Hello everyone I need some help with a very frustrating problem. Took our new 2004 coachman laser out for our first holiday this year. Only had it a few weeks and we had trouble with the fridge. When using hook up the green led on fridge lit up very dim, freezer got slightly cold that was it. Next day green led was brightly illuminated and fridge was working well nice and cold. Day after green led was dim again and fridge not cooling. This happened all week, fridge on then off. I checked the 5 amp fuse in socket under front seat and it was OK. Been advised it can't be the element as fridge would not cool at all. When led is dim I tried switching to gas but just got the flashing orange led. But when fridge was working with bright green led the gas works fine then also. Any help would be great thanks. Sorry its not a very good pic but this is the fridge I have
It sounds to me that you have a poor connection somewhere, it looks like low voltage getting to the circuit board indicated by the reduced brightness on the power-on LED. I would try and have a good visual inspection of all the plugs, sockets, and associated circuit boards if possible, something may have shaken loose or cracked.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Agree with Pickled Onion. The control panel runs on 12v from leisure battery regardless of 240v EHU or Gas power options you choose. Bad connection could be anywhere from battery right through to internal within control panel!
Dim Green LED indicator is quite indicative of low voltage.
The flashing orange indicator on gas could also be down to low voltage as I'd expect fridge has an auto ignition system or manually switched but powered ignition, that again would likely not work with inadequate voltage and give a warning indicator.
Another consideration is that your leisure battery is dying and the voltage occasionally drops to an unacceptable level (charger may not be capable of overcoming dodgy battery). Usually other warnings of this like dim van interior lights, but that's quite a subjective thing to make a call on especially if fluorescent tubes (tubes may blacken on ends if run under voltage or be reluctant to start up), or water pump erratic or not working. Fridge control will have relays that have a more distinct work/not-work threshold.
If a load drags down battery voltage to the point fridge stops working any reduction in load will allow battery voltage to recover, then fridge will kick back in when voltage high enough. This will cycle on/off giving you a intermittently functioning fridge which would match your only slightly chilled situation!
Doesn't sound as if you have any problems with the fridge cooling side of things, it's low voltage on/to the control panel for whatever cause that sounds most likely.
Thanks monty. The battery is brand new got it 2 weeks ago. I do know that when I bought the van back a few months ago, the guy I got it from was using a tired old car battery in the van. Maybe that's caused a problem somewhere
3 way fridges tend to consume alot of electricity when running off 12v of about 120 to 170W. Divide this consumption figure by the voltage to find the current. Usually operated via an ignition live circuit relay off the vehicle battery. Off grid 12v running is not recommended and usually means resorting to gas. The gas ignition circuit is usually spliced from the control unit 12v battery feed as it is usually live at all times. If this is dependent on the leisure battery then the symptom could be low battery charge. Most control units only provide a float level of charge output when on the mains so symptoms could appear after a period of non use out of season. Average life of leisure batteries is 3 years at the most given the state of most split charging systems. Would recommend an upgrade of the battery feed leads to at least 6mm2 or greater cross section in split charging systems mainly due to cable run distance. Use at least 2mm2 to 3mm2 for the fridge.Leads of greater cross section will only fit screw terminals and the bare ring connector terminals that installation electrician's use.
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Topic: Dometic fridge working intermittently
via mobile 06/9/2020 at 8:12pm
