Hi all... Having a great holiday in Cumbria, enjoying the sunny weather, got back to a puddle instead of an ice tray ..... The fridge has packed in
Electrolux rm212 fridge fault whilst on holiday
- Thread starter sgtangel
- Start date
Its not the end, just remember to check out all the fuses, switches etc, hopefully you might have just missed some thing.
Trying to post this from phone - first attempt didn't work so Well ....
My first post continued on to say .....
It is an Electrolux RM212 in a 1993 swift corvette, and is probably the original fridge. It was running on 240v, but when we got back to the van this evening I had a tray of water instead of ice.
Can anyone suggest anything I can do on site to attempt a repair. I have checked the circuit breakers at the main power box - all OK. All other electrics working fine. Would there be a fuse I am not aware of ? Or something else I can check ?
I have never ran it on the gas before, but have switched it over, and am getting a strong blue flame at the view window, but too early to tell if it is cooling on gas - other than the obvious, is there any way to tell if the gas is working ?
Does anyone know if it will work at all on gas if the 240 has packed in ? Are the " circuits " separate
And the gas vents are into the awning where my son sleeps - is this safe ?
Thanks
My first post continued on to say .....
It is an Electrolux RM212 in a 1993 swift corvette, and is probably the original fridge. It was running on 240v, but when we got back to the van this evening I had a tray of water instead of ice.
Can anyone suggest anything I can do on site to attempt a repair. I have checked the circuit breakers at the main power box - all OK. All other electrics working fine. Would there be a fuse I am not aware of ? Or something else I can check ?
I have never ran it on the gas before, but have switched it over, and am getting a strong blue flame at the view window, but too early to tell if it is cooling on gas - other than the obvious, is there any way to tell if the gas is working ?
Does anyone know if it will work at all on gas if the 240 has packed in ? Are the " circuits " separate
And the gas vents are into the awning where my son sleeps - is this safe ?
Thanks
HI,
High ambient temperatures can corrupt caravan fridges, which is why some caravanners who regularly visit hotter climates have one or two computer style 12V fans fitted to the top external vent to improve airflow over the condenser coil. I have a suspicion that as the fridge is now 20 + years old the mixture of refrigerants it was originally made with may have leaked or lost their potency and means the fridge struggles to drop its internal temperature enough.
If the refrigerant has completely gone, then it wont work on any of fuel sources. another possibility is the 230V element may have failed, in which case it should still work on gas.
Contrary to EH52ARH's comment about taking a longtime to cool, It shouldn't take much longer than on mains power, and the gas flame and the electric element both provide very similar heat inputs into the system.
High ambient temperatures can corrupt caravan fridges, which is why some caravanners who regularly visit hotter climates have one or two computer style 12V fans fitted to the top external vent to improve airflow over the condenser coil. I have a suspicion that as the fridge is now 20 + years old the mixture of refrigerants it was originally made with may have leaked or lost their potency and means the fridge struggles to drop its internal temperature enough.
If the refrigerant has completely gone, then it wont work on any of fuel sources. another possibility is the 230V element may have failed, in which case it should still work on gas.
Contrary to EH52ARH's comment about taking a longtime to cool, It shouldn't take much longer than on mains power, and the gas flame and the electric element both provide very similar heat inputs into the system.
ProfJohnL said:
The joys of caravanning ..... can you advise if there is any way to check any of this on site, even doing some basic removal ?
It has been running for about an hour on gas, with no noticeable cooling, but the gas burner is still lit. Is there any way to check if I am wasting my time ...we still have a week's holiday to go and with no fridge it will be a struggle
............we cannot tell if there is a fault with your fridge or if is struggling to cope with hot temperatures.
Did you go out for the day so that the temperature in your awning rose to high levels such that the fridge could not cool efficiently?
For many years now I have used a small mains freezer when I am staying on a site with EHU.
I find this works well and complements the caravan fridge. They work on the compressor principle which is much more efficient at cooling and freezing.
You can pre cool food and drinks before placing in the caravan fridge thus lowering it's work load if ambient temperatures are high.
You can freeze bottles of water and place in the fridge.
You can quickly pre cool beer etc
Here is an example for £80.00 which may help with the rest of your holiday.
Did you go out for the day so that the temperature in your awning rose to high levels such that the fridge could not cool efficiently?
For many years now I have used a small mains freezer when I am staying on a site with EHU.
I find this works well and complements the caravan fridge. They work on the compressor principle which is much more efficient at cooling and freezing.
You can pre cool food and drinks before placing in the caravan fridge thus lowering it's work load if ambient temperatures are high.
You can freeze bottles of water and place in the fridge.
You can quickly pre cool beer etc
Here is an example for £80.00 which may help with the rest of your holiday.
On the information available it sounds like a problem I had many years ago..
The Prof's suspicion about leakage of the refrigerant is the favourite choice. You say you have a strong gas flame yet no noticeable reduction in temperature. It may be best in the long run to source a used fridge. Check the dimensions as you may well find a more modern one will fit eg RM4.
Also if you look at the rear you may see traces of leaked coolant.
Good luck.
The Prof's suspicion about leakage of the refrigerant is the favourite choice. You say you have a strong gas flame yet no noticeable reduction in temperature. It may be best in the long run to source a used fridge. Check the dimensions as you may well find a more modern one will fit eg RM4.
Also if you look at the rear you may see traces of leaked coolant.
Good luck.
Thanks for all the responses.
After 2 hrs there was still no noticeable cooling, but I hedged my bets, left it running overnight and it is now cold - I suspect a faulty 240v element may be the cause, likely due to a combination of the age of the unit and the warm temps yesterday. We have sourced a 240v camping fridge from Halfords as a backup, but suspect a replacement fridge is on the cards to avoid any repeats.
Cheers all ......
After 2 hrs there was still no noticeable cooling, but I hedged my bets, left it running overnight and it is now cold - I suspect a faulty 240v element may be the cause, likely due to a combination of the age of the unit and the warm temps yesterday. We have sourced a 240v camping fridge from Halfords as a backup, but suspect a replacement fridge is on the cards to avoid any repeats.
Cheers all ......
If the problem is solely the 240v element, then they are much less expensive to replace than buying a new fridge. I am sure you would find it quite easy to replace.
sgtangel said:
I changed my fridge element last year and fitted a temperature readout to the front panel, so that now a quick glance and we can see that everything is ok.
Oh ! and nothing is put into the fridge until the temperature is down to showing at least 2 deg.
And as the Prof as mentioned about fitting a fan on to the fridge to improve cooling in hot weather ... I have fitted one of these to the inside of the top fridge vent a couple of years ago brilliant piece of kit ....
........you would know if the refrigerant had leaked because there would be a pungent smell of Ammonia inch:
inch:
That's true Bill but do you think as any leakage would be external he may not smell it inside? However it looks like it's now working on gas so he may have to do a Sproket repair with a new element. Some people used to say turning the fridge upside down and back helped. Never did it myself!
You would definitely smell it Dusty and the OP has an awning on the fridge vent side.
The problem could just be the current high temperatures and loading the fridge with relatively warm food and drink.
The OP's caravan is slightly older than minehmy: and my caravan refridgerator struggles with plus 30deg C ambient temperatures especially with more drink to cool in thirsty weather.
The problem could just be the current high temperatures and loading the fridge with relatively warm food and drink.
The OP's caravan is slightly older than mine
hmy: and my caravan refridgerator struggles with plus 30deg C ambient temperatures especially with more drink to cool in thirsty weather.
The fact the fridge has cooled down using gas over night, proves the refrigerant system is at least partially functioning, which is goodish news. It also points to the excessively warm ambients we have had over the last few days maybe be a major contributory factor. A set of fans would be the cheapest and simplest solution to improve the performance.
However, we know the refrigerant is working but we cant tell if its working to its full specification. Over time two things will happen to absorption fridges, the first is the cocktail of refrigerants used in them can start to settle out as some components age more rapidly than others, and secondly some of the more searching constituents may find small weep rather than leak paths and be lost without the owner noticing. In either case the efficiency of the fridge will be impaired. Sadly its not realistically possible to regas these fridges, and when they start to fail in the manner described, its usually results with new fridge.
What ever happens I would go for the fans. But if the fridge still does not function effectively in the ambient temperatures you experience, then its a new fridge, but I'd fit the fans to the new fridge anyway as that will help efficiency.
However, we know the refrigerant is working but we cant tell if its working to its full specification. Over time two things will happen to absorption fridges, the first is the cocktail of refrigerants used in them can start to settle out as some components age more rapidly than others, and secondly some of the more searching constituents may find small weep rather than leak paths and be lost without the owner noticing. In either case the efficiency of the fridge will be impaired. Sadly its not realistically possible to regas these fridges, and when they start to fail in the manner described, its usually results with new fridge.
What ever happens I would go for the fans. But if the fridge still does not function effectively in the ambient temperatures you experience, then its a new fridge, but I'd fit the fans to the new fridge anyway as that will help efficiency.
Prof, a questiom, you say about not realistically regassing the fridges, Why ?
Because , they are soldered pipes etc, I can see that. And the cost of changing joints to "Screw on " regassing joints, against a new fridge,
I Would go for a new fridge. .
SG. HOPE your rest of the time goes ok.
Hutch
Because , they are soldered pipes etc, I can see that. And the cost of changing joints to "Screw on " regassing joints, against a new fridge,
I Would go for a new fridge. .
SG. HOPE your rest of the time goes ok.
Hutch
EH52ARH said:
A reasonable question.
There are several reasons that affect the feasibility or the cost of regas;
The first is the lack of proper unions. as you say the fridges are soldered or brazed shut and are not intended to be recharged. I have no idea how much a regassing outfit would charge to fit the correct unions.
The second is unlike a compressor driven refrigerator or air conditioning unit, the absorption process uses a cocktail of fluids which are not found in compressor drive units. So most regassing agencies will not have the correct mixture.
And the third is linked to the second point in so far that not too many years ago the gasses used in refrigerant systems were changed to help protect the environment when they do leak out. Considering the age of the fridge, it may well have used a cocktail which is no longer available. The actual pipework will have been matched to the characteristics of the older gasses, and the new gasses may simply not work as effectively in an old carcass.
There is a fourth point; if the original refrigerant has been lost it means the pipework has been compromised. This may have allowed contaminants to enter the system, or and repairs to the pipe work may also introduce contaminants or upset the fine operating balance of the system.
WE had an Electrolux fridge in our Eldiss which did not work when we bought the caravan new about 13 years ago. Electrolux suggested that they could in fact replace the works without changing the fridge itself although this did not happen as the dealer just swapped the fridge with one in a stock caravan. If the fridge is broken it might be worth checking if the works can be replaced as a cheaper alternative although I am not sure just what they would have replaced..
Just going back to the fridge fans that i have fitted and the temperature readout. Well when I opened the van up at dinner time and turned the 12v on the fridge temperature was showing 23.3C that's with the door being left wide open all week the temperature on the clock in the corner of the van was showing 28.7C with the fridge turned onto gas and the fans switched on to move air through the vents the temperature was down to 2C within two hours and then switched over to electric.the other thing is that the fridge vents are facing the glaring sun.
There's a tourer further up the site that has both fridge vents off no doubt they are having problems. .
There's a tourer further up the site that has both fridge vents off no doubt they are having problems. .
Damian
Moderator
Raywood said:
It is possible on some Dometic fridges to replace the whole cooling unit, but the replacement part costs around the £300 mark, plus the time to remove the old and fit the new, which takes around four hours all together.
Regassing is simply not possible on these fridges as they use a completely different coolant than a car does and the equipment required is not economically viable, along with the problems of disposal of any old fluid.
Seems fridge is now working but just to add, silent absorption fridges as fitted to caravans do not contain gas like domestic compressor fridges, they use a cocktail of fluids some of which turn to gas by heating them.
Until recently no one repaired the cooler unit, however there is now one person fully licensed by the home office and accredited to do this, that is Newark Independent Caravan Services.
Until recently no one repaired the cooler unit, however there is now one person fully licensed by the home office and accredited to do this, that is Newark Independent Caravan Services.
Thanks for all the comments - now home, and intend to remove the fridge from the van and have a look at it, with the hope of replacing the 240 element if everything looks ok.
The fridge ran on gas for the remainder of the holiday, but never achieved as cold a temp as it did from the 240v element, and the cupboard to the left of the fridge (as you look inside) was getting very hot (which ties in with the previous comments about one side of the system being hotter than the other) but was so hot that I wonder if it is indicative of the coolant mix no longer working efficiently. I will try the "upside down" trick while I have it out of the van.
Sproket - thanks for the links - very useful information
The fridge ran on gas for the remainder of the holiday, but never achieved as cold a temp as it did from the 240v element, and the cupboard to the left of the fridge (as you look inside) was getting very hot (which ties in with the previous comments about one side of the system being hotter than the other) but was so hot that I wonder if it is indicative of the coolant mix no longer working efficiently. I will try the "upside down" trick while I have it out of the van.
Sproket - thanks for the links - very useful information
Only attempt to install, maintain remove or repair any gas appliance unless you are fully competent at gas fitting and have access to all the required tools and test equipment. Don't forget that you and your family are put at risk if the job is not done properly.
Assuming you are competent and regards turning over, you are simply remixing fluids so over and over 3 or 4 times for a minute, no point in waiting or overnight like some people think.
What you want to hear on the last turn back upright is the fluids draining back for over 10seconds for the last drip to drop, needs to be quiet while your counting.
As for the element, you can check this with a multimeter set to ohms, no mains power connected, measure between pair of wires from element and assuming 125watt, you want a reading of close to 470 ohms, No reading and it's dead, low reading say 370ohms and it's overheating so still needs replacing.
What you want to hear on the last turn back upright is the fluids draining back for over 10seconds for the last drip to drop, needs to be quiet while your counting.
As for the element, you can check this with a multimeter set to ohms, no mains power connected, measure between pair of wires from element and assuming 125watt, you want a reading of close to 470 ohms, No reading and it's dead, low reading say 370ohms and it's overheating so still needs replacing.
Facebook
Twitter