Fridge on the blink

[salgarfi]

Dear All,

I've only recently acquired my camper - Honoria - and I haven't had any reason to use the fridge until recently. But when I plug into mains or keep it on 12 volts it just isn't working. It's an Electrolux RM212,F and this was fitted as original. Honoria is a 1990 Autosleeper. I gather from other posts that perhaps, I need to take the fridge out and turn it upside down for a day or so? I don't mind giving that a try, but how do I remove the fridge? All of the cabinet work is original and constructed very tightly around the fridge. Also, will I need to disconnect all of the wiring and gas hoses, or will there be enough slack to slide the fridge out and still turn it over?

Any advice would really be useful.

Best,
Sal

[1664]

Before you even consider dragging it out a couple of questions.....

1) How long did you leave it on mains for?
2)You do know that it won't work on 12v without the engine running don't you?
3)Have you tried it on gas?

[salgarfi]

I left it on mains overnight, and yes, I had the engine running while on 12 volts (though I believe that she runs off the leisure battery, and my Zig unit works as well). But I haven't tried it on gas. I can give that a go, though how long should it take to get cold if on gas?

Sal

[tonytech]

Your fridge will draw about 8 to 10 A on 12V.
It will flatten a leisure battery in a few hours.
The 12V option is for driving to and from campsites.

T

[1664]

I'd try it on gas. If it gets cold with the gas heat source then there's no point turning it upside down.These fridges take while to work as they have to heat the ammonia 'goo' inside to start the absorption process. The actual part that gets cold is the metal tray in the fridge icebox. An hour should produce a cold metal tray and after 2 or so hours I'd be expecting to see 'frost' on it at least. Make sure your van is level for most efficient cooling. If the gas succeeds where the electrics failed then the problem lies with the electrics and not the 'goo' so carry on reading.

If you left it on mains overnight that should certainly have been noticeable so either the 240v element is broke, the thermostat is broke, the mains selector switch is broke or it wasn't getting 240v; circuit breaker switched off?

As far as 12v goes the Autosleeper manual says you need to turn a switch on on the control panel as well as having the engine running. If you did that and you ran it for a decent length of time then the 12v element may be broken, a fuse ruptured or the relay not closing. The relay is located behing the panel (so I believe)

Autosleeper wiring diagram here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Au ... ng_diagram" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Autosleeper user manual here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Au ... ent_manual" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[salgarfi]

OK..., the 240 volt supply does work. If I turn on the Zig unit for instance, I can hear it humming. When I have it on 12 volts, I've turned on the 12 volt control in the van and I've switched the fridge on to 12 volts. And no circuit breakers were turned off. I'll go out and try the gas now and wait a couple of hours.

thanks for all this..
Sal

[salgarfi]

I'd try it on gas. If it gets cold with the gas heat source then there's no point turning it upside down.These fridges take while to work as they have to heat the ammonia 'goo' inside to start the absorption process. The actual part that gets cold is the metal tray in the fridge icebox. An hour should produce a cold metal tray and after 2 or so hours I'd be expecting to see 'frost' on it at least. Make sure your van is level for most efficient cooling. If the gas succeeds where the electrics failed then the problem lies with the electrics and not the 'goo' so carry on reading.

If you left it on mains overnight that should certainly have been noticeable so either the 240v element is broke, the thermostat is broke, the mains selector switch is broke or it wasn't getting 240v; circuit breaker switched off?

As far as 12v goes the Autosleeper manual says you need to turn a switch on on the control panel as well as having the engine running. If you did that and you ran it for a decent length of time then the 12v element may be broken, a fuse ruptured or the relay not closing. The relay is located behing the panel (so I believe)

Autosleeper wiring diagram here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Au ... ng_diagram" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Autosleeper user manual here https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Au ... ent_manual" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OK..! The fridge works on gas. I got frost on the plate in the freezer compartment after an hour and a half or there abouts. Now, I'm a bit non technical, so how do I check the thermostat and the 240v element, or the mains selector switch?

Any further help would be welcomed!
Sal

[salgarfi]

Hmmm..., I tarted this is the electric thread and I've ended up in 'Campers' How'd that happen??

Sal

[1664]

Hmmm..., I tarted this is the electric thread and I've ended up in 'Campers' How'd that happen??

A mod must have moved it.

Do you have access to a multimeter and a rudimentary knowledge of how to use it? Can you get to the fridge connections at the top of the fridge?

[salgarfi]

Hmmm...? What's a multimeter, or is that a typo for voltimeter? Anyway, I haven't ever used either. I haven't tried getting to any fridge connections as yet, but I guess I can try to remove the panel at the very top of the fridge. I'll get on to that tomorrow or this weekend. But what should I find there?

Sorry for the ignorance...
Sal

[1664]

I'm sure I replied to this yesterday so where the hell's my post gone?

Ok, try again. This is a bird's eye view of the top of the fridge showing the electrical connections and the gas valve, ignition etc.



A multimeter is a voltmeter but does a few other things too. You can pick them up fairly cheaply and you don't particularly need a high quality one. Is there anyone you know that's a bit more familiar with electrics?

How long did you leave the fridge on 12v with the engine running? The reason I ask is that if it wasn't long enough to cool the fridge there may not even be a problem with it.....

[salgarfi]

Ahh..., this photo was put into another thread.

Anyway, I might come across as a bit of a numpty now. But since the fridge worked the other day on gas, I thought that perhaps, that got the 'goo' circulating, so I decided today, to hook Honoria up to my domestic mains (it's a bit of a palaver since I need two extension leads from the house). Well..., the fridge worked, and I started to get frost in the freezer an hour later! I don't know why it didn't work before - at the camp site we visited. The 13 amp socket and zig unit worked then but the fridge really wouldn't budge. I'm planning to be on the road for about an hour and three quarters next Monday, so I'll check the 12 volt again at that time. Maybe I've just panicked - you can call me a teapot!!

Sal

[1664]

Result

[jamesc76]

Was the fridge level , some will not work at all if not 100% level!

[salgarfi]

Well..., since i got the fridge working on gas, and then on mains. I took Honoria out for a lengthy drive yesterday and the fridge was working on 12 volts. So, getting that 'goo' going on gas did the trick. As you said 1664 - result!!

Sal