Thetford N112 fridge problem

[ChrisUK]

Our 2008 Elddis Odyssey has a Thetford N112 fridge which I think has a problem. In Scotland recently with ambient temps in the 20s it struggled to get below 10 deg in the fridge. The gas was burning virtually 24/24 and the flame sounded like a small Bunsen burner, the outlet air temp was extremely hot. I remove the vent grill and all the fridge pipe work was far to hot to touch. I contacted the dealer on the phone all he told me to do was to set it to the max setting which made little difference and they all run hot like that. The ambient temps then went below 20 and the fridge finally managed to get below 5 deg. No I have not got winter vents on and I did try removing the normal vents completely leaving 2 big holes. I have read of people fitting cooling fans to the heat exchanger for warmer climes, but not for Scotland!

Any other experiences out there with Thetford fridges before I go round to the dealers face to face. I have to see them anyway as the last night of the hol using gas, my CO detector started flashing a low level warning and woke us up and we could smell combustion fumes. I turned off the fridge and it went away. I the morning I put it back on and CO was detected again. The wind that night was quiet strong and from a different direction from normal.

 

[Guest]

Thetford fridges are well made and usually pretty reliable. Mine has worked excellently even in temperatures approaching 40 degrees C. You do not state that if electricity had been available if the fridge worked any better, which could narrow the problem a bit.

If the dealer is unhelpful I suggest e mail Thetford direct. They are usually very helpful and reply fairly quickly.

 

[Guest]

By the way from the last part of your message. If the fridge has been installed CORRECTLY then there should be no way exhaust fumes can enter the living area. The exhaust is right at the top of the vent so the easy way is out of the van. This is a fully EU approved method. Did you by chance have a window open at that point so fumes exiting the vent could possibly re-enter the van? You do mention the wind was blowing from a different direction.

Unfortunately, some UK manufacturers have a bit of a track record in not installing fridges correctly, especially with regard to case sealing, and I would suggest check this out.

 

[ChrisUK]

There were no windows open, however there are many vent built into the van as standard where fumes could blow back in.

Last year on electricity I was not getting my beer cold enough, buy I got them to check the fridge for this at the service, but as this was Jan, when they checked it they said it was OK, ambient was probably 5 deg.

I will be seeing my dealer, but was after general info to back me up. It does not seem correct that on gas (and electricity) that the outlet temperature is so high. Behind the vent, there is a fly screen which is slightly distorted by the heat.

 

[Guest]

I can only re-itterate that Thetford fridges will cool beer to a great taste and freeze ice without problem, so it suggests a fault somewhere with your unit. Try the dealer again, and if that fails contact Thetford direct. On electric the heat out of the vent is hot, but not excessively so. The exhaust pipe is only used when on gas and is obviously much hotter. It is probable that the whole fridge will need to be removed to check everything and you may be asked to pay for this upfront. If there is a problem that is subject to warranty then you should get this re-imbursed.

 

[Jennifer_374461363]

I would agree, does not sound right. Our Thetford fridge works very well.