Dometic compressor fridge

irishlass · Member

Dometic compressor fridge

iana · Guru

We have the same fridge, I just want to establish what you have powering it. It is a 12v only unit, but they can be supplied with a 240vac to 12v dc converter, which for us gave trouble. I is a black box with Waco 550 written on it. One side plugs into the 240 supply, the other to the fridge 12v supply. If you have batteries, and a 12v system you don't need this potential trouble unit wired in.
The other thing is, is that it has a built in 12v cut out when the 12v supply drops to below 10.5v. If you are running on batteries and they are low this could be the reason. Happens about 4 in the morning.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi John & Tina,
If you are running on batteries & the problem is traced to "Low volts" as Ian has highlighted, just beware your batteries are not going to give you a good life before you have to replace them.
There are numerous discussions in this Techies' tab on batteries so I'm not going to repeat what is in them.

My Trailblazer fridge that sits in my car also has a 10.6v cutout - why they go so low & chance ruining the battery(ies), I do not know.

If you don't have a way of monitoring your battery condition already, one of the cheapest & easiest ways is to visit Jaycar Electronics & get one of these - www.jaycar.com.au/in-car-battery-monitor-and-temperature-display/p/QP2222.

They cost $20 & plug into a cigarette lighter socket.

I don't know anything about your fridge but what I do with the Trailblazer is crank up the thermostat mid to late afternoon & turn the fridge off for the night at around 7-8pm. Frozen foods stay frozen overnight.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes having a couple of water bottles extra cold keeps fridge cold overnight also .

irishlass · Member

Thanks for that but we dont have that tranny we are direct wired to ourfuse block then to the batteries and currently are plugged into power with the batts sitting at 13.7v so not a power prob.??

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

John & Tina,
Have you checked the voltage when the fridge stops?

Also, I guess there may be a handbook - does it offer any Q&A fixes? You may have to contact Dometic (Melbourne) - I've found them helpful in the past.

irishlass · Member

Hi and yes , as stated the voltage is not the prob it is sitting at 13.7v with fridge on or off , think it may be a component in the fridge somewhere?

Possum3 · Guru

I find with my Waeco 12v that by turning the temp to about medium stops the fridge "Stalling" and crazy tho it may seem, it gets colder. It does chew power so we have a second/dual battery in tug

iana · Guru

If it isn't the power supply, it has to be an on-board problem. Just wondering how you turn the fridge on and off. If you pull the fuse then as an off chance suggestion, could one leg of the fuse holder be loose. A bit of vibration and the connection is lost, you take out the fuse and reinstall and away it goes again.

irishlass · Member

have tried both pulling the fuse and dissconnecting at the back of the fridge with same results

denmonkey · Senior Member

how hot is it getting in the van when it does this.
My waeco in the car has been having a hissy fit of late with the high heat we've been having.
It just can't cope in the car with the ambient heat.
It just goes in to error though(flashing light) rather than shutting off but I guess that could be different with other models etc.
Ironically my old cheap giant fridge just keeps trucking in the same conditions.

I think a call to the supplier might be needed :(

Baz421 · Guru

I hear you when you 13.7v at battery. What is voltage AT FRIDGE when having a problem.

irishlass · Member

i Hear you there but havent measured that as yet, will have to wait till itdoes it next time?