Dometic undercounter fridge.

[nickmessitis]

I picked up my caravan from my local workshop, “CNS”
for privacy reasons!

The fridge previously worked intermittently and CNS assured me they had fixed this. I have no reasons to doubt them, as they are good and have done previous jobs for us. They said the connections are solid.

Anyhow the caravan is in storage so I don’t have 240v. I turned the power on at the PSU but no lights appeared on the fridge.

I connected the caravan up to the car, a VW Passat, revved the engine and put the windscreen heater on, but the fridge didn’t come on. I looked behind the vents on the caravan and the wiring looked ok

Any ideas anyone please.

Thanks Nick

 

[Hutch]

Caravan make and model and year, will help, please. Also Fridge model No.
Starting from basics do you have a battery fitted to the caravan,
Is the caravan battery, charged ?
Did the fridge work from the car before.?
.Have you set the fridge to Automatic, or to 12 volt,?
Is the fridge fuse ok. ?

 

[Buckman]

No 240v so can only be run from the car if set to the 12v. However if the car has a Smart alternator fitted, the fridge may not always operate as no 12v even if you switch on a draining accessory on the car to get the alternator to kick in. A lot depends if the car is wired to supply the 12v for the fridge. Only way to check is to connect up to 240V. Does the fridge work using gas?

 

[ProfJohnL]

If you have had work done on the fridge to fix this or a related problem, I suggest you should talk the problem through with the company that did the work.

If an electrical item doesn't work as you expect in a caravan, often it's a switch that hasn't been turned on, or a plug that's vibrated partly out of its socket. or user the not fully understanding the way the item works. Beyond that you would be surprised how many times the the problem is either the user hasn't connected a 12V battery or connected the Mains 230V EHU.

 

[JTQ]

Is it a fridge type that requires a 12 volt feed to power its controller before it can operate?
If so and I suspect most do require that 12 volt powering feed, I would start a systematic check on that 12 volt feed. Starting with is it getting it, if not why not.
The "no lights" hints to me its a 12 volt issue, generally the easiest to check, is it it getting it?

 

[Buckman]

If you have had work done on the fridge to fix this or a related problem, I suggest you should talk the problem through with the company that did the work.

If an electrical item doesn't work as you expect in a caravan, often it's a switch that hasn't been turned on, or a plug that's vibrated partly out of its socket. or user the not fully understanding the way the item works. Beyond that you would be surprised how many times the the problem is either the user hasn't connected a 12V battery or connected the Mains 230V EHU.

As they have not tested it using 240v, I don't think they are in a position at present to talk about a possible problem?

 

[Hutch]

As they have not tested it using 240v, I don't think they are in a position at present to talk about a possible problem?

The problem that nickmessitis, is asking about is running the fridge on 12 volts NOT 240v or correct now 220v/230v.

 

[Buckman]

The problem that nickmessitis, is asking about is running the fridge on 12 volts NOT 240v or correct now 220v/230v.

We all know that he is asking, but trying to test the fridge on 12v in a storage location is very difficult. We do not know if the car has a suitable 12v connection for the fridge etc therefore before contacting the person that repaired the fridge, it probably need to be checked on 220v first then the car's 12v checked etc. We do not know enough at present to give a clear cut answer!

 

[Hutch]

We all know that he is asking, but trying to test the fridge on 12v in a storage location is very difficult. We do not know if the car has a suitable 12v connection for the fridge etc therefore before contacting the person that repaired the fridge, it probably need to be checked on 220v first then the car's 12v checked etc. We do not know enough at present to give a clear cut answer!

As you said yourself , does the fridge work,on gas,, ie is the battery connected.
I think the OP has enough sense about 12 volt car power, / smart alternator as they state putting a load on the cars alternator,
Hopefully maybe a switching problem. ie switching the electronic switch panel of the fridge On,

On my Thetford fridge the electronic panel is live with 12 volts, but needs to be switched On and then set to Auto or 12 volt to operate.
I don't know about Domestic.

Rather than argue amongst ourselves wait for the OP to come back with answers to questions.

 

[Buckman]

As you said yourself , does the fridge work,on gas,, ie is the battery connected.
I think the OP has enough sense about 12 volt car power, / smart alternator as they state putting a load on the cars alternator,
Hopefully maybe a switching problem. ie switching the electronic switch panel of the fridge On,

On my Thetford fridge the electronic panel is live with 12 volts, but needs to be switched On and then set to Auto or 12 volt to operate.
I don't know about Domestic.

Rather than argue amongst ourselves wait for the OP to come back with answers to questions.

Agreed as we do not know if the fridge functioned previously on the 12v from the car. They do not clarify whether the original intermittent issue was on 220/230v, gas or the 12v.