Hi can anyone help? for some reason our 3way fridge in the van has stopped working completely stopped working won't turn on in any field. Hubby has checked the fuses (they are okay) also checked that supply was getting to the fridge ( it is ) the only thing we can think of is the control panel needing replacing???. But at a cost of $400+ without the cost of the electrician we just are confused about the best way to go. We have thought about buying a 24volt to run under solar. Any advise please
-- Edited by madcart on Wednesday 7th of August 2019 06:11:49 PM
Olive Oil said
07:33 PM Aug 7, 2019
Use the SEARCH facility on this forum.
Type in DOMETIC FRIDGE & you'll see a plethora of problems, including ours.
Lots of well intended advise but unfortunately of negligible help.
We've spent more than the cost of a new unit getting ours fixed on four occasions.
erad said
08:23 PM Aug 7, 2019
Turn the fridge to 240V or gas. Check the outside vent and see if you can feel any heat coming out the top vent. If you can, the heater(s) is working, and the fridge is not cooling, you have lost the refrigerant gas. You can get them regassed, but the chances of it working properly after that are slim. Sadly, a new fridge is a possibility and they are not cheap.
elliemike said
08:37 PM Aug 7, 2019
erad wrote:
Turn the fridge to 240V or gas. Check the outside vent and see if you can feel any heat coming out the top vent. If you can, the heater(s) is working, and the fridge is not cooling, you have lost the refrigerant gas. You can get them regassed, but the chances of it working properly after that are slim. Sadly, a new fridge is a possibility and they are not cheap.
So it is nor working on Gas, 12v, or 240volts
Have you smelt a strong smell like Ammonia around your fridge. If so the pipework Condenser / Matrix has broken/cracked and the liquid cooling medium leaked out.
If this has happened buy a new fridge.
You cannot re gas a three way fridge. It is a Liquid that does the cooling not a gas. Compressor Fridges use gas. Absorption (Three Way fridges) use Liquid.
Baz421 said
08:38 PM Aug 7, 2019
So are you saying the gas won't light at all or with 240v power the evaporator inside the fridge isn't getting cold???
A few more hints might help. ie what model
Eaglemax said
01:41 PM Aug 8, 2019
While we are waiting for response to the OP, I have owned and recently sold (with the van) a Waeco CF18 small chest fridge. It had a hard life, was also taken out and carried on the luggage rack of a VW trike etc. Never stopped working. Brilliant reliability. Hence just installed a CD30 drawer fridge by Waeco/Dometic - it has the same motor. Quiet under bed, good working unit. But it is only 12 volts Tony
-- Edited by Eaglemax on Thursday 8th of August 2019 01:41:41 PM
madcart said
02:13 PM Aug 8, 2019
Can't see anything on control panel have plugged into 24volt still no joy. Has anyone put in a 24volt fridge and if so how did it go. Thank you everyone who has answered so far. Cheers Chris
bobsa said
06:47 PM Aug 8, 2019
You have not said what model. But if is one of the electronic ones that auto selects you can try disconnecting the battery and 240 volts the reconnecting the battery and see if it will go into gas mode
You can regas 3 way fridges . There was a bloke in Adelaide that did it .He was going to teach me a long time ago . Must be someone who can still do it .
They run on amonia and i think it was water mix as the boiler heats the amonia is boiled off and flow around to fo the cooling and then condensors and joining back with the water to go again. Long time ago from trade school
Bob
Olive Oil said
07:31 PM Aug 8, 2019
In addition to my previous post our 90 litre 3 way Dometic fridge has broken down on gas twice & 240v twice. Never any problem using 12v while on the move.
At one stage we were buying ice, filling ziplock bags & laying them on the shelves, basically using it as an Esky.
The next time it breaks down ( & it will ), we'll be chucking it down the tip.
elliemike said
07:35 PM Aug 8, 2019
madcart wrote:
Can't see anything on control panel have plugged into 24volt still no joy. Has anyone put in a 24volt fridge and if so how did it go. Thank you everyone who has answered so far. Cheers Chris
You say 24 Volt do you mean 240 volt.
A 12v/240v fridge is quite common I have one and added the extra Battery Power to drive it they are very good. Also a good Solar system to keep the batteries charged.
I used to run 3 way fridges but when the last one was due for renewal I had decided to fit a 12v/240 v Dometic fridge. It's very good.
I have been through the ruptured Condenser routine while up in the Northwest a few years ago. Fitting a whole new condenser system on the back is just about as costly as a new fridge.
WAECO CoolMatic CRX 50 Fridge/Freezer 12/240v
Caravan Fridge
Baz421 said
08:26 PM Aug 8, 2019
Eaglemax wrote:
While we are waiting for response to the OP, I have owned and recently sold (with the van) a Waeco CF18 small chest fridge. It had a hard life, was also taken out and carried on the luggage rack of a VW trike etc. Never stopped working. Brilliant reliability. Hence just installed a CD30 drawer fridge by Waeco/Dometic - it has the same motor. Quiet under bed, good working unit. But it is only 12 volts Tony
-- Edited by Eaglemax on Thursday 8th of August 2019 01:41:41 PM
Yep my CF18 was brilliant too
Aus-Kiwi said
09:49 PM Aug 8, 2019
If your using fridge often . I would upgrade solar and fit compressor 12v fridge . If the 3 way is not repairable ?
oldtrack123 said
12:25 PM Aug 10, 2019
madcart wrote:
Hi can anyone help? for some reason our 3way fridge in the van has stopped working completely stopped working won't turn on in any field. Hubby has checked the fuses (they are okay) also checked that supply was getting to the fridge ( it is ) the only thing we can think of is the control panel needing replacing???. But at a cost of $400+ without the cost of the electrician we just are confused about the best way to go. We have thought about buying a 24volt to run under solar. Any advise please
-- Edited by madcart on Wednesday 7th of August 2019 06:11:49 PM
Fridge brand & model number required if you want worthwhile replies !!
Olive Oil said
07:28 PM Aug 11, 2019
oldtrack123 wrote:
madcart wrote:
Hi can anyone help? for some reason our 3way fridge in the van has stopped working completely stopped working won't turn on in any field. Hubby has checked the fuses (they are okay) also checked that supply was getting to the fridge ( it is ) the only thing we can think of is the control panel needing replacing???. But at a cost of $400+ without the cost of the electrician we just are confused about the best way to go. We have thought about buying a 24volt to run under solar. Any advise please
-- Edited by madcart on Wednesday 7th of August 2019 06:11:49 PM
Fridge brand & model number required if you want worthwhile replies !!
The title of this thread says DOMETIC & its a 3way fridge.
madcart said
05:10 PM Aug 12, 2019
Thank you all for your suggestions but we have had to get it fixed here in Carnarvon
I can't recommend Northwest RefrigerationServices here. When we rang them on Friday they came straight out and as hubby thought it was the control panel and as that was beyond his expertise he gave them the go ahead. They had to get the control panel shipped up from Perth which arrived on Saturday and they were here first thing Monday. They had to replace both control panels ( we did't know there was a second one). In the meantime hubby had been on the net to see how much the control panel cost $400 (for 1) so we were dreading the bill as this trip has already cost us more than $600 more than we had budgeted for.New 300 watt Solar Panel had flown off the roof in bad winds and truck passing. We were pleasantly surprised when we got the bill we were charged not much more for the unit and the labour was cheaper than in big cities.
Once again a big thank you at all
Cheers Chris
Cupie said
04:48 PM Aug 14, 2019
madcart wrote:
Thank you all for your suggestions but we have had to get it fixed here in Carnarvon
I can't recommend Northwest RefrigerationServices here. When we rang them on Friday they came straight out and as hubby thought it was the control panel and as that was beyond his expertise he gave them the go ahead. They had to get the control panel shipped up from Perth which arrived on Saturday and they were here first thing Monday. They had to replace both control panels ( we did't know there was a second one). In the meantime hubby had been on the net to see how much the control panel cost $400 (for 1) so we were dreading the bill as this trip has already cost us more than $600 more than we had budgeted for.New 300 watt Solar Panel had flown off the roof in bad winds and truck passing. We were pleasantly surprised when we got the bill we were charged not much more for the unit and the labour was cheaper than in big cities.
Once again a big thank you at all
Cheers Chris
Do you mean "I can't recommend Northwest Refrigeration Services ENOUGH" ?
T1 Terry said
04:09 PM Aug 15, 2019
Great to hear the problem was sorted. The best replacement for any failed fridge these days is a household inverter style fridge run on a dedicated Victron 375kva inverter. A fraction of the cost of either a 12v/24v compressor fridge or another 3 way fridge, works much better, auto defrost and uses less battery power than any of the supposed "caravan fridges". the money you save will pay for the solar to power the new fridge with some solar to spare, add a quality lithium battery and you will still have change rather than a 3 way and never need to buy LPG to run the fridge again ... cooking and water heating doesn't use much gas, it's the fridge that eats it.
Replaced a lot of RV fridges with inverter house type fridges, never had anyone say they thought they had done the wrong thing, all smiles and all wonder why that wasn't done in the first place
T1 Terry
oldtrack123 said
05:37 PM Aug 15, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
oldtrack123 wrote:
madcart wrote:
Hi can anyone help? for some reason our 3way fridge in the van has stopped working completely stopped working won't turn on in any field. Hubby has checked the fuses (they are okay) also checked that supply was getting to the fridge ( it is ) the only thing we can think of is the control panel needing replacing???. But at a cost of $400+ without the cost of the electrician we just are confused about the best way to go. We have thought about buying a 24volt to run under solar. Any advise please
-- Edited by madcart on Wednesday 7th of August 2019 06:11:49 PM
Fridge brand & model number required if you want worthwhile replies !!
The title of this thread says DOMETIC & its a 3way fridge.
And Exactly what does that tell us????
Do you have any idea of how many Dometic models are available???
Mamil said
10:54 PM Aug 15, 2019
T1 Terry wrote:
Great to hear the problem was sorted. The best replacement for any failed fridge these days is a household inverter style fridge run on a dedicated Victron 375kva inverter. A fraction of the cost of either a 12v/24v compressor fridge or another 3 way fridge, works much better, auto defrost and uses less battery power than any of the supposed "caravan fridges". the money you save will pay for the solar to power the new fridge with some solar to spare, add a quality lithium battery and you will still have change rather than a 3 way and never need to buy LPG to run the fridge again ... cooking and water heating doesn't use much gas, it's the fridge that eats it. Replaced a lot of RV fridges with inverter house type fridges, never had anyone say they thought they had done the wrong thing, all smiles and all wonder why that wasn't done in the first place
T1 Terry
Terry, I'm interested in this but have a few questions. Do you have any particular household models to recommend? And how do you mount them securely in an RV? Lastly, household fridges have a lot of free space around them to dissipate the heat, but in caravans the fridges are much more enclosed, so how do you effectively remove the heat from the rear of the cabinet? Thanks.
T1 Terry said
01:59 PM Aug 16, 2019
The heat is dissipated through the side walls, the newer low voltage compressor fridges are the same. Had one in here last week that the owner had followed the advice to add insulation to the walls to fill in the gap between the fridge and the enclosure walls ... needless to say the fridge didn't work very well and was extremely power hungry. Once the polystyrene was removed the fridge frozen the milk over night, that much difference.
O household fridge (modern inverter type) only requires enough room up the sides to let the air in at the bottom and somewhere for it to escape at the top, even if it is back into the inside of the RV. In the case where we have swapped out 3 way fridge, we seal up the air vents outside to keep the dust out, but if the top vent is higher than the fridge or even better one of those roof mounted types, we leave that open.
To secure the fridge, generally 2 screws through the rear of the base plate and into the floor, to stop the base moving forward, glue a piece of aluminium angle or square across the top of the fridge, rivnuts in this piece and a second piece to go the full width of the cabinet area. A piece of aluminium angle attached to the sides of the cabinet enclosure with rivnuts in them, then the cross piece bolted to those as well.
This way the fridge can not come up off the floor or tilt forward at the top, yet 4 x 6mm bolts and 2 screws and the fridge just rolls forward on its front mounted roller feet. If there is no access to the bottom or top of the fridge through the original vents, then fit all the screws and bolts from the front, might need to be creating with a full width anchor method similar to the top mount if there is no access to the bottom fridge plate from the front. it is just to stop the lower section of the fridge sliding forward or back or side to side.
T1 Terry
The Travelling Dillberries said
08:07 PM Aug 16, 2019
T1 Terry wrote:
Great to hear the problem was sorted. The best replacement for any failed fridge these days is a household inverter style fridge run on a dedicated Victron 375kva inverter. A fraction of the cost of either a 12v/24v compressor fridge or another 3 way fridge, works much better, auto defrost and uses less battery power than any of the supposed "caravan fridges". the money you save will pay for the solar to power the new fridge with some solar to spare, add a quality lithium battery and you will still have change rather than a 3 way and never need to buy LPG to run the fridge again ... cooking and water heating doesn't use much gas, it's the fridge that eats it. Replaced a lot of RV fridges with inverter house type fridges, never had anyone say they thought they had done the wrong thing, all smiles and all wonder why that wasn't done in the first place..
Just wondering where you fit the 375kVa Inverter Terry. Must be like the electric cars eh? Tow the generator/Inverter behind?/
I think the 3 way fridge is a much better option.
Disregarding this mistake, I would be very interested to see your actual cost comparisons of what you are suggesting, compared to a 3 way Fridge. Cant see what you are suggesting is factual or a better set up and cost effective, especially when you have to consider the extra costs of Inverter, Fridge, More Solar panels, Lithium Batteries, wiring, Labour costs.
Your comparison of 12 Volt power useage is up the creek as well, you know people dont power their 3 way fridges on 12V when stopped, thats why they have gas!!
T1 Terry said
03:15 PM Aug 17, 2019
What price for a 250ltr 3 way fridge/freezer? You will have to help me out here because the biggest I can find doing Google search is 185ltrs. These are around the $3400 mark from what can find.
A household 250 ltr 2 door fridge freezer inverter type comes in at between $300 and $500, that leaves around $3000 for battery, inverter and solar to run it, but then you still need a gas bottle, regulator, gas fitter installed and approved pipework, the 12v/24 power connections to run it from the car while driving and from the house battery for the control gear and ignite when camping. I'll need you to put a price on that as well.
Next is the cost of gas refills for say 3 yrs while travelling because there won't be any fridge cooling without that, yet it would be free with the battery/solar/inverter set up.
300W of solar, www.ebay.com.au/itm/MOST-POPULAR-100-W-12V-Mono-Solar-Panel-Freight-Inclusive-10-Yr-Wty/331657237088, $70 each so $210 roughly. A 20 amp solar regulator www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-24V-20-Amp-MPPT-Solar-Panel-Charge-Controller-Battery-Regulator-Dual-USB-AU/173945195665~hMW $14, a drop in 100Ah lithium battery, we are only doing a 3 yr comparison so we want one with a 3 yr warranty www.ebay.com.au/itm/100AH-Lithium-Deep-Cycle-Battery-LiFePo4-for-off-grid-solar-RV-or-Marine-Use/333033542862 this one is going for $600. The Victron 375 inverter www.ebay.com.au/itm/Victron-12V-375VA-Pure-Sine-Wave-Phoenix-Inverter-5-YEAR-WARRANTY/271874512522%3D1&hash=item3f4cfbd68a:g:n~sAAOSw9nJcjy55&enc=AQAEAAAB4BPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qWLViMrg%2FsLmSuXScS3wDVLGYEO7BEdXxcEva7BaIE5JntaBkJya5RN04DLisqy2XmWMawFXGsYTr3nkP3cwic7Q0SSnOp%2FECQExNUSWjf45%2F3NIbgBW2jPdLVp0uZ%2Bbr6rsdjAJOSwFYtd3%2BB7AvJi3ela%2FdHRCEH2ITeNpi8gXxqezb3EHulpjf0ebvy%2FTEfCtyM%2Fj%2BSdQfMCoN9JoY9sak0GqV3Ejn%2BJuWCNkZmUSCIvYBJrz2TG12VH%2B69n6YOSPp95uZ9aM22IbS6kW0009sg4L9zUoy1DiFaG%2BaROGJGREhySb9N0jfVxpu77%2BrNEd6mCxoXNm2mYvvWvje4n2bDEVzOmwl2gXBnYqmx%2BmtHpkwDxt9qjwE%2Bw1AM4ygc5qhJI%2FD6DioWqPkY02GqNGV5Ei3hPOvzvR8Nt53ZogJDf9Gof2FDAGUkwTY%2FuDK2rpkGsFVKpSCoYpYQQROlM2xbArel3zIAV84EBSADC%2BjCL70rgM5fUK7SEF8DfNegwwaf8X35iqF7vLmusdAVpTzQM62Joohnseu8ZDQqEjMwwpke1%2FkYCqhylNwAu8HCIX6yBbkEW2pYNxq2WO2WVyRc2yM6bSWCGip5PjOJN%2Fg%3D%3D&checksum=27187451252210a5d3b3121241399995ae3b08bb7823 $140 and comes with a 5 yr warranty, we only need it to last 3 yrs so maybe overkill but why not eh.
So now the inverter type fridge and required accessories
Fridge between $300 and $500
Solar ..............$210 to ? might be even cheaper if you went for 2nd hand roof top panels
Solar regulator $14 to ?
lithium drop in $600 to roughly $1000 but that comes with a lot more than 3 yrs warranty
Inverter 375VA $140
Total = $1260 roughly, so around $2100 left to fit it and wire it, plus the money involved in the gas price, bottle, regulator, licenced gas fitter and wiring, still feeling confident about the 3 way fridge being the better bet $$ wise? If you bring in the fact the household inverter fridge has actually been tested by the Australian Standards mob to work as designed in 48*C ambient temp, not a hope of keeping the ice cream rock solid in the 3 way at those temps, nor get a cold beer after an hr or so from putting it in hot ..... then there is the number of times the milk and other food goes off in the 3 way .......
Let's look at the other bits in your post, the inverter mounts behind the fridge, not that big, why the generator? we are using a lithium battery to power the fridge. The power comparison was between a 12v/24v compressor fridge and the same size household inverter fridge including the inverter losses, not a 3 way on 12v, even the cheap esky fridges use less than a 3 way fridge on 12v.
T1 Terry
The Travelling Dillberries said
05:54 PM Aug 17, 2019
"still feeling confident about the 3 way fridge being the better bet $$ wise?"
Absolutely.
3 Way 150 L Dometic $1979. Compare that with a similar 240V inverter fridge. This is a common size to upgrade to in vans.
Don't forget the cost of a generator for the bad weather weeks Terry, plus cost of fuel to run it.
We are talking replacement, here as you said. So If I were to do it in my van I already have Batteries, connections, gas and solar. Just replace the Fridge with what is needed.
Note: solar power is not free if there is none!
Note: I have had no issues with my 3 way which is 13 years old. Love the gas connection for free camping, very efficient.
Happy to use/supply gas rather than rely on Solar or generator/fuel. Don't carry extra fuel which is a plus. Have gas heater.
Cheers.
T1 Terry said
06:31 PM Aug 17, 2019
The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
"still feeling confident about the 3 way fridge being the better bet $$ wise?"
Absolutely.
3 Way 150 L Dometic $1979. Compare that with a similar 240V inverter fridge. This is a common size to upgrade to in vans.
Don't forget the cost of a generator for the bad weather weeks Terry, plus cost of fuel to run it.
We are talking replacement, here as you said. So If I were to do it in my van I already have Batteries, connections, gas and solar. Just replace the Fridge with what is needed.
Note: solar power is not free if there is none!
Note: I have had no issues with my 3 way which is 13 years old. Love the gas connection for free camping, very efficient.
Happy to use/supply gas rather than rely on Solar or generator/fuel. Don't carry extra fuel which is a plus. Have gas heater.
Cheers.
do you still run your 3 way fridge from the car while driving rather than a generator? Then why wouldn't you recharge the battery from the car during a weeks bad weather?
If you are only talking about a bar fridge and not a proper 2 door fridge/freezer with a separate freezer and auto defrost etc, yet can handle the really hot conditions like 43*c ambient temps .... they are cheaper and require a heap less power to run. You would have money left over from the $2000 the replacement 3 way fridge would cost you.
This was just put up in answer to a question, why do people get so defensive when an alternative is suggested?
Seems like it is just too hard for some to accept technology has moved on from the old absorption fridge to 21st Century technology refrigeration. Their choice of course, it's their money and if they are happy to spend more for something that won't work as well and keep costing money for gas refills that are sometimes hard to find and rather expensive when going bush, who am I to argue with them.
T1 Terry
Cupie said
06:41 PM Aug 17, 2019
T1 Terry wrote:
The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
"still feeling confident about the 3 way fridge being the better bet $$ wise?"
Absolutely.
3 Way 150 L Dometic $1979. Compare that with a similar 240V inverter fridge. This is a common size to upgrade to in vans.
Don't forget the cost of a generator for the bad weather weeks Terry, plus cost of fuel to run it.
We are talking replacement, here as you said. So If I were to do it in my van I already have Batteries, connections, gas and solar. Just replace the Fridge with what is needed.
Note: solar power is not free if there is none!
Note: I have had no issues with my 3 way which is 13 years old. Love the gas connection for free camping, very efficient.
Happy to use/supply gas rather than rely on Solar or generator/fuel. Don't carry extra fuel which is a plus. Have gas heater.
Cheers.
do you still run your 3 way fridge from the car while driving rather than a generator? Then why wouldn't you recharge the battery from the car during a weeks bad weather?
If you are only talking about a bar fridge and not a proper 2 door fridge/freezer with a separate freezer and auto defrost etc, yet can handle the really hot conditions like 43*c ambient temps .... they are cheaper and require a heap less power to run. You would have money left over from the $2000 the replacement 3 way fridge would cost you.
This was just put up in answer to a question, why do people get so defensive when an alternative is suggested?
Seems like it is just too hard for some to accept technology has moved on from the old absorption fridge to 21st Century technology refrigeration. Their choice of course, it's their money and if they are happy to spend more for something that won't work as well and keep costing money for gas refills that are sometimes hard to find and rather expensive when going bush, who am I to argue with them.
T1 Terry
We ALL see the world through our own biased prisms & express ourselves within our own personal agendas.
The Travelling Dillberries said
07:15 PM Aug 17, 2019
T1 Terry wrote:
The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
"still feeling confident about the 3 way fridge being the better bet $$ wise?"
Absolutely.
3 Way 150 L Dometic $1979. Compare that with a similar 240V inverter fridge. This is a common size to upgrade to in vans.
Don't forget the cost of a generator for the bad weather weeks Terry, plus cost of fuel to run it.
We are talking replacement, here as you said. So If I were to do it in my van I already have Batteries, connections, gas and solar. Just replace the Fridge with what is needed.
Note: solar power is not free if there is none!
Note: I have had no issues with my 3 way which is 13 years old. Love the gas connection for free camping, very efficient.
Happy to use/supply gas rather than rely on Solar or generator/fuel. Don't carry extra fuel which is a plus. Have gas heater.
Cheers.
do you still run your 3 way fridge from the car while driving rather than a generator? Then why wouldn't you recharge the battery from the car during a weeks bad weather?
If you are only talking about a bar fridge and not a proper 2 door fridge/freezer with a separate freezer and auto defrost etc, yet can handle the really hot conditions like 43*c ambient temps .... they are cheaper and require a heap less power to run. You would have money left over from the $2000 the replacement 3 way fridge would cost you.
This was just put up in answer to a question, why do people get so defensive when an alternative is suggested?
Seems like it is just too hard for some to accept technology has moved on from the old absorption fridge to 21st Century technology refrigeration. Their choice of course, it's their money and if they are happy to spend more for something that won't work as well and keep costing money for gas refills that are sometimes hard to find and rather expensive when going bush, who am I to argue with them.
T1 Terry
"Great to hear the problem was sorted. The best replacement for any failed fridge these days is a household inverter style fridge run on a dedicated Victron 375kva inverter. A fraction of the cost of either a 12v/24v compressor fridge or another 3 way fridge, works much better, auto defrost and uses less battery power than any of the supposed "caravan fridges"."
You have some great ideas that you are obviously happy to share with everyone Terry, everyone needs help at times. When you make statements like the one above that reflects a "blinkered" point of view, you should expect someone to challenge your view.
Happy to embrace new technology with it's proven advantages if appropriate and is presented factually.
Keep up the good work.
T1 Terry said
11:58 AM Aug 19, 2019
Sorry if my reply was a bit sharp Chris, I tend to bite back if I feel I'm being attacked. Been attacked so many times when trying to offer an alternative point of view it becomes a bit impulsive and I will try to curb that with a cup of coffee between reading and replying in future. Everyone is different and there is no right or wrong way to do something that works for them, there might be better options, but it is their choice to make.
I tried to leave the suggestions till after it was determined if the problem could be fixed at a reasonable cost. After someone mentioning elsewhere that they had spent as much as a replacement 3 way would have cost getting their unit functioning again yet still not happy with the outcome, I thought I should put forward an alternative that has proven to work through the roughest of conditions.
T1 Terry
Tony LEE said
04:16 PM Aug 29, 2019
Terry's cost comparison also holds up for replacing a 12/24v compressor fridge which are also inordinately expensive compared to efficient mains fridges.
Hi can anyone help? for some reason our 3way fridge in the van has stopped working completely stopped working won't turn on in any field. Hubby has checked the fuses (they are okay) also checked that supply was getting to the fridge ( it is ) the only thing we can think of is the control panel needing replacing???. But at a cost of $400+ without the cost of the electrician we just are confused about the best way to go. We have thought about buying a 24volt to run under solar. Any advise please
-- Edited by madcart on Wednesday 7th of August 2019 06:11:49 PM
Type in DOMETIC FRIDGE & you'll see a plethora of problems, including ours.
Lots of well intended advise but unfortunately of negligible help.
We've spent more than the cost of a new unit getting ours fixed on four occasions.
So it is nor working on Gas, 12v, or 240volts
Have you smelt a strong smell like Ammonia around your fridge. If so the pipework Condenser / Matrix has broken/cracked and the liquid cooling medium leaked out.
If this has happened buy a new fridge.
You cannot re gas a three way fridge. It is a Liquid that does the cooling not a gas. Compressor Fridges use gas. Absorption (Three Way fridges) use Liquid.
So are you saying the gas won't light at all or with 240v power the evaporator inside the fridge isn't getting cold???
A few more hints might help. ie what model
While we are waiting for response to the OP, I have owned and recently sold (with the van) a Waeco CF18 small chest fridge. It had a hard life, was also taken out and carried on the luggage rack of a VW trike etc. Never stopped working. Brilliant reliability. Hence just installed a CD30 drawer fridge by Waeco/Dometic - it has the same motor. Quiet under bed, good working unit. But it is only 12 volts
Tony
-- Edited by Eaglemax on Thursday 8th of August 2019 01:41:41 PM
At one stage we were buying ice, filling ziplock bags & laying them on the shelves, basically using it as an Esky.
The next time it breaks down ( & it will ), we'll be chucking it down the tip.
You say 24 Volt do you mean 240 volt.
A 12v/240v fridge is quite common I have one and added the extra Battery Power to drive it they are very good. Also a good Solar system to keep the batteries charged.
I used to run 3 way fridges but when the last one was due for renewal I had decided to fit a 12v/240 v Dometic fridge. It's very good.
I have been through the ruptured Condenser routine while up in the Northwest a few years ago. Fitting a whole new condenser system on the back is just about as costly as a new fridge.
WAECO CoolMatic CRX 50 Fridge/Freezer 12/240v
Caravan Fridge
Yep my CF18 was brilliant too
Fridge brand & model number required if you want worthwhile replies !!
The title of this thread says DOMETIC & its a 3way fridge.
Thank you all for your suggestions but we have had to get it fixed here in Carnarvon
I can't recommend Northwest Refrigeration Services here. When we rang them on Friday they came straight out and as hubby thought it was the control panel and as that was beyond his expertise he gave them the go ahead. They had to get the control panel shipped up from Perth which arrived on Saturday and they were here first thing Monday. They had to replace both control panels ( we did't know there was a second one). In the meantime hubby had been on the net to see how much the control panel cost $400 (for 1) so we were dreading the bill as this trip has already cost us more than $600 more than we had budgeted for.New 300 watt Solar Panel had flown off the roof in bad winds and truck passing. We were pleasantly surprised when we got the bill we were charged not much more for the unit and the labour was cheaper than in big cities.
Once again a big thank you at all
Cheers Chris
Do you mean "I can't recommend Northwest Refrigeration Services ENOUGH" ?
Replaced a lot of RV fridges with inverter house type fridges, never had anyone say they thought they had done the wrong thing, all smiles and all wonder why that wasn't done in the first place
T1 Terry
And Exactly what does that tell us????
Do you have any idea of how many Dometic models are available???
Terry, I'm interested in this but have a few questions. Do you have any particular household models to recommend? And how do you mount them securely in an RV? Lastly, household fridges have a lot of free space around them to dissipate the heat, but in caravans the fridges are much more enclosed, so how do you effectively remove the heat from the rear of the cabinet? Thanks.
O household fridge (modern inverter type) only requires enough room up the sides to let the air in at the bottom and somewhere for it to escape at the top, even if it is back into the inside of the RV. In the case where we have swapped out 3 way fridge, we seal up the air vents outside to keep the dust out, but if the top vent is higher than the fridge or even better one of those roof mounted types, we leave that open.
To secure the fridge, generally 2 screws through the rear of the base plate and into the floor, to stop the base moving forward, glue a piece of aluminium angle or square across the top of the fridge, rivnuts in this piece and a second piece to go the full width of the cabinet area. A piece of aluminium angle attached to the sides of the cabinet enclosure with rivnuts in them, then the cross piece bolted to those as well.
This way the fridge can not come up off the floor or tilt forward at the top, yet 4 x 6mm bolts and 2 screws and the fridge just rolls forward on its front mounted roller feet. If there is no access to the bottom or top of the fridge through the original vents, then fit all the screws and bolts from the front, might need to be creating with a full width anchor method similar to the top mount if there is no access to the bottom fridge plate from the front. it is just to stop the lower section of the fridge sliding forward or back or side to side.
T1 Terry
Disregarding this mistake, I would be very interested to see your actual cost comparisons of what you are suggesting, compared to a 3 way Fridge. Cant see what you are suggesting is factual or a better set up and cost effective, especially when you have to consider the extra costs of Inverter, Fridge, More Solar panels, Lithium Batteries, wiring, Labour costs.
Your comparison of 12 Volt power useage is up the creek as well, you know people dont power their 3 way fridges on 12V when stopped, thats why they have gas!!
A household 250 ltr 2 door fridge freezer inverter type comes in at between $300 and $500, that leaves around $3000 for battery, inverter and solar to run it, but then you still need a gas bottle, regulator, gas fitter installed and approved pipework, the 12v/24 power connections to run it from the car while driving and from the house battery for the control gear and ignite when camping. I'll need you to put a price on that as well.
Next is the cost of gas refills for say 3 yrs while travelling because there won't be any fridge cooling without that, yet it would be free with the battery/solar/inverter set up.
300W of solar, www.ebay.com.au/itm/MOST-POPULAR-100-W-12V-Mono-Solar-Panel-Freight-Inclusive-10-Yr-Wty/331657237088, $70 each so $210 roughly. A 20 amp solar regulator www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-24V-20-Amp-MPPT-Solar-Panel-Charge-Controller-Battery-Regulator-Dual-USB-AU/173945195665~hMW $14, a drop in 100Ah lithium battery, we are only doing a 3 yr comparison so we want one with a 3 yr warranty www.ebay.com.au/itm/100AH-Lithium-Deep-Cycle-Battery-LiFePo4-for-off-grid-solar-RV-or-Marine-Use/333033542862 this one is going for $600. The Victron 375 inverter www.ebay.com.au/itm/Victron-12V-375VA-Pure-Sine-Wave-Phoenix-Inverter-5-YEAR-WARRANTY/271874512522%3D1&hash=item3f4cfbd68a:g:n~sAAOSw9nJcjy55&enc=AQAEAAAB4BPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qWLViMrg%2FsLmSuXScS3wDVLGYEO7BEdXxcEva7BaIE5JntaBkJya5RN04DLisqy2XmWMawFXGsYTr3nkP3cwic7Q0SSnOp%2FECQExNUSWjf45%2F3NIbgBW2jPdLVp0uZ%2Bbr6rsdjAJOSwFYtd3%2BB7AvJi3ela%2FdHRCEH2ITeNpi8gXxqezb3EHulpjf0ebvy%2FTEfCtyM%2Fj%2BSdQfMCoN9JoY9sak0GqV3Ejn%2BJuWCNkZmUSCIvYBJrz2TG12VH%2B69n6YOSPp95uZ9aM22IbS6kW0009sg4L9zUoy1DiFaG%2BaROGJGREhySb9N0jfVxpu77%2BrNEd6mCxoXNm2mYvvWvje4n2bDEVzOmwl2gXBnYqmx%2BmtHpkwDxt9qjwE%2Bw1AM4ygc5qhJI%2FD6DioWqPkY02GqNGV5Ei3hPOvzvR8Nt53ZogJDf9Gof2FDAGUkwTY%2FuDK2rpkGsFVKpSCoYpYQQROlM2xbArel3zIAV84EBSADC%2BjCL70rgM5fUK7SEF8DfNegwwaf8X35iqF7vLmusdAVpTzQM62Joohnseu8ZDQqEjMwwpke1%2FkYCqhylNwAu8HCIX6yBbkEW2pYNxq2WO2WVyRc2yM6bSWCGip5PjOJN%2Fg%3D%3D&checksum=27187451252210a5d3b3121241399995ae3b08bb7823 $140 and comes with a 5 yr warranty, we only need it to last 3 yrs so maybe overkill but why not eh.
So now the inverter type fridge and required accessories
Fridge between $300 and $500
Solar ..............$210 to ? might be even cheaper if you went for 2nd hand roof top panels
Solar regulator $14 to ?
lithium drop in $600 to roughly $1000 but that comes with a lot more than 3 yrs warranty
Inverter 375VA $140
Total = $1260 roughly, so around $2100 left to fit it and wire it, plus the money involved in the gas price, bottle, regulator, licenced gas fitter and wiring, still feeling confident about the 3 way fridge being the better bet $$ wise? If you bring in the fact the household inverter fridge has actually been tested by the Australian Standards mob to work as designed in 48*C ambient temp, not a hope of keeping the ice cream rock solid in the 3 way at those temps, nor get a cold beer after an hr or so from putting it in hot ..... then there is the number of times the milk and other food goes off in the 3 way .......
Let's look at the other bits in your post, the inverter mounts behind the fridge, not that big, why the generator? we are using a lithium battery to power the fridge. The power comparison was between a 12v/24v compressor fridge and the same size household inverter fridge including the inverter losses, not a 3 way on 12v, even the cheap esky fridges use less than a 3 way fridge on 12v.
T1 Terry
"still feeling confident about the 3 way fridge being the better bet $$ wise?"
Absolutely.
3 Way 150 L Dometic $1979. Compare that with a similar 240V inverter fridge. This is a common size to upgrade to in vans.
Don't forget the cost of a generator for the bad weather weeks Terry, plus cost of fuel to run it.
We are talking replacement, here as you said. So If I were to do it in my van I already have Batteries, connections, gas and solar. Just replace the Fridge with what is needed.
Note: solar power is not free if there is none!
Note: I have had no issues with my 3 way which is 13 years old. Love the gas connection for free camping, very efficient.
Happy to use/supply gas rather than rely on Solar or generator/fuel. Don't carry extra fuel which is a plus. Have gas heater.
Cheers.
do you still run your 3 way fridge from the car while driving rather than a generator? Then why wouldn't you recharge the battery from the car during a weeks bad weather?
If you are only talking about a bar fridge and not a proper 2 door fridge/freezer with a separate freezer and auto defrost etc, yet can handle the really hot conditions like 43*c ambient temps .... they are cheaper and require a heap less power to run. You would have money left over from the $2000 the replacement 3 way fridge would cost you.
This was just put up in answer to a question, why do people get so defensive when an alternative is suggested?
Seems like it is just too hard for some to accept technology has moved on from the old absorption fridge to 21st Century technology refrigeration. Their choice of course, it's their money and if they are happy to spend more for something that won't work as well and keep costing money for gas refills that are sometimes hard to find and rather expensive when going bush, who am I to argue with them.
T1 Terry
We ALL see the world through our own biased prisms & express ourselves within our own personal agendas.
"Great to hear the problem was sorted. The best replacement for any failed fridge these days is a household inverter style fridge run on a dedicated Victron 375kva inverter. A fraction of the cost of either a 12v/24v compressor fridge or another 3 way fridge, works much better, auto defrost and uses less battery power than any of the supposed "caravan fridges"."
You have some great ideas that you are obviously happy to share with everyone Terry, everyone needs help at times. When you make statements like the one above that reflects a "blinkered" point of view, you should expect someone to challenge your view.
Happy to embrace new technology with it's proven advantages if appropriate and is presented factually.
Keep up the good work.
I tried to leave the suggestions till after it was determined if the problem could be fixed at a reasonable cost. After someone mentioning elsewhere that they had spent as much as a replacement 3 way would have cost getting their unit functioning again yet still not happy with the outcome, I thought I should put forward an alternative that has proven to work through the roughest of conditions.
T1 Terry