Fridge not working on car electrics???

[JenniferB]

Hi - am very new to this. I have a question.

I hitched up the van to the car with engine running.

Switched the fridge over to 13a from mains.

Nothing happening! The green light next to the 13a picture on the dial should be lit, right?

Although, when I opened the fridge door the fridge light was on???

I thought that perhaps the main control panel should be switched off in order for he car electrics to take over but when I tried this the fridge light went off.

I am confused!

 

[xtrailman]

If you have a 12volt switch position on your fridge then you need to select it.

 

[Woody3]

Note that the fridge light works from the caravan 12V internal supply so is no indication of a 12V supply for cooling from the car or of mains if running from such.

The fridge light will go off if the caravan 12V supply is switched off irrespective of how the fridge is being cooled.

 

[Dave_374330759]

The green light on the van is lit from the 240v side. Some fridges had a red light in the 12v switch. You may need to run the engine at a fast idle (1500rpm or so), just having it tick over may not be enough to switch the relay. It's difficult to check if the fridge is cooling when on the 12v supply, you really need to make sure that the 12v supply is OK as sometimes the earth pin (centre) of the Grey socket can get a squeezed and you won't get a good earth - the fridge takes about 10 amps and this pin often gets very hot and can melt the plug/socket.