Club 80-90 Forums

Hmmm, is this a campers question or a technical question...?

Anyway, my two-way fridge is dead on both mains and battery.
I was hoping to test the fridge by disconnecting it from the van and running it straight from the mains, but on closer inspection I realise that the 240V runs via a transformer thingy (probably not such a great idea to connect the fridge straight to the mains then...). So I cant tell whether its the fridge itself or somewhere in the van's electrics.

So any ideas on how to test the fridge/electrics independently (I find myself sans voltmeter at present), or a strong opinion on which its likely to be?

ta very much.

purplechugster wrote:Hmmm, is this a campers question or a technical question...?

Anyway, my two-way fridge is dead on both mains and battery.
I was hoping to test the fridge by disconnecting it from the van and running it straight from the mains, but on closer inspection I realise that the 240V runs via a transformer thingy (probably not such a great idea to connect the fridge straight to the mains then...). So I cant tell whether its the fridge itself or somewhere in the van's electrics.

So any ideas on how to test the fridge/electrics independently (I find myself sans voltmeter at present), or a strong opinion on which its likely to be?

ta very much.

this "transformer thingy"
is it a transformer or just an RCD unit?

you don't mention the model number is it an elecrolux?

when the fridge is out you may find it is a broken element or corroded wire/connection

kevtherev wrote: this "transformer thingy"
is it a transformer or just an RCD unit?

you don't mention the model number is it an elecrolux?

when the fridge is out you may find it is a broken element or corroded wire/connection

Hmm, yes, "transformer thingy". I think that demonstrates my level of competence nicely. Shiney (well, once) box that has both mains leads and battery leads going into it, and then wires come out and go straight to the fridge.

Cant see a model number, but yes its an electrolux.
I had the fridge out (pulling the door off in the process) and I couldnt see any obvious dis-connections.

take a piccy then, before you hurt someone or something !

afaik then mains fridges dont use a transformer, its a 230 v element, so you should be able to run it straight off the mains, and if you take it out just connect mains where its connected on the fridge in the van.........

if yo are not sure, dont do it!

Hi,

I would test it on 12volts, using the vehicle battery - you can check that there is voltage to the heater by using a 12v lamp so no voltmeter needed.
Has it been working and suddenly stopped? This could point to a wiring fault ot possibly a bloen fuse?
Or has it not worked for a while?
An old trick with the absorbtion type fridges which use ammonia as a refrigerant is to turn them upside down a couple of times and then wait fot them to settle before trying them again - this often works - I think its to do with trapped pockets of gas preventing the convection within the refrigeration medium if that makes sense

I'll try the fridge-on-its-head trick next

This was the first time in ages I'd put the fridge on, and the first time in even longer that I'd connected it to the mains, so I dont know whether it was working before I plugged it in and it went pop, or whether it had been dead for a while
Either way, it worked last time I used it.