battery fridge problem!?

Post by **slowandsteady** » 25 Apr 2006, 14:07

hi guys, on our first trip away to bustypes at the weekend we seemed to have a problem with our leisure battery holding charge.

begining to wonder if it has anything to do with the fridge as we don't know how it works properly

any ideas, or fridge working tips?

or could it be just the battery needs a damn good charge up?

thanks, jen and stu.

Post by **Horza** » 25 Apr 2006, 14:11

Are you saying you ran a three way/two way fridge off your lesure battery all weekend? My old fridge box which consumes far less power than a proper fridge would lay a fully charged battery low in under 36 hours.

In reply to your "is my battery knackered" question, yes I'm afraid it may be now

The battery part of the fridge is for when the engine is running, when parked up you should be using gas or 240v usually.

Post by **slowandsteady** » 25 Apr 2006, 14:40

i don't think so but couldn't tell you if the fridge is on/off, switched to gas?

we dont have a clue how to switch it on????

had a look round and no manuals, previous owner didn't supply us with much and being new to all this, just looking for some tips/advice.

the t25 is an 81, with an electrolux fridge we've looked all over the
fridge and can't find any markings, serial numbers.............

Post by **ghost123uk** » 25 Apr 2006, 14:48

My fridge uses about 8 amps on 12 Volt, thats like having your headlights on all the time. This will flatten a battery in no time.

don't think so but couldn't tell you if the fridge is on/off, switched to gas?

Surely you would remember switching the gas on and lighting the pilot light with the igniter button ?

( I know it was a good weekend and I too was p1ssed some, of the time but really

)

If it was getting cold, and you hadn't lit the gas, then, ergo, it must have been switched on to 12 volt !!

btw - don't drive it with the fridge running on gas !!

Post by **Horza** » 25 Apr 2006, 15:05

Gotcha.

There are manuals about but they are not that complicated.

Assuming it's a two or three way fridge there should nobs on the front, a 2 or three way switch and a button.

One nob for for turning it up and down on gas, one for the same on electric (this usually only works on 240v, on 12v it's on full all the time).

The switch should be for 12v, 240v and off.

The button is for the spark.

Switch it to 12v (could be a pic of a battery) while driving. 240v (pic of a plug perhaps) if you can hook it to the mains and off the rest of the time.

Lighting it is sometimes considred a dark art. Most of them will light if you turn the knob to the lighting position, push it in and hold, count to ten and strat clicking the button. Once the gas gets to the nozzle it usually starts making poofing noises as you push the button in. This is good, leave a second or so between clicks. It's helpfull if you cant see where th flame is to have a spotter looking under the fridge or through the little window thing so you know it's lit.

A fridge left on battery will drain it but then it really should have a relay to protect it.

If your battery wont hold a charge at all and it's not running the fridge then it might be knackered, if it's a proper lesure battery then it's best charged on a bench out of the van with a charger capable of charging that type of battery.

Good luck.

Post by **NOT ANOTHER LEAK** » 25 Apr 2006, 16:11

take your battery into one of the numerous places that do a free check on them then if its ok take it from there.
like euan says the fridge has a rocker switch on the front to the far right and it has a symbol like a car battery for 12v make sure its not switched on to that position.some vans have a on/off switch on the dash usually around the heater control area.
ideally if you had a meter it would make the job a lot easier

Post by **ghost123uk** » 25 Apr 2006, 16:30

Don't let the muppets at Kwik Fit etc test your battery if it a Leisure type.

They often use a very high current load to test for voltage drop and this will damage a leisure battery !!

Don't let anyone put a high current load test on it.

Oh and don't ever use it to start your van, that will damage it too.

That said, some very expensive leisure batteries are designed for high current use, but not many.

Post by **Horza** » 25 Apr 2006, 16:37

Oh another thing about running it on gas is that the gas must be on. Not as stupid as it sounds because as well as turning it on at the bottle there is often another tap for disconecting the fridge hidden somewhere in the van.

Post by **Ivorblueun** » 25 Apr 2006, 18:47

if your fridge is wired up correctly it should only run on 12v when the engine is running via a relay similar to the split charge system for your leisure bat

Post by **lhd** » 25 Apr 2006, 23:44

Hi there slowandsteady, was It you who had a look around my westy at bustypes?
If so and you have any questions pm me and I will help if I can.

lhd.........................................

Post by **lhd** » 25 Apr 2006, 23:53

As Ivorblueun said the fridge ( on a westy ) only works off the battery when the engine is running. lhd.................

Post by **slowandsteady** » 26 Apr 2006, 11:34

thanks for all the advice guys.

stu had a look at the fridge last night so i'll get him to reply with his findings!!

hi lhd, could have been us looking at your westy, what did we look like?

Post by **lhd** » 26 Apr 2006, 12:04

We, there was only a he............. maybe it was'nt you then

lhd..............

Post by **F1camper** » 13 Aug 2006, 11:12

We have a 12v/gas fridge which I havent used yet.

Does anyone know where the best places for getting the fridges tested/serviced.

I dont fancy using the frifge untill I've done that.

Website · Post by **dbroada** » 13 Aug 2006, 11:30

I've not used him but Pete (Rustybus on JK forum) http://www.rustybus.co.uk/page4.html has a good reputation. Although I think he may be on holiday at the moment.