Dometic 3 way fridge

Nicholstones · Guru

Dometic 3 way fridge

DeBe · Guru

Hi Nicolstones, Generaly if an Absorbtion/ 3way frige is not coolig properly in both compartments it may need tiping upside down for a while & then tip back right side up to get the liquids in the system back in there right places. They have a mixture of Amonia,Hydrogen gas & Water in a sealed system. Hope that helps Daryl

Nicholstones · Guru

Thanks for that, however the fridge is built into the van and so, apart from tearing all the the walls and panels out, we can't really turn it upside down. We have turned it to gas to see if that will make a difference. The fridge hasn't been moved at all, so still stands upright.

jimricho · Guru

A couple of things to try.....

check that the van is dead level, use a spirit level if necessary, if you haven't already done this

try running the fridge on gas at least overnight or longer. If it runs ok on gas but not on power this points the finger of suspicion at the 240v element.

if no joy after trying this you may have to do the turn upside down trick as suggested. Removing the fridge to do this would be a pain but I would be surprised if you needed to do anything destructive to remove it. You may be able to remove a front panel or two to gain access to mounting screws. You will also need to disconnect the gas line and the 12 volt wiring. The 240 volt wiring is probably wired to a 3 pin plug so you won't need to worry about this. Keep in mind that I'm not familiar with your van or the way the fridge is installed. Maybe you could try taking the rig for a drive over some terrain that will rock and roll the van a bit both fore and aft as well as sideways

Before doing anything as drastic as removing the fridge it may be better to call in the fridge repair man, if so make sure you've tried steps 1 and 2 first

-- Edited by jimricho on Monday 28th of December 2009 07:02:19 AM

Delta18 · Guru

Contrary to popular belief a van doesn't need to be "dead level" for the fridge to work efficiently. As a rule of thumb if you can walk around in the van without the sensation of walking downhill or teetering sideways then it is near enough. Having said that, the leveler the better for comfort.

As said above, a simple thing to try may be to take it (the van not the fridge :) ) for a drive around town for a half hour, it should shake things up on our WA roads.

It seems odd to me though that the main compartment is cold (is that between 0 - 5 deg?) but the freezer not working unless it is only working at 50% capacity or such.
Also as has been said, run it on gas for awhile, 2 hours should have stuff freezing if it is going to.
Cheers

Neil

jandas fun · Guru

Certainly not an expert on fridges but if its been o.k for a couple of weeks and is not fairly level then a drive will re settle the gases etc.
Check for heavy frost build up on the evaporator fins, if so, then defrost.

Johnw

dave06 · Guru

although it doesn't have to be dead level we find the closer to dead level it is the better it works, the mixture (for the lack of a better word) tends to pool at the bottom of the fridge when left idle for any length of time, it must recirculate through the freezer compartment and back to the heating system, this is driven by heat alone

first I would take it for a drive over a few rough roads, not too fast though you mainly want the "washing motion" side to side not destructive up and down, if this fails then remove the fridge, starting with the top panel, remove the control knobs or if it is buttons then the plate should simply "pull off" or there may be two screws

once that is removed take a look in the sides of the cavity, there will be two screws securing the fridge in to the cabinet

do the same with the panel at the base, inside the lower cabinet that the fridge is sitting on you will find the supply apparatus, wiring, 240 (should be plugged in to a power point) and 12 volt as well as gas supply, remove these remembering where all goes back, as for the wiring you may have to remove the fridge far enough forward to get to the rear panel

once the fridge is removed then invert it for half an hour or longer to "reinvigorate" the mixture, then try a test using the plug that should still be on the back of the fridge, if it still does not freeze the freezer section in 24 hours then start looking at the element

if anyone can see a step I have missed or have left out in this procedure please correct me, we are here to help a fellow traveler and all input is good, no destructive negatives please, constructive is the way to go!

milo · Senior Member

you could try turning the van upside down, would save pulling the fridge out

hammer · Senior Member

I had a bit of the same thing happen to me the freezer was ok but fridge went bung.
One thing to check is if you can see the rear of the fridge Look for any signs of a yellow powder,if this is found it will need a new back put on it about $1000.
Also you could give Caravan Refrigeration Services I have found them very helpful with problems we have had with gas fridges at work. There number is 03 9574 1900.
Hope this helps best of luck with it.

oldtrack123 · Veteran Member

Hi all

Dave's post is sound advise
A quick question can you detect any ammonia smell either in the fridge or @ the vents
If so ,bad news tou nee a new cooling unit
Usually the freezer section is the first stage & may still freeze even tho the fridge section may not cool adequatly.

Nicholstones · Guru

Thanks everybody for all the responses. The van is level and we defrosted only about a week ago. Maybe being off all day when we defrosted caused our issue. We have now turned it to gas and it appears to be working on gas. We will leave it there until our next travel day and hope that journey will shake up the gases sufficiently.

-- Edited by Nicholstones on Monday 28th of December 2009 12:52:35 PM

dave06 · Guru

if the fridge operates okay on gas then you have a element problem, now some fridges have one element that operates on both 240v (through a small inverter) and 12 volt, if it is fine on gas and not on 240v or 12v then have your element replaced!

you can do it yourself!!

Disco Duck · Guru

Milo stole my thunder!!

oldtrack123 · Veteran Member

dave06 wrote:

if the fridge operates okay on gas then you have a element problem, now some fridges have one element that operates on both 240v (through a small inverter) and 12 volt, if it is fine on gas and not on 240v or 12v then have your element replaced!

you can do it yourself!!

Hi Dave
As far as I am aware no 3way fridge uses the same element for both 12v & 240v

In fact it is not practical to even try to do so

If its got a240v element why would it need an inbuilt inverter.???
l

jimricho · Guru

I'm not familiar with the specifics of the single element/inverter combination Dave is referring to so (unlike some) I'm not in a position to challenge what he is saying. It maybe that the element is a 240volt unit and the inverter is to allow 12 volt operation. I can think of a couple of reasons for doing this....one would be some physical limitation (specific to the particular fridge) to having two elements mounted in the boiler (that's the part of the fridge where the elements are)....another would be that the inverter would, as a secondary effect, provide some voltage regulation to overcome the voltage drop in the 12v supply.

For the techies....(non techies just talk amongst yourselves for a minute or two wink

).. The inverter would not need to operate at 50 hz so that a much higher frequency can be used (as is done in switch-mode power supplies) thus improving the efficiency and reducing the size and weight (and possibly the cost) of the inverter.

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 07:05:52 AM

dave06 · Guru

I gotta be quick here we are stopped at a little coffee shop having a cuppa and a bight,

with the single element in a three way fridge it is typical in a lot (not all) fridges to have a "common" element, I.E. one in a heat chamber, this is operated through both 12volt and 240 volt through a system of diodes and transducers (techy talk for wires and round things and doo-dads with whizzbang whatchamacallits) none of which I know anything about

these fridges use 12v which is fed direct and when it is on 240 it is reduced to 12v, it is not an inverter in the common sense of the word but does much the same thing only in reverse (takes 240v and reduces it to 12v)

it utilises the one element to use both power sources, this I stress is not ALL 3 ways but it is very common,

I have also heard (never seen) an element that is capable of handling both 240v and 12v, this I have yet to see

sorry for any misunderstanding, without seeing the rear of your fridge I cant say which it would be, so I cant offer detailed advice on it!

rapidroy · Member

is the light gowing it the fridge if not the frige will not go or ar the batreys lowe good luck roy

jimricho · Guru

rapidroy wrote:

is the light gowing it the fridge if not the frige will not go or ar the batreys lowe good luck roy

Any chance of getting that translated into English?? wink

jimricho · Guru

Hi Dave, I get the picture now, the "wires and round things and doo-dads with whizzbang whatchamacallits" is in fact a doover-lackey thingy, get it right! wink

Hope the magical mystery tour, guided only by GPS co-ordinates is going well for you. As the GPS-OZ advertisement says: you'll know exactly where you're lost!

regards, Jim

dave06 · Guru

ah of course now you say the name of it I can recall it!

loving every minute of the tour! some great country over here, beats the hell out of brown and brown and more brown!

Disco Duck · Guru

That's a bit harsh Jimricho.......LOL

brickies · Guru

Jimricho RUDE . a new member trying to help and you cut the legs from under him . Rapidroy i get what you were saying if the light in the fridge is not working there maybe no power to the fridge good point

rapidroy · Member

thanks i wose tring to point out that the control is 12v on all 3 ways if the batary voltige is down it afets all the controls ROY

dave06 · Guru

brickies the wink in Jim's post gave it away! very hard to misread that, and Roy it was said in jest mate, dont take it to heart

welcome to you buddy, your input is highly valued!

oldtrack123 · Veteran Member

jimricho wrote:

I'm not familiar with the specifics of the single element/inverter combination Dave is referring to so (unlike some) I'm not in a position to challenge what he is saying. It maybe that the element is a 240volt unit and the inverter is to allow 12 volt operation. I can think of a couple of reasons for doing this....one would be some physical limitation (specific to the particular fridge) to having two elements mounted in the boiler (that's the part of the fridge where the elements are)....another would be that the inverter would, as a secondary effect, provide some voltage regulation to overcome the voltage drop in the 12v supply.

For the techies....(non techies just talk amongst yourselves for a minute or two ).. The inverter would not need to operate at 50 hz so that a much higher frequency can be used (as is done in switch-mode power supplies) thus improving the efficiency and reducing the size and weight (and possibly the cost) of the inverter.

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 07:05:52 AM

Hi Jim

It would be easier if Dave was to mention a brand then we all would know specifically what ones he is talking about, Also is he referring to van type fridge freezers Ie Dometic Elecrolux Chescold
I am almost certain none of the well known brands , use that arrangement.

However I am wondering if he is referring to after market modified fridges
As you are probably aware many early fridge were 2way, 240v & gas.

,Jayco, for one, used them a lot.
Especially in the wind up camper vans, but also in conventional vans
It is possible that these have been modified by the addition of an inverter to allow running on 12v, using the 240v element
Easiest way by simply swapping plug from mains to inverter.

Your point on boiler size is possible but highly unlikely in a van type fridge.
Very possible in some of the toy coolers [I would hardly call them fridges]
Re ,Inverter Yes but I doubt any fridge maker would add costs to his fridge to overcome inadequate wiring
Again this is being done,as an after market mod ,by many, often with the inverter in the tug with all the risks that entails.
By the way, you are one of the other few. smile

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 30th of December 2009 10:48:28 AM

Disco Duck · Guru

Yes Rapidroy..............as DaveO said........don't take it to heart. We know Jimricho well enough to know that there was no malice intendedand the little "wink" that he put in was to ensure that you took no offence either.

Push on mate.......we really ARE very friendly!!

dave06 · Guru

not here any more! have a good day!

-- Edited by dave06 on Wednesday 30th of December 2009 11:31:25 AM

rapidroy · Member

hi has your dometic 3 way got the switchs on the top or botom if the botom the light will only work if it hase a 12v supply i have found on mine that if the 12v is not on the fridee willnot regulate propply ROY

oldtrack123 · Veteran Member

dave06 wrote:

yep! what would I know I've only repaired about twenty of them! but I will leave it up to you! to solve the problem as it is obvious that once again your knowledge is insurmountable!

Hi Yep I really like people who make statements & then are not prepared to back them up with details or facts

You showed this in your reply to my very first question [ampfib thread]
Got your back up, when you said "Other legal ways" & I dared to ask for more info disbelief
I thought forums were for sharing knowledge, which, within the laws I have always done.
I do not doubt you do have a wide range of skills & knowledge
But you seem to have an inabity or wish to answer simple questions.
I do not understand that attitude

Do not be afraid that you may be out done, there are many subjects in which I do not have sufficient knowledge so I be believe I should NOT post. smile smile

dave06 · Guru

yep and you were proved wrong in that thread as well werent you, too much of a dickhead to admit it! even to yourself, sure sign of an ignorant fool!

as you are once again wrong in this one, but I am not going to waste my time on a fools fool

obviously this is the only way you get people to talk to you,

you are a lonely bored man whom everyone hates including your own family, I for one am not wasting any more time on you!