Dometic 3 way fridge

alwon · Member

Dometic 3 way fridge

elliemike · Guru

12 volt on these 3 way fridges is realistically only designed for holding the fridge temperature, when you are mobile (on the road) It is not advisable to use the gas when mobile.

Fitting a device like a "Fridge Switch" ( movement activated) into the 12 v circuit cuts off the power when the vehicle stops moving after a minute or two. Resuming when the vehicle moves off again.

Regards

Mike

oldtrack123 · Guru

alwon wrote:
Have a Dometic 3 way fridge in my Matilda M/H which works ok in gas or 240v but does not appear to work on 12v. The circuit for the fridge also contains something called a battery saver (orange light) not sure if this is having an effect on the fridge. There is a lot of comment about 12v using a lot of battery power, but even when left on overnight ( Spirit Of tas) there is no significant loss of battery power ?? Am I missing something or do I have a problem.

Hi

The battery saver is most likely a low voltage cut out to protect the battery from over discharge

But more details of the Fridgep[MODEL number] & the battery saver would be more likely to get you relevent info, rather than just wild guessing !!!

Can you feel any heat coming from the back of the fridge when on 12V?

The battery saver MAY just be a VSR or an ignition controlled relay to prevent the fridge discharging the batterries when the engine is not running

That would account for little discharge from the batttery [SOC] overnight biggrin

So as above, MORE details please

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 25th of March 2015 11:19:26 PM

PeterD · Guru

alwon wrote:
but even when left on overnight ( Spirit Of tas) there is no significant loss of battery power ?? Am I missing something or do I have a problem.

I would say no problem. Without that battery saver you would not been able to start your motor to drive off the ferry. Absorption fridges on 12 V batteries discharge the batteries much faster than newcomers realise (also large inverters are a similar class of item.)

pricey43 · Guru

We are having a similar problem. The fridge has stopped tripping through to the 12 volt when gas or 240v is not available.

jonathan · Veteran Member

pricey43 wrote:
We are having a similar problem. The fridge has stopped tripping through to the 12 volt when gas or 240v is not available.

Just rectified the same problem ..

Problem was identified as a blown fuse on a 12v line to the fridge ..

Mine had a dedicated line for the fridge which failed to provide a 12v source to allow the switching to happen ..

I Would suggest you check under your bonnet for a possible blown fuse .. won't hurt to look and costs nothing !

cheers !

oldtrack123 · Guru

pricey43 wrote:
We are having a similar problem. The fridge has stopped tripping through to the 12 volt when gas or 240v is not available.

HI

It seems that you have an AES model fridge

Without knowing how it is wired , it is hard to say what the problem may be

But if it since it has been ok , it is most likely a problem in the 12V main supply from the vehicle[ bad connection , blown fuse,OR the voltage sensing system

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 4th of May 2015 08:00:29 PM

pricey43 · Guru

Jonathan and Peter, thanks for your replies. Hubby spent all afternoon tracing wires with the multimeter in tow. He eventually found a section of wiring in the vehicle which had deteriorated and was also very thin. Replaced the iffy section with thicker wire and better connections and 'bingo' all good. So you guys were pretty close. Glad it is fixed as heading off for the West next week. Cheers and thanks.