We have a 150lt Dometic fridge in our 2008 van. Last Feb the element had to be relaced, almost to the day this year the element needed replacing again. Is this something anyone else has experienced. Yes were were on the road for 12 months but thought a new element would last longer than 12 months.
Any input would be appreciated
Cheers
Glenda
jimricho said
01:56 PM Mar 18, 2012
Which element? The 12v or the 240v?
oldtrack123 said
06:07 PM Mar 18, 2012
Hi
The 240v element in the newer Dometics are not fit for purpose
Any element that consistantly fails after just 12m use is being used beyond the safe temperature rating
This is happening with an abnormally large number
Dometic or their repair agents will claim this is due to power surges & suggest fitting a small power surge protector
This will give absolutely NO protection against the normal minor voltage surges that could overheat an element
I would suggest that ALL having such problems, demand an under warranty replacement ,based on the element not being fit for purpose
One should expect at least several years of full time use
Peter
golivers travels said
06:10 PM Mar 18, 2012
jimricho wrote:
Which element? The 12v or the 240v?
240v
golivers travels said
06:11 PM Mar 18, 2012
Thanks Peter, will follow up with the person who replaced the element.
Glenda
sheeds said
09:36 PM Mar 19, 2012
oldtrack123: Excellent input. There's too much "not fit for purpose". One day there must be a class action to demand consumer rights. A friend took a dometic 2 door fridge to the repairer to check. Only the LHS of the fins was going cold/freezing up. Repairer had never seen the problem before and couldn't fix it!! A common concern apparently with this model installed 2007,worse still only an ST class,which wasn't found out until later. Damn! Make sure all your fridges are "T" class as they must be if capable of operating on 240V.
Nicholstones said
12:15 AM Mar 21, 2012
We have replaced the element twice in the Dometic fridge in our van in less than 4 years. The first replacement was within the 2 year warranty period so foc. The second time the repairer said that the lower vent in the van wall was positioned incorrectly, the top air space was too small and that this air space was squared off when it should be rounded to assist the hot air to vent to outside. According to him all 3 issues are very common. No way to get any comeback to the van manufacturers from us as they went bust about 12 months after we got our van delivered.
golivers travels said
12:44 AM Mar 21, 2012
We will be seeing Jayco Ballarat tomorrow, van is in for a service. Will keep you informed.
Very annoying for you Nicholstones.
Glenda
BobnBev said
04:07 PM Mar 23, 2012
Hi All, Seems a weak spot in them ,I change quite a few 240 heating elements in that type of fridge. and they are not cheap... Bob....
jimricho said
12:30 AM Mar 24, 2012
I wonder if these were made for 220 volts, a common standard in some countries????
DeBe said
06:19 AM Mar 24, 2012
Probably not helped by a lot of places having 250V mains voltage like here.
oldtrack123 said
03:43 PM Mar 25, 2012
Hi
The Problem does no doubt lie with them being designed as 220v elements
220v is now considered the accepted world wide voltage under international standards but a plus / minus tolerance% still applies,
250v is @ the upper limit of that tolerence
But that still means they are running very close to their max operating temp even on 220v
They simply are not suitable for the established voltages in Aus
"Not fit for purpose "for Aus conditions of supply
Will they they produce a special element for countries such as AUs who still have the higher voltage systems ??
I doubt they will
They will supply a replacment FOC for a period & then it will not be their problem
AS long as individuals are happy to accept regular burn outs , Dometic will simply continue along that path
Note ,the often suggested use of a surge protector is not a solution
These only assist with high voltage short term SPIKES
The are not voltage regulators that will remove minor long term over voltages & I am surprised that so many "electrician?" Dometic service persons even suggest such use
There is a low cost way to reduce the voltage to the element with only minor loss of energy efficiency, but as far as I am aware no suitable product is available on the market
The arrangement would have to be hand made
But I am not prepared to post this on an open forum
It is a shame because overall I consider Dometic fridges to be very good products
Peter,
Dellalan said
07:55 PM Mar 25, 2012
Does the change of 240v element have to be done by an electrician?
While I was staying in Geelong I heard a loud crack above my van, which I think was a nearby lightning strike. The next day I noticed that my fridge, which had been working fine on 240, wasn't working any more. May have been a coincidence.
I changed it to gas and it worked fine. While travelling, it is holding the temperature from the car power.
I have looked up the model and found an element for it online. Is this something I could do myself and if so where can I find instructions? I have checked the manual but doesn't include Element replacement.
If not, can anyone recommend a repairer in the Perth area? Hopefully mobile.
Regards Alan
golivers travels said
01:53 AM Mar 27, 2012
Picked our van up today and asked about element warrenty......you guessed it...no warrenty. Recommended a surge protector which we already have.
Cheers
Glenda
jimricho said
03:08 PM Mar 27, 2012
golivers travels wrote:
Picked our van up today and asked about element warrenty......you guessed it...no warrenty. Recommended a surge protector which we already have. Cheers Glenda
Maybe worth taking up the issue with Dometic?? I can't see how a surge protector would help as I doubt that these elements would be sensitive to the sorts of surges that a protector would divert, unlike sensitive electronic devices.
golivers travels said
05:05 PM Mar 27, 2012
Good idea Jimricho. Will give them a call.
Glenda
oldtrack123 said
07:16 PM Mar 27, 2012
golivers travels wrote:
Picked our van up today and asked about element warrenty......you guessed it...no warrenty. Recommended a surge protector which we already have. Cheers Glenda
Hi
Just the reply everyone seems to get to put them OFF
The standard plug in surge protector will do ABSOLUTELY to protect the element
It is not designed as a voltage regulator/stabilser
Time those "electricians ?" stopped putting out that line on behalf of Dometic
Give Dometic a hammering regarding "UNFIT FOR PURPOSE"
The elements are not suitable for most Aus mains supply voltages,which is not 220v
It is not short term high surge voltage that is the problem
Peter
oldtrack123 said
07:56 PM Mar 27, 2012
Hi All
This problem has been going on for too long
Dometic seem to hope it wiol just go away
It will not go away untill they make elements to suit Aus supply voltages which is not 220v
I have just emailed Dometic a list of technical questions on behalf of ALL unhappy users
If I get a reply I will keep all informed
Peter
golivers travels said
10:07 PM Mar 27, 2012
Thanks Peter. I noticed a Dometic section on another forum so have asked them as well.
Cheers
GlendA
golivers travels said
10:15 PM Mar 27, 2012
Apparrently Dometic have a 3 month warrenty if elements are purchased through Caravans+.
Glenda
oldtrack123 said
05:04 AM Mar 28, 2012
Hi Glenda & Gary
A copy of an email Ihave sent Dometic
Will post reaction if ANY
Quote
Hi I have stood up for Dometic 3ways for many years, pointing out the many advantages when correctly wired & installed Spending a great time ironing out people's problems with under voltage & poor baffling etc But the high failure rate of 240v elements leads me to beleive I should no longer recommend Dometic 3ways Surely you must agree that the current failure rate is not normal? with many users being lucky if they get even 12months use ?? I do not understand why you would suggest [as all your service persons do] that the problem is due to voltage surges Then suggest the purchase of a cheap surge protector as being the answer Such device offer protection for short term voltage spikes well over the safe operating voltage of your elements They offer no protection for voltages within the range of Aus domestic supplies which can be up to 254V & still be within the allowed range It is very obvious the the failing elements simply cannot tolerate those voltage without overheating & early failure THEY ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE in Aus
There is no other conclusion Any qualified electrical engineer or knowledgable electrician would understand the above
Sadly until this is accepted & you rectify the situation I believe I should NOW advise against buying Dometic 3ways I am on many forums within the caravanning ,.motor home, camping ,groups , that message will be wide spread I await you reply with interest Regard
golivers travels said
06:00 AM Mar 28, 2012
Thanks Peter for your follow up with this issue. Will be interested in the response. Wondering if there are any other fridge dealers that could supply caravans with 3 way fridges that offer a better warrenty, but obviously
Domeric have the market. We have friends that had a dometic fridge in a new van that died 2 weeks out of the 12 month warrenty and could not have it replaced. Since have installed a waeko fridge, no problems 5 yrs later.
Glenda
Hi
The 240v element in the newer Dometics are not fit for purpose
Any element that consistantly fails after just 12m use is being used beyond the safe temperature rating
This is happening with an abnormally large number
Dometic or their repair agents will claim this is due to power surges & suggest fitting a small power surge protector
This will give absolutely NO protection against the normal minor voltage surges that could overheat an element
I would suggest that ALL having such problems, demand an under warranty replacement ,based on the element not being fit for purpose
One should expect at least several years of full time use
Peter
Bob....
Probably not helped by a lot of places having 250V mains voltage like here.
Hi
The Problem does no doubt lie with them being designed as 220v elements
220v is now considered the accepted world wide voltage under international standards but a plus / minus tolerance% still applies,
250v is @ the upper limit of that tolerence
But that still means they are running very close to their max operating temp even on 220v
They simply are not suitable for the established voltages in Aus
"Not fit for purpose "for Aus conditions of supply
Will they they produce a special element for countries such as AUs who still have the higher voltage systems ??
I doubt they will
They will supply a replacment FOC for a period & then it will not be their problem
AS long as individuals are happy to accept regular burn outs , Dometic will simply continue along that path
Note ,the often suggested use of a surge protector is not a solution
These only assist with high voltage short term SPIKES
The are not voltage regulators that will remove minor long term over voltages & I am surprised that so many "electrician?" Dometic service persons even suggest such use
There is a low cost way to reduce the voltage to the element with only minor loss of energy efficiency, but as far as I am aware no suitable product is available on the market
The arrangement would have to be hand made
But I am not prepared to post this on an open forum
It is a shame because overall I consider Dometic fridges to be very good products
Peter,
While I was staying in Geelong I heard a loud crack above my van, which I think was a nearby lightning strike. The next day I noticed that my fridge, which had been working fine on 240, wasn't working any more. May have been a coincidence.
I changed it to gas and it worked fine. While travelling, it is holding the temperature from the car power.
I have looked up the model and found an element for it online. Is this something I could do myself and if so where can I find instructions? I have checked the manual but doesn't include Element replacement.
If not, can anyone recommend a repairer in the Perth area? Hopefully mobile.
Regards Alan
Maybe worth taking up the issue with Dometic?? I can't see how a surge protector would help as I doubt that these elements would be sensitive to the sorts of surges that a protector would divert, unlike sensitive electronic devices.
Hi
Just the reply everyone seems to get to put them OFF
The standard plug in surge protector will do ABSOLUTELY to protect the element
It is not designed as a voltage regulator/stabilser
Time those "electricians ?" stopped putting out that line on behalf of Dometic
Give Dometic a hammering regarding "UNFIT FOR PURPOSE"
The elements are not suitable for most Aus mains supply voltages,which is not 220v
It is not short term high surge voltage that is the problem
Peter
Hi All
This problem has been going on for too long
Dometic seem to hope it wiol just go away
It will not go away untill they make elements to suit Aus supply voltages which is not 220v
I have just emailed Dometic a list of technical questions on behalf of ALL unhappy users
If I get a reply I will keep all informed
Peter
Hi Glenda & Gary
A copy of an email Ihave sent Dometic
Will post reaction if ANY
Quote
Hi
I have stood up for Dometic 3ways for many years, pointing out the many advantages when correctly wired & installed
Spending a great time ironing out people's problems with under voltage & poor baffling etc
But the high failure rate of 240v elements leads me to beleive I should no longer recommend Dometic 3ways
Surely you must agree that the current failure rate is not normal?
with many users being lucky if they get even 12months use ??
I do not understand why you would suggest [as all your service persons do] that the problem is due to voltage surges
Then suggest the purchase of a cheap surge protector as being the answer
Such device offer protection for short term voltage spikes well over the safe operating voltage of your elements
They offer no protection for voltages within the range of Aus domestic supplies which can be up to 254V & still be within the allowed range
It is very obvious the the failing elements simply cannot tolerate those voltage without overheating & early failure
THEY ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE in Aus
There is no other conclusion
Any qualified electrical engineer or knowledgable electrician would understand the above
Sadly until this is accepted & you rectify the situation I believe I should NOW advise against buying Dometic 3ways
I am on many forums within the caravanning ,.motor home, camping ,groups , that message will be wide spread
I await you reply with interest
Regard
Waeco is owned by Dometic http://www.waeco.com.au/aboutus.asp