Can i use a 3 way fridge on mains not level?

[Tappa]

Hi, I recently broke a 3 way fridge by using it on gas at a steep angle. It eventually crystallised the matrix at the back and stopped working.
I have bought a new one and I wanted to know if its possible to run the fridge on mains power when it is not level without breaking it?
I'm not sure if it uses the same chemical matrix cooling system on mains and 12v as it does on gas.
I park my van on a steep hill and it is impossible to get close to level, but I would like to fill my fridge and run it before i go on a trip, hence the question.

Thanks so much for any advice in advance.

Andy

 

[tonyidle]

The cooling system operates in an identical manner whichever power source is in use. Incidentally its the first I've heard of damage being caused by operating out of level. The fridge should return to normal operation once back on the level.

 

[Gaston aires]

Probably not. You would have to get somewhat level to make the fridge work.
Phil

 

[Tappa]

Thanks so much for the quick replies. It was a dometic engineer who did the analysis and said the matrix was blocked up from running it at an angle too many times. The angle I ran it at was a pretty severe gradient!... So maybe it's a first
You have both sorted me out with your replies. I will use the new fridge flat, no matter what. I'll just have to drive it a long way from my home the night before we go away, it's not the end of the world to make sure my fridge keeps on running.
All the best ,

Andy

 

[Landy Andy]

I don’t understand how the “matrix was blocked up” if using EHU and not level.

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[Tappa]

I'm not sure. They said that running on gas when not level can do that. I took the fridge out and flipped it etc. And it improved, but did not fix it. It runs really weakly now and would cost the value of the fridge to fix it. It actually runs best on 12v. If you know someone or can offer to diagnose and fix it for a reasonable price I'm all in! Thanks Andy

 

[Tappa]

Sorry I was not using ehu and not level. I was using gas and not level. I would like to know if I can use ehu and not be level without damaging the fridge, but the other posters seemed to agree that it still used the matrix, so i would assume it would still damage the fridge, do you think otherwise?

 

[dpsuk999]

12v / 240v / gas just provides the heat source that drives the process, that part of it doesn't care too much about being out of level. The problem is that the fridge needs to be level so that the cleverly designed and angled pipework containing the refridgerant works correctly as the liquid refrigerant depends on gravity to return to the heater, so if it's badly out of level the liquid will stop returning to the heater.. and stop working.. it can also damage it permanently if left running like this.

Having said that, the fridge is more likely to be sensitive to your forward / aft level than your side-to-side level as the pipework tends to run across the back of the fridge, therefore fore-aft in your vehicle. So you could try parking so the vehicle is flat front to back.

I did read somewhere that +/- 6 degrees is acceptable but anything more can be problematic.

David.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Do you want to put the food in the night before is that why you want it switched on? otherwise I have good results just filling any spare spaces with freezer blocks and stuff stays fine on the way to first destination.

 

[mitzimad]

Older fridges were 3 degrees more modern are 6 you might have recoverd the old fridge by leaving it upside down for a few days

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[mitzimad]

Do you want to put the food in the night before is that why you want it switched on? otherwise I have good results just filling any spare spaces with freezer blocks and stuff stays fine on the way to first destination.

frozen milk works and doesnt eat space

 

[Tappa]

Dpsuk999 thanks for the clear answer., its pretty much confirmed everything and really cleared things up for me. I'll be much more careful with my new fridge. Riverbankannie that's a neat idea! I'll have an experiment with that as it could solve my long walks back and forth on my mornings setting off. Thanks everyone for the help

 

[DBK]

The critical thing is the angle of the top tube on the condenser, which is the finned thing with lots of tubes at the back of the fridge. When the fridge is level the top tube runs downhill. This is essential as the liquid being formed in there starts the circulation of liquids and gases which make the thing work.

As has been suggested, forget running the fridge before setting off and fill it with freezer packs instead

 

[Off da Grid]

If it’s not level it just upsets the balance of the different fluids in the matrix, that need to be in certain parts, because of their varying densities.

 

[pappajohn]

Driving to cool the fridge is a hiding to nowhere.
The 12v power from driving will only keep the fridge really chilled if it was really chilled to begin with.
It's designed to maintain the fridge temp.....not cool it from scratch
Put food or freezer blocks in your home freezer overnight then pop in the fridge when your ready to set off.
The fridge will stay cool for a long time if you don't keep opening the door

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[Reallyretired]

As already stated here the energy source used will not affect the way the fridge works so if it doesnt run on one it wont run on the others.
Putting in frozen food works well and will take a long time to defrost if the doors arent opened.