Strange Fridge Problem (1 Viewer)

[Originalsmoothie]

Our fridge has had a developed a mind of its own. On electric hook up the fridge works. When we're unplugged and running on gas, the fridge works. When I start the engine, which I assume is when the fridge switches to 12v, the fridge doesn't work. No lights, nothing at all.

I don't know if this helps, but we have been parked in the same spot for four days without an electric hookup apart from a short period when I plugged in to our suitcase generator. The batteries dropped to a level this morning that cut the heating, the fridge and the lights out. I ran the generator for two hours today to recharge the batteries. Everything seemed fine until I started the engine this evening to move to the aires water point and noticed the fridge not working.

Any ideas?

 

[Speve]

Not telling you how to suck eggs here but have you checked the fuses?

 

[WillH]

Stuck relay?

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[RogerThat]

Another silly question, it is a three way fridge isn't it? And not just a two way?

Did it ever work on 12v before?

 

[bertiebasset]

still switched to "auto" ??

 

[Munchie]

On ours the spade connector at the back of the fridge had worked loose. Hope yours is as simple!

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[Tincataylor]

If your fridge is the same as ours then it is not designed to run on 12V when the vehicle is stationary. There is a sensor that only allows it to run when the vehicle is travelling in excess of 5mph. When the vehicle is stationary, i.e when you are camped, then it runs on either hook up or gas as yours seems to do without problem.

The Tincas

 

[Allanm]

Our fridge will only work on 12v if the engine is running and alternator charging.
Travelling Up North last week, I noticed the red 12v light had gone out. It's been parked for a few days running on gas but yesterday, I thought I would check it out. I took out and reinserted fuses and wiggled a few wires, started the engine and the light came on and it seems to be working now.
Gremlins

 

[Madeinengland]

We had the same problem. Also the electric step had stopped working. It did turn out to be a blown fuse.

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[Originalsmoothie]

Thank you for all the excellent advice. The fridge is three way according to the icons on the front panel, the problem isn't a blown fuse, and the fridge doesn't appear to have a sensor which stops it from running on 12v when the vehicle is stationary.

I'm not going to worry about the problem too much at the moment. Our travel regime is now to drive for just an hour or two to the next aire. I think we can manage without the fridge running for short periods like that.

 

[mitzimad]

if you dont have a gizmo to stop 12v when stationaary your starter battery would have been flat as well

 

[peterc10]

You do not say what motorhome you have and what fridge is fitted to it. I suspect information on both will be needed to come up with a definitive answer.

If it is British built motorhome then the 12V to the habitation area is probably automatically cut off when you switch off the engine (daft requirement of the NCC). However the fridge should work on 12V only when you have the engine running, given that it is a 3 way fridge. In fact if you have an AES (automatic energy selection) fridge it will automatically switch to 12V when you switch on the engine.

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