Gas/12v/240v Fridge now ONLY works on 240v

Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 13, 2012 at 18:56

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Portable Fridges

The debate over which fridge is the best on the market is one of the most contested discussions in the camping recreation. In this article we look at the range of features and the major issues to

blueteddy

We have an old Electrolux RM2310 fridge that worked perfectly on a recent trip. The van was sitting for about a month without use, and the the GAS and 12V options on the fridge no longer worked. 240V still works fine.

When the fridge is on the 12V option we can see the pull on the battery gauges. However leaving it on 12V with solar re-charging the batteries still results in a warm fridge.

When the fridge is on the GAS option and lit we can feel lots of heat coming out the vents on the side of the van, but the fridge stays warm (tested over 24hours - still warm).

When the fridge is on the ELEC option it is noticeably cooler very quickly.

Does anybody know what might be causing the GAS/12V options to stop cooling the fridge?

Thanks heaps!!!
Dave&Hayley

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Reply By: nickoff - Wednesday, Mar 14, 2012 at 12:49

Wednesday, Mar 14, 2012 at 12:49

Gas.
1. Poor flame. Dirty burner. Only takes a little but of dust to cause flame pattern disruption.
2. Gas. Too much heat. Try turning down the flame to low.
3. Gas. Blocked chimney, not allowing heat past the boiler tube.

12 Volt.
1. Power wires “too light” causing voltage drop at high amps draw. Replace with heavy duty wiring, and keep the run as short as possible. These fridges draw about 15 amps at 12 Volts.
2. Recharging the battery of solar. Unless you have over 1000 watts of solar panels ( 6 hours of charging per 24 hours) and 700 A/Hr of battery storage ( @ 50% load cycle) you will find it diffucult to run an absorption fridge on 12 volts solar power.

Cheers.

AnswerID: 480353

Reply By: Member - KenD - Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 00:14

Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 00:14

Hi Dave&Haley
I've been running a Finch 3 way fridge for quite a few years now. In the back of the car it runs on 240v from an inverter powered from the second battery (cranking). I cover the lid of the fridge with something insulating and run an elastic strap over it to make sure it doesn't bounce open and lose heat. I can also leave it on the inverter for a couple of hours when we are parked and all seems OK though I'm not dependant on that battery for starting.
But it sounds like you aren't getting enough 12v juice so you probably wouldn't have enough to run an inverter.
On gas it has only stopped working once and it proved to be a blocked gas line. Try some compressed air.
Also, I understand it is fruitful to invert the fridge and shake it. I do this every so often as "maintenance".
Hope this is vaguely useful.
Good luck
KenD

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AnswerID: 480482

Reply By: Member - Boobook - Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 05:42

Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 05:42

They are not really designed to run off 12V without the alternator going.

If you have really good wiring and the voltage at the fridge is 12V, then you have 144Watts of cooling capacity. If it is 13.8V then you have over 190Watts, 40% more. That is the difference between a warm fridge and freezing inside.

Tony

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AnswerID: 480487

Reply By: blueteddy - Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 08:47

Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 08:47

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback! We're going to take an air compressor to the back of the fridge and blow some dust out to see if that helps the gas mode work again.

Any other ideas on why the GAS mode is no longer working? The pilot light starts and heat comes out the back, but it doesn't cool the fridge.

Thanks!
Dave&Hayley

AnswerID: 480503