Reply By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:54
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:54
Do they even have a transformer? I doubt it.
If it's working OK on gas and/or 12V then I suspect it's either the 240V heater element or the 240V thermostat which has failed. You can
test the element by identifying the wires to it and performing a resistance
check (if this is meaningless to you - try to identify the element and then come back to us - ensure you unplug from 240V before messing around with the fridge).
This site:
Chescold spares
shows spare elements at the exorbitant price of $100. As it's a proprietary part you may not do a lot better :( Worth taking the old element to a wholesale element supplier to see if they can match it - I doubt Chescold designed a "special", probably just used a standard “off the shelf” element.
Mike Harding
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Redbac - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:58
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 17:58
Thanks Mike, I follow you with the tec talk so I will have a look and get back with the results.
Cheers
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:07
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:07
Nope, no transformer. Direct 240v element and a seperate 12v element.
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 00:23
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 00:23
The fridge is not a Chescold - it is an Electrolux (now Dometic.) Chescold bits will not fit.
PeterD
FollowupID:
556486
Reply By: Keith_A (Qld) - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:53
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:53
Hi Redback -
2 suggestions that may sound elementary but worth looking at :
1. Is the 240V switch (that the fridge is plugged into) turned on?. (often hidden at back of cupboard or under shelf).
2. The thermostat only operates on 240V, so
check that it is turned to max. (on newer units it also works on gas, but not 12V).
We always run fridge on 12V when attached to the car. Single most important issue is size of cable (to eliminate voltage drop).
Check out this site
http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/articles/index.htm for all things electrical.
regards..........................Keith
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:56
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 18:56
So size does matter????????????????
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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 19:12
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 19:12
All else being ok, it could be a fritzed 240V element -
mine went on my 3 way a few years back - parts plus labour about $135 I think..... far as I know, there is a 12v element seperate to the 240, explaining why that may still work. It happens - its ongoing maintenance - caravan maintenance people are doing that kind of work all the time - a sparky should be able to tell you in a few seconds if the element is gone - dismantling probably not necessary.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 19:18
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 19:18
Caravan maintenance people send them to refrigeration maintenance people because it's illegal to play with 240v without a ticket, same with L.P.G. We are not even allowed to change regulators - seriously.
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 19:53
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 19:53
>because it's illegal to play with 240v without a ticket
Only on "hard wired" appliances (Bonz will know the correct term) but if it has a domestic plug on it anyone can service it.
This is merely a, successful, attempt at trade restriction by the electrical unions of Australia - astonishing the rest of the world isn't dying by electrical fire or shock isn't it!? Don't get me started!? :)
Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 20:03
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 20:03
Define hardwired?
Workcover says no so I don't. Being sued over interpretation of the regulations is not something I wish to get involved in. The stupid thing is, I can modify/weld/cut/drill the hell out of your chassis without falling foul of the regs, I can also dismantle/replace/modify your braking system without incident. But if I touch a gas regulator or fix a loose 240v socket I'm toast - according to workcover.
Now if I were a sparky or plumber................................................
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 21:26
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 21:26
>Define hardwired?
Oh dear.
If you think I'm wrong then post the details and I'll accept my error, otherwise I'll just continue on my little way.... I'm _way_ too bored with internet experts to site every detail of justification for my statements on things electrical....
Mike Harding
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: GerryP - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 21:54
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 21:54
Electrical licensing is covered by State legislation (not federal), therefore each state has different regulations. In SA you can carry out electrical work on 240 volt plug-in appliances (as opposed to hard wired) without a licence quite legally, however, not in most other states.
As far as I know, every state requires a licence to work on gas appliances.
Cheers
Gerry
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 21:56
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 21:56
I was asking a serious question, I didn't say you were right or wrong.
As I'm quickly learning here, conflict is preferred to discussion.
I'll leave you and your other fellow 'experts' to do some more tests................
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Follow Up By: GerryP - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 22:04
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 22:04
Certainly no conflict intended on my part - just clarifying some issues as I see them...
Gerry
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 22:07
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 22:07
>I'll leave you and your other fellow 'experts' to do some more tests................
Good.
Bye.
Mike Harding
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 00:08
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 00:08
Hi
In Qld you are required to have an appropriate LICENCE for the type of work [called llimited licence ] fridge mechs can get one for a limited range of work[ AFTER PASSING APPROP EXAM ] also for some other trades BUT MUST PASS EXAM.
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Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 11:31
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 11:31
Ha ha ha ha ha ..... what a &%$#@*&^* hoot ! Did I suggest that when we go to an enterprise in the caravan service sector that some scruffy, no-ticket, ill-educated, low-skilled nincompoop will furtively fix the fridge in defiance of all regulation ?
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 18:14
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 18:14
Wow, I am humbled by your
well versed reply. Your are very wise and obviously highly educated, please accept my deepest apologies.
PS, KMA
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 18:19
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 18:19
Dunaruna:
What was that you said? Something about seeking conflict...?
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 18:26
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 18:26
Fair go Mike, my response to Darian was subdued compared to his dribble.
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 19:02
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 19:02
No problem Dunarunna :)
The internet is a funny place; there is no body language or tone of voice to indicate the subtleties of what we’re trying to convey so it’s easy to type something which others interpret in a manner one did not intend – I do it all the time! :)
Given a bit of time we get to know one-another
well enough… our strengths and our weaknesses – you certainly seem to have some good knowledge of caravans and things associated.
Sometimes though… (shhhsss don’t tell anyone)… I think there may be a few on here who enjoy the occasional conflict…? Such is the male of our species :)
Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 20:12
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008 at 20:12
Could not agree more. Good post.
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Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Friday, Mar 07, 2008 at 10:25
Friday, Mar 07, 2008 at 10:25
For the record - I don't seek to disparage anyone here, ever - thought I'd always happily avoided that.......my 'colourful' rant may have been misconstrued - I was mystified though how a seemingly helpful comment was responded to as if it was impossible for caravan service industry enterprises to have any qualified people on staff - I thought that odd.
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Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Friday, Mar 07, 2008 at 18:20
Friday, Mar 07, 2008 at 18:20
When I responded to your reply (#5) I was just trying to add to the discussion by pointing out that caravan repair shops do not employ sparkies and plumbers, let alone refrigeration mechanics. Most of that type of work is sub-contracted.
Usually there are body builders, mechanics and engineers (all of whom are qualified in their respective fields).
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Reply By: Redbac - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 19:37
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 at 19:37
Thanks everybody, now I am armed with all this knowledge I can get onto it.
Cheers everybody
P.S. Keep the suggestions coming if you think you can help!!
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