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Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 10:11
by domiles1
Bought a secondhand RM212 off ebay, very nice looking condtion. I mostly want to use it on gas because we camp somewhere where there is no hook up and you cannot start engines to charge batteries. Fired it up on gas and left it overnight, for about 15 hours, and it is still not remotely cold. I have no idea what the gas flame should look like but I look through the little window and it is only a couple of mm high on setting 3, is this OK?
How long should the fridge take to get cold on gas?

Also wondering, if I have to use battery, how long a fridge will run on a leisure battery - I'm assuming it won't last the five days I need??

Grateful for any advice! Thanks.

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 10:22
by jamesc76
On a battery it would last about 2 hours tops!!!! is it fitted in the van yet ?? is so take it out and turn it upside down leave it upside down for 24hrs! then turn it back the right way and try again, sounds like the gasses have all settled at the bottom and not moving round!

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 11:21
by Oldiebut goodie
The gas jet could do with cleaning/replacing. Was there much warmth coming from the exhaust? The flame seems a little low.

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 12:45
by hicksy
Its worth having a look on wiki and finding the manual for an rm 212. It will tell you how to service the fridge.

There are plenty of tips and things on here as well, just run a search, I did and learnt soooo much from this site, Its awesome!

Check out my camping interior build thread too and you can see what the flame on this type of fridge should look like! In fact, i have a pic now:

Image

Also if you need spares, try a caravan breakers before ebay, it should be much cheaper. :ok

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 13:13
by domiles1
UPDATE!!! I tried getting it started on mains and it still won't cool. The guy I bought it from tested it and said it got cold on battery and mains but he didn't have much gas so all he checked was that it lit. So what has gone wrong through me simply transporting it? I kept it upright all the time. There is heat coming off the back with gas and mains.

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 13:30
by Oldiebut goodie
Do the upside down trick then, 24hrs upside down, then 24 right way up, then try it again.
You would have done better to transported it upside down!!!! (no good for domestic fridges though).

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 13:34
by kevtherev
turn the fridge upside down for the night, then try it on gas again.
seems to work 90% of the time, as if unused the ammonia crystallises and blocks the flow of coolant

Make sure the heating element for the electric is showing a resistance and not an open curcuit

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 13:42
by nevill3
Also make sure it is level....this is very important even a slight slope can stop the fridge from cooling......I know fromexperience!!! :mrgreen:

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 15:04
by PetenAli
The turning it upside down trick worked for me. Went from a fridge that would barely cool to one that will make icecubes with ease. I also got lots of useful tips off here and the Wiki. Your gas flame should be blue, not yellow.

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 15:04
by PetenAli
The turning it upside down trick worked for me. Went from a fridge that would barely cool to one that will make icecubes with ease. I also got lots of useful tips off here and the Wiki. Your gas flame should be blue, not yellow.

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 15:14
by PetenAli
I think my fridge is different to yours but here is a thread that I got a lot of help from and put some pics on. Hope it helps.

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 15:15
by PetenAli
Doh! Try this: https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=84798" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 16:44
by domiles1
Thanks for all the replies. What an IDIOT I am! My driveway is on a slope! On the level floor in the garage it works great on 240v so I will try gas over next couple of days and let you know! Now the problem is - what are the chances of being on level ground at a festival?!!!!

Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 17:03
by kevtherev
Buy some levelling chocks then :roll:

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Re: Fridge help!!

Posted: 18 May 2011, 19:27
by Cruz
:rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin

Sorry, just had to