Fridge Problems

[Lynne]

Firstly, very sorry I posted on someone elses thread yesterday. Very bad form, it won't happen again! In my defense I am on other forums about completely different things and if you start a new thread on some of them, they move it to one that is already going and then ask you why you started a new one! I have read the rules I promise, I just got a bit confused! Sorry.

Could anyone tell me where to find the fuse for the fridge? I have had a look around and cannot find one. The fridge works off the mains but that is it. We cannot get it to work from gas or 12V. Not sure what do do, we have the manual but still can't fathom it out. It's an electrolux RM4217. It won't work on 12V when moving, started engine up again last night to check. Battery is charged. Would appreciate any help. Thank you!

[1664]

Usually there is a relay that needs to be triggered in order to connect your fridge to 12v when the engine is running (as you may know) and the fuse is (usually) next to it.
The most common location for one of these is either on the flat metalwork under the driver's seat adjacent to the battery box; in the cupboard immediately behind the driver's seat; or next to/behind a control panel or Zig Unit if you have one. Do you know where your split charge relay is?
Can you access the actual fridge electrical connections behind the control fascia via the cupboard immediately above it and do you have an cheapo electrical multimeter?

[Lynne]

1664, will check what you have suggested. There are lots of wires and stuff behind the zig unit so we will start there and see if we can see anything that needs altering. Will get back to you when we have checked. Don't think there is anything by the battery behind drivers seat. We have been checking there in connection with the battery fuses and there didn't seem to be any other fuses except the battery one. When you ask if we can access the electrics to the actual fridge, would this entail removing it from it's current situation? Haven't moved it yet!

[1664]

We have been checking there in connection with the battery fuses and there didn't seem to be any other fuses except the battery one.

There isn't a "battery fuse" so the fuse must be for something else. How big is the cable and is it a blade style fuse? What rating is it?

When you ask if we can access the electrics to the actual fridge, would this entail removing it from it's current situation?

Usually the answer is 'yes' but I'm not familiar with your conversion and was curious to whether you could access it from the cupoard above. You can just about with mine as it's a false cupboard that has the gas valves and you can just get to the top of the fridge by removing a panel behind the cupboard door. Hoping to avoid pulling the fridge out really as it's a p.i.t.a

[Lynne]

I think I'm likely to make less sense than before! By peering from the driver side door down through the back of the cupboards (about 1/4 of an inch gap ) we can see what seems to be a wire coming from the fridge. We have also checked at the back of the cupboards, we can see what appears to be the same wire coming from the fridge but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere and we cannot see the end of it. We can only see this through the small drop down door at the back of the sink.It is hidden, out of reach and behind the sink so getting at it is really difficult. We have the same problem getting to the sink tap connection as it is broken and taped on. Previous owners have obviously decided it's too much trouble to bother.
Wouldn't feel happy puling the fridge out. Have just had a look and it won't budge! Feel we would end up doing more damage. There is no wires from it going to battery.
There is a small electricity box at the back of the Zig unit. We assume this is 240V mains. It has two switches in there.

Any ideas? Sorry I'm so short on decent information!

[1664]

There is a small electricity box at the back of the Zig unit. We assume this is 240V mains. It has two switches in there.

Any chance of any pictures Lynne? It's hard to help without any pictures. Preferrably pictures of the Zig, the back of the Zig showing the connections, the "electricity box", the cables at the battery, the cables at the leisure battery and the controls fascia at the top of the fridge.
And have a look under the passenger seat if there's nothing under the driver's seat.
Is your van petrol or diesel?

[Lynne]

I've taken some pics, I hope they help. The leisure battery pic - ignore the green wire, it is just a loose fuse that is lying under the seat...

[MidLifeCrisis]

Questions ............

1) The first picture is the leisure battery, right? (you mentioned a 'green wire' which is in the last picture but referred to that as the leisure battery - I think that one is the main van battery)
So, if we assume that pic 1 is the leisure battery and the last pic is the main van battery ...... then we can ignore the leisure battery (pic 1) as it has no part in the running of the fridge.

2) On the fridge, the red switch on the far left, if you flick this switch on, does it flash about once a second and can you hear a clicking sound as it flashes (this should work with the gas to the fridge turned off, the engine NOT running, key NOT in the ignition)
This is the electronic ignition that lights the gas when the fridge is running off gas ...... if this isn't working then the gas side of the fridge wont work.

3) In the last pic (the pic of the main van battery) - where do those two red wires go (assuming those are two separate red wires)? One red wire seems to come from the positive battery terminal, through a fuse then disappears; where does it go? The other wire comes from somewhere off the picture and disappears in the same place as the first - any idea where this one starts/finishes? Are there any other wires from the positive terminal of the battery that are not shown in that picture?

4) Do you know what sort of Zig you have? From the pic it looks like it has a 'home made' front cover on it - but the switches (and positions) look exactly like my Zig CF8? If it is the CF8 then it plays no part in the running of the fridge and you can ignore that too.

Basically the fridge needs two supplies of 12 volts from the main battery;
a) The first should go from the positive on the battery terminal, via a fuse, to the electronic ignitor circuit on the fridge (this is the supply that flashes the light in the switch on my question 2 above.
b) The second should go from the positive on the battery terminal, via a relay, to the 12 volt circuit of the fridge (so that the fridge can run off 12 volts when the engine is running) (The relay is triggered by a wire that is only live when the engine is running)

Anyway - answer the questions above and folks will be a bit closer to being able to help you diagnose the problem.

[Lynne]

Mid life crisis... thank you for this information. Yes you are right, I got the batteries mixed up.

The gas ignition isn't working. There is no clicking or flashing light.

The two red wires on the battery. We do not know where they go, have tried to follow them, but cannot see, hubby is out there checking again now so I will get back to you. We have changed the fuse in one of the red wires,not that we knew what it was but when checking it had blown.

[1664]

The Zig is either a CF6 or a CF8. Looks like someone has washed the markings off the front
The 'electric box' is exactly that. Works when you're hooked up on site.

The 12v for the fridge ignition should be fed via the Zig if it's wired correctly. It will not flash and 'click' until the narrow switch on the right of the row of switches on the Zig is down; one of the LED's on the front of the Zig should illuminate also.

There's only two wires at your leisure battery - probably from your split charge relay and also feeding your Zig unit - probably doubled up at the relay position to facilitate both. THE RED WIRE AT THE LEISURE BATTERY NEEDS AN IN-LINE FUSE INSTALLING IN IT unless there is one but it's not shown in the picture.

Have you found out what the blown fuse you've replaced does? I'm assuming it's the one in the picture....

The pictures have made things a bit clearer - but not much You need to find out what those wires do and find any relays

Any chance you can go to the 'Run to the Hills' show at the end of the month Lynne? It's only 3 weeks away; only £15 per person on the gate (£12.50 if you pre-book), it's also a top notch weekend, lots of 80-90 members will be there and I could have a fiddle with your van. http://www.runtothehills.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lynne]

It may not show on the pic but there is a fuse at the leisure battery and that is the one that was changed (sorry if I'm confusing you).

Yes I'm sure we can come to the show! It's not that far really.

[1664]

Ok then, I'll have a look there
Far simpler being 'hands on' than guessing on here and I have all the necessary kit in my van. Best come and find me on the Friday, and the earlier the better

Tell your other half to do another job on the van instead.....