Thetford fridge N175

[Feebs73]

Firstly I would like to say Hi I am a new member looking for some experienced advise.

I have a thetford N175 fridge over the years I have replaced the circuit board, 12v element and the 240v element. But I have never been able to switch to the battery without error 10 code appearing, I have always put it down to the tow bar electrics, I have just bought a different car and had a new tow bar fitted with all relays and other bits included.
This morning I have tried the new tow bar with engine running, all lights are fine but the battery dial drops to 0v no inside lights work and I have error code 10 on display ( meaning to voltage from car?.
Any ideas, Pleasssse ??
Thanks
Feebs 73

 

[Hutch]

Welcome Feebs, I had similar when I had a new Santa Fe, with the Dealer fitting the towbar and electrics, the Separate earth return ,for fridge and ATC. was not connected , so the ATC and fridge would not work, luckily I can do it myself. . Maybe thats the problem.

 

[Damian]

With the van connected to the car and engine running the habitation relay will cut power to the interior lights, this is normal and says that the habitation relay is working as it should.
As the habitation relay has done its job, providing all the wiring is in place from the car it should allow for the battery to be charged and the fridge to run on the output from the car alternator, but the car must be on fast idle to produce enough power to open the fridge circuit.

However, what car do you now have and what did you ask whoever fitted the towbar and wiring to do?
Did you use a car specific wiring loom as supplied by the car maker and did you insist on the electrics being Fully Wired to include the fridge and battery charging?

What your Error Code 10 is telling you is that no power is being delivered from the car, which suggests that the necessary wiring is not fitted.

 

[Gafferbill]

.......if 12 volt power in the caravan is automatically switched off when you start the car then this means that the correct wiring has been fitted.
This circuit uses a supply from the tow vehicle in order to operate the refrigerator and is also used to activate the habitation relay which you describe as working.
Have you made sure that you have selected the 12 volt power source at the control panel and that any master switch is turned on.
Check handbook for switch positions when towing.

 

[Feebs73]

Hi EH52ARH & Damian Moderator
Thank you for reading my post, I also have a Santa fe, perhaps this is the problem that the tow bar electrics is not set up properly, when I asked him to fit the electrics I just asked for a 13 pin socket for towing a caravan, and when he turned up I just said “ this will give me a permanent live for my fridge” the answer was yes, I don’t have any problems with the man that fitted the tow bar, very professional and had lots of positive feedback.
I will give him a call to ask him some questions. thanks

 

[Feebs73]

Thanks Gafferbill
Yes I have the tried the master switch both on and off and selected the battery sign on the fridge, but no luck.

Thanks feebs

 

[Damian]

Quote " when he turned up I just said “ this will give me a permanent live for my fridge” the answer was yes,"

That is not how the fridge supply is wired, it should be a switched supply which only comes in when the car engine is running.

 

[Feebs73]

Ok so this is my situation now, so I have had the tow bar man around to look at the electrics, he had a special box which had lights and switches, he showed me the fridge feed ( no 10 ) the light came on, showing there is voltage there.
I can here the some clicking in the caravan, when selected to battery one is behind the fridge the other sounds like it is behind the fuse board?
Any ideas
Thanks