Caravan fridge

clivvy · 03-06-2010, 17:22

Hey guys, we are still tinkering away with our caravan. I know nothing about caravans, but I'm learning. Now, grudges, silly question, but how do they work? Let me explain my silly question. We are going to leave the van plugged in thus weekend, so that we can use the fridge at the weekend. I've plugged in the mains electric, turned it on and the small compartment is very cold to touch, but the larger compartment isn't very cold at all. There's no sound either, so I'm not sure how a caravan fridge is meant to work!? Any tips also, on making sure the fridge is operating correctly, and safely?

Cheers!

Deleted account DD · 03-06-2010, 18:27

Caravan fridges are designed to be silent so dont worry on that score.

As a very simple rule of thumb to check its ok, make sure the van is level, set the system to mains and run it up overnight or a a similar amount of time at or near max.

The ice box will cool quite quickly (means the leccy is getting to it

) but the main will take longer.

But if the main compartment isnt cold after working overnight its not working properly. Over time these things "run out of " refrigerant gas and will fail.

clivvy · 03-06-2010, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by daved

Caravan fridges are designed to be silent so dont worry on that score.

As a very simple rule of thumb to check its ok, make sure the van is level, set the system to mains and run it up overnight or a a similar amount of time at or near max.

The ice box will cool quite quickly (means the leccy is getting to it

) but the main will take longer.

But if the main compartment isnt cold after working overnight its not working properly. Over time these things "run out of " refrigerant gas and will fail.

Perfect, thats EXACTLY the information I was looking for! As it happens, the ice box is very cold, and now the main is about 2 degrees, so its working, yay!

solarman216 · 03-06-2010, 20:34

Caravan fridges work on the absorbtion cycle using amonia as a refrigerant, there is no motor or pump, the system simply uses heat to circulate the gas/liquid, the only things to go wrong are the 12 volt and 240 volt elements can fail (replaceable) the gas heating side is not likely to give many problems, and the other fault is loss of gas, this system is actually very efficient and reliable, the only other problem is some times the insulation over the heating part of the system deteriates or falls off, it is very important that this insulation is in good order and in place, it will not work well without it, so if yours is working but not too well, then worth checking the insulation, Rick

clivvy · 03-06-2010, 22:43

i know this sounds daft...but im not sure what working well is for one of these. lets put it this way, temp was down to 2 degrees late afternoon, and the freezer bit seemed to hit zero or below, so I figure thats wokring well, and no gas is lost etc...

have left it running over night so will see again tomorrow, if all ok, will give it a damn good clean and get some drinks in it for Saturday!

Deleted account DD · 03-06-2010, 23:51

2 degrees in the main and ice in the small comp sounds good to me

Isnt a domestic fridge supposed to be around 2 or 3 degrees? cold enough to preserve stuff but not cold enough to start freezing

Enjoy the drinks

03-06-2010, 17:22	#1
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	Caravan fridge Hey guys, we are still tinkering away with our caravan. I know nothing about caravans, but I'm learning. Now, grudges, silly question, but how do they work? Let me explain my silly question. We are going to leave the van plugged in thus weekend, so that we can use the fridge at the weekend. I've plugged in the mains electric, turned it on and the small compartment is very cold to touch, but the larger compartment isn't very cold at all. There's no sound either, so I'm not sure how a caravan fridge is meant to work!? Any tips also, on making sure the fridge is operating correctly, and safely? Cheers!

03-06-2010, 18:27	#2
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	Caravan fridges are designed to be silent so dont worry on that score. As a very simple rule of thumb to check its ok, make sure the van is level, set the system to mains and run it up overnight or a a similar amount of time at or near max. The ice box will cool quite quickly (means the leccy is getting to it) but the main will take longer. But if the main compartment isnt cold after working overnight its not working properly. Over time these things "run out of " refrigerant gas and will fail.

03-06-2010, 20:34	#4
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,432	Caravan fridges work on the absorbtion cycle using amonia as a refrigerant, there is no motor or pump, the system simply uses heat to circulate the gas/liquid, the only things to go wrong are the 12 volt and 240 volt elements can fail (replaceable) the gas heating side is not likely to give many problems, and the other fault is loss of gas, this system is actually very efficient and reliable, the only other problem is some times the insulation over the heating part of the system deteriates or falls off, it is very important that this insulation is in good order and in place, it will not work well without it, so if yours is working but not too well, then worth checking the insulation, Rick

03-06-2010, 22:43	#5
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	i know this sounds daft...but im not sure what working well is for one of these. lets put it this way, temp was down to 2 degrees late afternoon, and the freezer bit seemed to hit zero or below, so I figure thats wokring well, and no gas is lost etc... have left it running over night so will see again tomorrow, if all ok, will give it a damn good clean and get some drinks in it for Saturday!

03-06-2010, 23:51	#6
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	2 degrees in the main and ice in the small comp sounds good to me Isnt a domestic fridge supposed to be around 2 or 3 degrees? cold enough to preserve stuff but not cold enough to start freezing Enjoy the drinks