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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17872

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Any caravan fridge gurus here?
I know that there's a huge range of knowledge and experience amongst the members of this forum, and I am hoping that there may be a caravan fridge expert!

SWMBO and I have a 2006 tin tent which has a Thetford N112 SES fridge, the type that automatically switches between 240v, 12v, and gas according to the available sources. The van is on a static pitch. For about the last 18 months we've used the van most weekends and the fridge has switched on immediately each time on arrival. Until a fortnight or so before Christmas the pitch had a 24/7 240v supply so although the van was totally switched off, the battery was constantly on trickle charge.

A couple of weeks before Chrimbo we moved to a different pitch (same site) where we now need to disconnect the 240v when not in occupation. The van is still turned off as before, and the battery seems good and holds its charge.

Since moving, we've had real trouble turning the fridge on, and it is not until several hours have passed and the van is warm that the fridge comes to life - until then it is as though there is no power, pressing the on button has no effect. Once running, the fridge works fine on any of the 3 sources.

So, if there is a fridge guru, my question is do we have a failing fridge (and therefore need a horrifyingly expensive new one), or is this in some way connected with the power change?

Any suggestions, guidance, or advice will be much appreciated.
Post #390352 19th Jan 2015 9:25pm
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munch90



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: guildford
Posts: 3558

England 
Dont know about that model , but as far as i knew fridge only run on 12v when connected to the car , not on the 12v battery in the caravan

Normally if your pitched up then its 240v or gas , 12v when your driving

sorry dont know if that answer anything you wanted to know !
Post #390354 19th Jan 2015 9:31pm
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Rickydodah



Member Since: 14 Jul 2014
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 1091

When I wanted an additional fridge outside in the shed I had to get one suitable for a lower ambient temperature otherwise it wouldn't work as there needs to be a temperature differential and I was told it work great in summer but not in winter. You said it comes on when the van warms up, is it just because the outside temperature has dropped and it's stopped working because of this? Confused I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Post #390363 19th Jan 2015 9:40pm
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Alicat



Member Since: 25 Nov 2013
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 136

United Kingdom 
Caravan fridges do take a while to get cold as they as they work differently. The fridge in our van takes a few hours to get cold after it is switched on.

Tony
Post #390364 19th Jan 2015 9:41pm
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Lorryman100



Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Here
Posts: 2686

Our fridge acted the exact same and they replaced the power distribution panel located in the vent panel on the outside of the van under warranty
Munch the tin tent fridge runs on the internal 12v battery if there is no gas or 230v input.
Post #390365 19th Jan 2015 9:42pm
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mick



Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 2109

England 2010 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 HCPU Rimini Red
Probably the element they go after time can be replaced by taking fridge out
Post #390376 19th Jan 2015 10:01pm
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ickle



Member Since: 22 Jul 2010
Location: South Vendee
Posts: 1856

France 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Alpine White
Many years ago when I worked in the motor caravan industry, some of the 3 way fridges would just stop - they seemed to 'airlock'.

Solution was to take them out, then very gently roll onto their side, top, other side and refit into the van - worked many times!

I don't know if by sitting as a static for so long somethings shook up in the move?

Keith
Post #390377 19th Jan 2015 10:02pm
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Laurie



Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
Talk to Thetford - They are very nice people. 
Post #390381 19th Jan 2015 10:12pm
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ARC99



Member Since: 19 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1831

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Cairns Blue
Have you got the winter covers on the vents?
Will it work on gas?
Is your van level after moving it?
Have you had a look here http://www.caravantalk.co.uk/community/top...e-problem/ Don't make old people mad.
We don't like being old in the first place,
so it doesn't take much to Censored us off.

Richard
Post #390383 19th Jan 2015 10:15pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17872

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Level - yes, winter covers are fitted, and once its finally decided to switch itself on it works perfectly, gets properly cold, and works on gas, 240v, and 12v properly, so I don't think there's anything wrong with the refrigeration mechanism. I suspect the controller, so Lorryman, your comment is very helpful and ties in with the fact that on one occasion I did warm/dry the gubbins at the back with a fan heater through the vebt apertures and it did switch on afterwards.

I think maybe taking it out and inspecting its backside might be the next step.

Many thanks to all who've responded! Thumbs Up
Post #390399 19th Jan 2015 10:32pm
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sparkylee



Member Since: 06 Nov 2010
Location: surrey
Posts: 1455

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 DCPU Santorini Black
Ours is seasonaly pitched on a non electric pitch and over the last few months it's played up
It won't start from cold on gas only when we run generator for about an hour and run on electric then switch it over to gas will it spark up and light the gas other wise it keeps locking out
Real pain Sad It's good to be back from the dark side


DC110 -2012 Black with black hood and black x-tech
FFRR 4.2 vogue
Renault traffic auto
PT crusier convertible
Laika x700 Motorhome
Post #390426 19th Jan 2015 11:35pm
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ARC99



Member Since: 19 Feb 2013
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1831

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Cairns Blue
I have had chance to speak with a friend who I thought had the same fridge and may have been able to shed some light on the problem but I was mistaken. He did say that he has experienced similar problems during the last couple of months and the engineer who he called out said that it was due to the damp/misty getting into the control box. Don't make old people mad.
We don't like being old in the first place,
so it doesn't take much to Censored us off.

Richard
Post #390551 20th Jan 2015 3:38pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17872

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
That's interesting and consistent with my impression that warmth helps to make it work (the 'van has central heating and the pipes run below the control board for the fridge, so as the van warms it will prbably dry out the unit).

It does seem odd to me putting the controller right by the vents where the chance of moisture ingress is greatest!
Post #390584 20th Jan 2015 5:05pm
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