Emergency fridge/freezer rescue

Pippah45
Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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It may be obvious to some people but it took me a day to dig into my memory and think of the trips I made with my mother some 60+ years ago to buy blocks of ice daily for a fridge in a holiday place in the South of France.  

I assumed that my fridge would work on gas in my 2018 Swift Conqueror when I booked a pitch with no EHU.  It didn't and it was pretty hot!  So I went for some Party Ice in Tesco.  One bag in the freezer compartment and one in the main fridge kept everything quite cool for three days.  

Hopefully I may know how to fix the problem if it happens again - but if I am running low on gas I will undoubtedly use the idea again and again.  

Comments

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited July 2019 #2

    Pippah,

    I have to ask if the "Party Ice" comes in an openable / resealable bag -- Asking purely for the  G & T of course  wink

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #3

    Good idea Pippa. (If you're near a supply of ice!) On a rally in hot weather  last year our fridge stopped working and we lost food. We hadn't pre-cooled the fridge down for long enough and had also put too much in. Hope yours works OK in future. smile smile

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited July 2019 #4

    ABM - I opened a top corner for the G&T ice!  

    The bag wasn't waterproof that I put in the fridge itself - took me ages to remember how to clip out the bottom box where it collected!  

    Funnily enough my fridge has been telling me the door is open fairly constantly - according to Dometec that is the only reason - or condensation has got into the bulb fitting - there was plenty of condensation while the ice was melting but guess what no warning bleeps!  

    I suppose one could take decent bags or plastic boxes for the journey!  

     

    Yes Brue - annoying isn't it.  I thought the ice cream was saved as it "looked" ok - but it didn't taste too bad in liquid form!  Frozen home made burgers survived a few days while defrosting and being eaten so I didn't actually lose anything.  Most supermarkets supply Party Ice it seems although a THS could pose a problem for MHs - another reason I like to keep my car!  

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2019 #5

    I can remember the daily visit of the "ice van" to camp sites back in the eighties. They'd sell you a chunk about a cubic foot.

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited July 2019 #6

    Really?  I don't remember ice vans at campsites - Europe?  The French daily trips would have been 50s I was quite young!  :)  

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited July 2019 #7

    As the fridge works on an EHU, though presently not on gas, is good news in part as it indicates the very expensive refrigeration system works and the issue is limited to the gas bit or its ignition system. 

    First check would be to see if any gas supply cock is turned "on" so it has gas, if that is okay then without experience in working on gas it needs qualified help but is likely to be something simple and cheaply rectified. Such as, a dirty burner, dirty jet or debris on the spark electrode or at worse failed spark generator.

  • Huck1953
    Huck1953 Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited July 2021 #8

    Not sure if I am on the right bit of this discussion thing but I need help.

    My campervan fridge has broken. Is there anyone out there who knows of where to get it repaired in or around Glasgow. I am pretty sure it does not run on gas, just the batteries or the hook-up. 

    I like the bags of ice tip, brilliant. May have to do that for a while!

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,664 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2021 #9

    What  brand and model is your fridge, some manufacturers have service engineers you can contact.   Otherwise, maybe a dealer that sells campervans or caravans could help.

    Most vans do have 3 way fridges.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,299 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2021 #10

    Don’t remember any blocks of ice here. Although when we were tenting the site would freeze your cold packs for a small fee. However, in France, in the 80’s, not only would they freeze your cold packs, you could buy blocks of ice. Our cold box had a large plastic container that hung at the top in which you could put it. As it melted you could float the small bottles of beer in it. That and damp tea towels draped over the top, kept everything cold even in the hottest weather.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited July 2021 #11

    I think you can still find sites that advertise the fact that ice is available, perhaps less so in this country.

    peedee

     
  • Cartledge
    Cartledge Forum Participant Posts: 267
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    edited July 2021 #12

    My goodness, you’d need a very large glass of G & T to accommodate that 😂😂 !