Another fridge post!

[Macsurfer]

Hi all

(Yes, I've read all the posts on fridge issues I can find!)

Dometic CRX50

It has worked fine up until now, but we were camping last week (EHU) and realised compressor wasn't kicking in. The lights come on inside the fridge and there are NO warning lights on. Fan not running either.
I have had the fridge out, and the connections appear OK. Previously, I've had the fridge out to reverse the door, so thought I might have disturbed something but all seems fine.

• I realise low voltage can be an issue but LB is reading 14.5v (on the display)
• The vents are not blocked
• The fuse marked 'fridge' in the rear compartment hasn't blown and I also took it out for 15 mins to see if cutting power reset the fridge.

We are going to France Tuesday, just when we might really need the fridge!

Any ideas folks?

P.S Just in case any connection with above....Also noticed when camping last week that at night there was an intermittent "relay clicking" from the consumer unit or solar 'box' area in the rear cupboard. Not regular, but more like morse code.


Many thanks

Hugh
Ascot Grey T6.1

 

[Blackberry jam]

Hello, I seem to have exactly the same problem you describe with your fridge. Did you manage to work out what was wrong with yours?

We are 5 days into our 3 week holiday in scandanvia and with fridge full of food!!

 

[Macsurfer]

Hi

We didn't actually we took it back to converter and they swapped it out for a new one.
Things to check...are any of the vents blocked? (3 for us, into cupboard or behind drivers seat), have you tried a re set, needs fuse taking it out if like mine, not turning off in fridge, which doesn't isolate. Check fridge fuse while you're at it. Hope that might help

Hugh



Hello, I seem to have exactly the same problem you describe with your fridge. Did you manage to work out what was wrong with yours?

We are 5 days into our 3 week holiday in scandanvia and with fridge full of food!!

 

[Blackberry jam]

Thanks for your reply. I've tried all of those and although the first time we turned off for 5 minutes it worked for the next 12 hours now resetting it does nothing.

I wonder if the compressor is broken although it makes ne wonder why no fault lights ae coming on, so maybe it's the thermostat.

 

[bethamari]

Thanks for your reply. I've tried all of those and although the first time we turned off for 5 minutes it worked for the next 12 hours now resetting it does nothing.

I wonder if the compressor is broken although it makes ne wonder why no fault lights ae coming on, so maybe it's the thermostat.

The temperature sensor recently went in ours. Full post here: Dometic CRX - line voltage issue?

 

[roadtripper]

Generally the controllers in these sort of fridges will lock out if the compressor doesn't start in a certain number of attempts or if the load doesn't drop quite rapidly after starting. That's because a stalled or near stalling motor is closed to a dead short so the risk is if left in that state a large current will flow leading to overheating - and because of the start up surge fuses will be sized for that and it may be large but not large enough to cause the fuse to blow.

Sometimes (often?) in a camper that can be due to poor wiring or an end of life battery but if you've eliminated those it can also be due to mechanical failure. The compressors have lubrication in them and in the refrigerant - if those have leaked then the added load from friction will usually trip the lock out.

 

[Blackberry jam]

Thanks all for your advise. We drove 4 hours today without the fridge on and when we arrived at our new campsite I reset again and it is currently working. I'm keeping everything crossed and hoping that there was a problem with the EHU at the last campsite. Could that be the issue??

 

[Macsurfer]

I must admit I had wondered about the instability of various EHUs as our issue came to light while travelling around but could be coincidence. Our replacement fridge has been icing up terribly whilst in France (but simultaneously wet!) I'm guessing that is higher ambient temp along with opening the door quite a lot

Thanks all for your advise. We drove 4 hours today without the fridge on and when we arrived at our new campsite I reset again and it is currently working. I'm keeping everything crossed and hoping that there was a problem with the EHU at the last campsite. Could that be the issue??

 

[roadtripper]

I must admit I had wondered about the instability of various EHUs as our issue came to light while travelling around but could be coincidence.

I don't think an EHU can be the cause of the issue as the most that can happen is the 240v charger adds it's current to the battery, it can't take it away.

If you are touring then possibly your battery is taking more of a hit during the day when you are parked up but not camping?

And yes if it's warm the air will hold more water so there is more water coming out of the air when it condenses.

 

[Blackberry jam]

The lowest my battery got to yesterday was 12.7v between being charged either at hook ups or by the van engine. This should be enough to run the enough to run the fridge I think? I am surprised about how quickly it dips though when not charging, especially during the day when the condenser wasn't running and also the step down at 4am. Is this normal?

 

[roadtripper]

View attachment 253002

The lowest my battery got to yesterday was 12.7v between being charged either at hook ups or by the van engine. This should be enough to run the enough to run the fridge I think? I am surprised about how quickly it dips though when not charging, especially during the day when the condenser wasn't running and also the step down at 4am. Is this normal?

The important question here is what type of battery is this - from the voltages it's clearly a Lead Acid but is it a traditional wet cell leisure battery or is it a more modern AGM?



I'm assuming most likely a traditional wet/flooded Leisure Battery in which case 12.7 is what I'd expect for fully charged under no load/charge conditions.

It's normal for the voltage to drop quite quickly over a few minutes from the higher charging voltage to the resting voltage, which is mostly what you are seeing here.

What we are not seeing is how well the battery holds charge. Ideally do a test leaving the battery under no load and no charge conditions, though if you are away actively camping that might not be possible.

It's entirely possible for a leisure battery nearing the end of it's life to show fully charged behaviour (as seen here) but have a very reduced capacity and ability to deliver current (an early symptom of which can be trouble with a larger compressor fridge)

How old is your LB?

For now I'd suggest trying to make sure the fridge runs as cold as possible during the periods that other chargers are supporting the battery and then minimising how often it's open outside of those times.

 

[Blackberry jam]

It's a 110Ah AGM. It's about 5 years old but I don't think I look after it as well as I should in the winter (I forget about charging it and this winter we didn't drive the van as much as usual). Thanks for your advice. I'll keep an eye on it and hope it lasts us til we get home!

 

[roadtripper]

5 years is a good time for a starter and LBs often don't get looked after as well and then are worked intensively for a few weeks of holiday so maybe time to consider a replacement - possible after the winter so you start the next season fresh.

No criticism intended there BTW - batteries tend to last best on regular moderate use and as much as we can strive to do the best we can leisure batteries tend to be either not used at all or used intensively!

 

[Blackberry jam]

Thanks, I didn't take it as criticism at all. I can't believe that there are people like you out there who can be bothered to give good advice to my panicky posts about being fridgeless in Sweden! The fridge is nearly empty now and we are just buying what we need short term. If we lose it but it wont be too much of a drama. Norway here we come!