Fridge Problem

Francis
Francis Club Member Posts: 2,024 ✭✭✭
500 Likes 1000 Comments
edited October 2018 in Caravans #1

Just looking for some help. We were away last week and the fridge on our 2018 Lunar Cosmos (Quasar) has stopped working on electric. Some of our food had defrosted in the freezer compartment. All lights on fridge ect are on and fuses have been checked no issues. The fridge works fine on gas but won't work on the electric. Any Ideas??

 

Thanks

 

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #2

    240 volt heater element failed?

  • Francis
    Francis Club Member Posts: 2,024 ✭✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #3

    Could be as I say it works on gas no problems but not on electric. All lights on fridge display ect fine just won't cool down

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #4

    What model fridge is it, would the display show if a power problem ,it may just be a wire has come loose 

  • Francis
    Francis Club Member Posts: 2,024 ✭✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #5

    Its a Thetford Fridge not sure of the exact model but will check when I get home. The van is booked in for its first service in a few weeks so I have contacted the dealer and let them know so they will have a look at it. Just seeing if anyone else has ever had anything similar. We are going away for 2 nights next weekend but will either do without the fridge or maybe use it on the gas.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #6

     So just sleeping in the motor caravan? with meals out cool/wine will keep cool underneathlaughing

  • Mitsi Fendt
    Mitsi Fendt Forum Participant Posts: 484
    100 Comments
    edited October 2018 #7

    Had the same problem with mine about 5 years ago. Element changed. Worked fine since then.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #8

    2018 caravan.  Don't lose any sleep; straight back to dealer to fix under the guarantee.wink

  • Phishing
    Phishing Forum Participant Posts: 597
    500 Comments
    edited October 2018 #9

    Thetford fridges are very sensitive to voltage. If you end up on the end of a spur for your hookup the voltage drop to your van can cause them to not work on electric. Plug in at home and see if it works.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited October 2018 #10

    We had that problem at Crossways, but it resolved itself once everybody finished cooking dinner, so it would rarely stop the fridge working  on electricity altogether.

  • Francis
    Francis Club Member Posts: 2,024 ✭✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #11

    Thanks for all the replys. We have had it plugged in at home too but still no luck. The van is going in for its first service in 4 weeks so I have called and reported it to the dealer so it should get dealt with.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #12

    warranty only for 12 months on cookers/fridges etc, so make sure service is before the 12 months and not after as charges may be incurred.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #13

    At the risk of stating the obvious, check that the breaker hasn't tripped.  Are all other services, socket outlets etc. working OK? Probably the element though.

  • AJB
    AJB Forum Participant Posts: 120
    edited November 2018 #14

    We are having similar problems with a Thetford 3000 series on EHU.

    So far we've had the issue in Spain (only on one site....) and last month in Cornwall - with no-one else using the bollard!

    Our dealer is investigating but we think they will fail.

    What advice from others? Is the fridge 'fit for purpose'?  The manufacturer doesn't put any provisos on using it successfully!

    ps. the caravan is now 2 years and 8 months old and the refrigerator is still under warranty.

  • AJB
    AJB Forum Participant Posts: 120
    edited November 2018 #15

    btw - the problem we have is that warning lights start to flash on the fridge control panel - and on occasion they reset themselves...  but in general we have to changeover to gas for a while and try again the day after!

    To Lornalou… our caravan handbook AND fridge handbook show a 3 year warranty. 

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited November 2018 #16

    On a recent trip to France, our fridge stopped working on electric on the second of six sites we visited, however it would work on gas.

    We were a little concerned as although we had a full gas bottle when we left home, we were not sure if it would last the duration of our trip if the fridge needed to be on gas for the remainder.

    Not to have worried, the next four sites we had no problem and two trips since our return, the fridge is still working, so I assume it was a voltage issue on site.

    By the way the gas is still over 3/4 full after 8 weeks use, Calor Lite 6kg

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2018 #17

    yes your correct, just checked service book and covers fridge/cooker etc etc for 3yrs. sorry.

  • AJB
    AJB Forum Participant Posts: 120
    edited November 2018 #18

    Lornalou1 - no problem. Glad you found it in your documents as I would hate for you to have to pay any bill unnecessarily...we need all the help we can get cool.

    Bluemalaga - yes we only had the problem once in Spain - and no problems at all at the other 11 sites we used on our trip from March to June.  Similarly in the UK at 6 sites.  But it did happen in Cornwall in September.

    We now have the caravan back from the dealers - and as expected there was 'no fault found' !!  Our dealer has been really helpful, and says they will note that we've had the problem within warranty period, and if it happens again at some reasonable point in the future we should be OK.  But we now have little confidence in the refrigerator.  Why don't manufacturers take notice that we use caravans in Europe/in warmer climates/on less reliable power sources?  That is why I ask if anyone thinks like me that these things are not fit for purpose.... 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2018 #19

    could it be the ventilation of air flow. plenty of tips on youtube about fitting small 12v fans so more air is forced through the back of fridge/freezer.

  • Marsker
    Marsker Club Member Posts: 68 ✭✭
    edited November 2018 #20

    We had a similar problem on our then new Bailey Senator a few years back. Dealer checked it and arranged for Dometic engineer to visit us. He changed the mains element to no avail. Next trip out - using fridge on gas - we found a 13 amp plug under the cooker that wasn't quite "home". Fridge worked fine for the rest of the time we had that caravan. Never thought to check for anything like that as previous caravan had a hard wired fridge.
    We decided that a bit of bouncy road heading for Skye had caused the problem.

  • AJB
    AJB Forum Participant Posts: 120
    edited November 2018 #21

    Don't think its a temperature issue as the fridge works with winter covers fitted and also in warmer temps in France/Spain during May this year....

    Conversely we had problems in Cornwall in September when it was decidedly chilly!!

    Thanks also for the 'plug' tip - although again I think the fridge is 'hard-wired' and there is no mains socket for a plug to work loose from.

    As always though - I'll be checking tomorrow!  Thanks again.

  • AJB
    AJB Forum Participant Posts: 120
    edited November 2018 #22

    No sign of any 'plug & socket' arrangement so I must assume the refrigerator is hard wired to the fusebox/circuit breakers..... I've tried to repeat the problem at home over an extended period of a few days but no luck so far. I think the warranty will run out before I get another chance on-site.

    Any further suggestions please?  Is there any way of replicating low or fluctuating voltage? 

Categories