Thetford Fridge T2090 Compressor Fridge

[Toxkid]

Anyone had this problem, and found a solution? Our Thetford T2090 compressor fridge is out of warranty. It is showing the error for a condenser fan defect, the power light is orange and the last four temperature bars are illuminated. If I turn the fridge to night mode the error code disappears. Initially we lost the on /off light, but the fridge worked, then the condenser fan defect showed up. Initially thought it was fan but when connected up to external 12v supply, the fan run, although there are 3 wires, pos/neg and one other possibly a resistor wire(?). So next replaced the PCB, and the on/off light reappeared, but still same fault, now have a new fan but still getting same error. It's driving me mad, any ideas?

 

[StillGoing]

Does this help from AI?

AI Overview



The orange power light and last four temperature bars indicate Error 15 (Condenser fan defect). Because a new fan and new PCB still trigger the error, but the fan runs on an external 12V supply, the issue lies in the 12V signal/PWM wire continuity from the control board to the fan harness, or insufficient main power voltage/earthing under load. [1]

What the 3rd Wire Does

• • The third wire is typically a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) or tachometer feedback signal wire used by the PCB to control fan speed and monitor if the fan is spinning.
  • If the PCB cannot read the return signal or pulse, it flags a fan defect error—even if the positive and negative lines are supplying enough juice for the fan to spin blindly on a raw 12V feed.

Troubleshooting Steps

• • Check the harness continuity: Test the specific signal wire pin-to-pin from the fan connector back to the main power/control module plug to ensure there is no break or high resistance in the loom. [1]
  • Inspect voltage drop under load: Measure the actual DC voltage supplied at the fan terminal connector while plugged into the fridge PCB during normal operation (not night mode). A weak or corroded 12V supply line or poor earth can drop voltage just enough to disable the control signal logic while letting the motor spin elsewhere. [1]
  • Test Night Mode behavior: Night mode drops fan speed and silences/bypasses the high-speed pulse check or load requirement on that third wire, which explains why the error code temporarily masks itself.

 

[Toxkid]

Thanks, will test this later, I have tested the continuity of the wires, but not any voltage drop, will try that next

 

[Toxkid]

I have checked all the wires to the fan and all seem in good order with no breaks, the supply to the fan however is only showing 5v, and when go back to the main pcb that is all it is showing at the pins. Checked the leisure batteries, they are a healthy 13.75v, which is exactly the same as is being supplied to the rear of the fridge. hmm, now checking that door thinks it is closed, as if door registered as open, will reduce voltage to the condenser fan... although the lights do go out when the door is closed, onwards and upwards

 

[CAB96]

How far out of warranty? How old is it?

 

[Toxkid]

It is 3 1/2 years old, and as it's a European built van the warranty only covered 2 years. If it was a uk build I might have been ok, as the problems started at about 2 1/2 years old.

 

[Richard n Ann]

If you can't get to the bottom of it you can fit a universal electronic controller, they work very well. Got this one on mine:

It's a mains one that I converted to 12v but you can buy 12v ones like the Dixel Universal R

 

[Toxkid]

An update so far, we were due to leave for a 4 week visit to France just before I posted this, and still unable to get more than 5v from the PCB to activate the compressor fan. Checked and changed the door PCB. Still no luck.
About 8 months previously we had a similar problem and took hot to a Thetford Service centre, who tested it and found no faults, cost £90.
We did not want to attempt to go to Southern France with a potentially duff fridge, knowing my luck it would fail straight away living us high and dry.
So ordered a new fridge, this time an Alpicool 90Ltr from Clearcut Campers in Devon, as it is the same size as the Thetford, but less than 1/2 the price.
Clearcut Campers were great, I ordered the fridge on the Thursday before the Bank Holiday weekend and it was delivered Friday lunchtime. I was working the weekend so
Fitted it the Sunday before we left and hoped for the best.
Mrs Toxkid is happier with the new fridge as it is easier to get in and appears much larger inside. I think it is bit noisier than the Thetford, although we have been sleeping downstairs(!) this trip, and not as insulated from the fridge as the drop down bed.
I still have the Thetford fridge and will try and get it working properly.

Now a little bit of a rant, a few years back most companies had a technical department, which if you had a problem with their product, you could ring and they would help you out. Now it's a case of take the product to a specialist who will fix it, and charge you the earth for the privilege. A couple of hours labour and the spare parts would have exceeded the cost of a new but cheaper fridge with a warranty.

 

[Dave and Di 🌞]

An update so far, we were due to leave for a 4 week visit to France just before I posted this, and still unable to get more than 5v from the PCB to activate the compressor fan. Checked and changed the door PCB. Still no luck.
About 8 months previously we had a similar problem and took hot to a Thetford Service centre, who tested it and found no faults, cost £90.
We did not want to attempt to go to Southern France with a potentially duff fridge, knowing my luck it would fail straight away living us high and dry.
So ordered a new fridge, this time an Alpicool 90Ltr from Clearcut Campers in Devon, as it is the same size as the Thetford, but less than 1/2 the price.
Clearcut Campers were great, I ordered the fridge on the Thursday before the Bank Holiday weekend and it was delivered Friday lunchtime. I was working the weekend so
Fitted it the Sunday before we left and hoped for the best.
Mrs Toxkid is happier with the new fridge as it is easier to get in and appears much larger inside. I think it is bit noisier than the Thetford, although we have been sleeping downstairs(!) this trip, and not as insulated from the fridge as the drop down bed.
I still have the Thetford fridge and will try and get it working properly.

Now a little bit of a rant, a few years back most companies had a technical department, which if you had a problem with their product, you could ring and they would help you out. Now it's a case of take the product to a specialist who will fix it, and charge you the earth for the privilege. A couple of hours labour and the spare parts would have exceeded the cost of a new but cheaper fridge with a warranty.

Try changing the fan on the apicool I fitted a coolmate and changed the evaporator fan for the one below made a massive difference can't here it now.

See this thread:

Coolmate / Sanjo compressor fridge

Just bought one of these to fit into our Frankia in our pursuit to use less gas well impressed for the money works really well the only thing I did before fitting was change the evaporator fan for a Noctua NF-A12x25 which has made it virtually silent. Bought it here: https://ebay.io/m/fnwmuL...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

link to new fan:

Noctua NF-A12x25 LS-PWM, High-Performance Whisper Quiet Fan 120mm

£29.00

View on Amazon

 

[B+W vanman]

Have you thought about a 3-way absorption fridge/freezer? Apparently totally silent and reliable, as well as running on EHU, alternator 12v and readily available bottled gas?
Not inexpensive though, as they’re quite complex construction……..

 

[Toxkid]

3-Way, No, as the van was designed with a compressor fridge in mind and diesel heating we only have a very small gas bottle, although we generally use a induction hob most off the time, and so have only used 1 full camping gas bottle (R907) which I think is about 2.5kg, in over 3 years. The van will only take 1 R907, we haven't even tried to get a second one in the gas locker.
When I said the fridge was noisier than the Thetford, it isn't intrusive, just noticeable. It is however less prone to frosting up, and didn't have cold spots like the Thetford, where we had food freeze in the fridge compartment. So, so far so good.
Just spending time cleaning the van post trip, and it also has less water in the fridge than before.
Now for other repairs, window screw that holds the stay fell out and was lost, the electric step broke, and is held together by zip ties, and one of the miriders needs a bit of work.. apparently you shouldn't use them for stunts... and jumps and skidding around, ah well it'll keep me busy.
Thank god for zip ties, gaffer tape and WD40, as well as a decent adjustable spanner.