Fridge not working

[DavidofHook]

We are sitting in the rain on a campsite at Tournon on the Rhone only to find this morning that our frig has turned itself off. All other electrics seem ok , electric kettle etc. When I use the control panel it shows the frig as off but when I roll it on and turn it on it immediately goes back to off.
Has anyone any ideas please ? Thanks in advance

 

[WelshGas]

We are sitting in the rain on a campsite at Tournon on the Rhone only to find this morning that our frig has turned itself off. All other electrics seem ok , electric kettle etc. When I use the control panel it shows the frig as off but when I roll it on and turn it on it immediately goes back to off.
Has anyone any ideas please ? Thanks in advance

What voltage is shown on the Control Panel?

 

[DavidofHook]

It showed the battery. i.e. not connected to the mains. I have now changed to another camp electricity socket & it seems to be ok. The strange thing is that the kettle seemed to be working despite the frig being off.
Many thanks Welshgas for the advice, our cheese will now be ok!
God Save the King

 

[willwander]

I know how you feel

 

[kurienp]

It showed the battery. i.e. not connected to the mains. I have now changed to another camp electricity socket & it seems to be ok. The strange thing is that the kettle seemed to be working despite the frig being off.
Many thanks Welshgas for the advice, our cheese will now be ok!
God Save the King

Maybe the kettle towards the end of boiling tripped the power? Two distinct items that may have happened in sequence, and you may not have related at that time.

If the fridge switched off without power, that may point to a weak battery? Something to watch out for as if it was already on power and the fridge was working, without the battery - how much time did it run. You may want to test when you return.

Enjoy the holidays!

 

[DavidofHook]

Yes, thank you, had it not occurred to me that it should have diverted to the battery . Will check when we get back.
There has been a late suggestion by Mrs DoH that there may have been some mismanagement of the control panel by myself. This is, of course, complete rubbish and quite untrue as I have explained to her but it is a risk that possibly other Club members may face and something we should all be aware of!

 

[WelshGas]

Yes, thank you, had it not occurred to me that it should have diverted to the battery . Will check when we get back.
There has been a late suggestion by Mrs DoH that there may have been some mismanagement of the control panel by myself. This is, of course, complete rubbish and quite untrue as I have explained to her but it is a risk that possibly other Club members may face and something we should all be aware of!

If the voltage shown on the Control Panel drops to 11.5v or less at any time, the fridge will switch Off, and will not automatically start. Same with Parking Heater.
The lights and 12v sockets will continue working.

 

[DavidofHook]

I have just checked the control panel. Problems again!
It shows 11.3V, 50%, -4.0 Amps.
it also shows a battery and no plug suggesting no mains supply. However, the electric mains kettle still works and the fridge is shown as on at the control panel (the little light is on) & is cold inside. This is weird. As according to the control panel we are running on battery.
I cannot use another mains camping socket to check as they are all in used (site is full).
Any thoughts?

 

[WelshGas]

I have just checked the control panel. Problems again!
It shows 11.3V, 50%, -4.0 Amps.
it also shows a battery and no plug suggesting no mains supply. However, the electric mains kettle still works and the fridge is shown as on at the control panel (the little light is on) & is cold inside. This is weird. As according to the control panel we are running on battery.
I cannot use another mains camping socket to check as they are all in used (site is full).
Any thoughts?

If the Mains socket is working then the campsite supply is working.
There are 2 possibilities:-

1. The Charger is not working. Either it has failed or if the temperature is high then the thermal cutout has activated. Unplug the campsite mains lead and plug in again after a few minutes.

2. A more common problem, the Mains lead into the Battery Charger has come loose.

The Mains plug is like your kettle plug and may have come partly out.

If you vehicle is post 2010 then the Battery Charger is located above the rear Leisure Battery in the base of the rear wardrobe.
If your vehicle is pre- 2010 then the Charger is located below the fridge. Access is via a cutout in the L kitchen cupboard.

 

[bob_summers]

No “plug” icon on the control panel - sorry if you’ve already checked, but has the breaker tripped (inside rearmost cupboard, above gas bottle)?

 

[DavidofHook]

I have unplugged & replugged in the mains lead. Lo and behold the plug icon is back. The panel now shows 11.9v and 10.2 amps. It is warm here but not excessive, 23.5C.

 

[DavidofHook]

If the Mains socket is working then the campsite supply is working.
There are 2 possibilities:-

1. The Charger is not working. Either it has failed or if the temperature is high then the thermal cutout has activated. Unplug the campsite mains lead and plug in again after a few minutes.

2. A more common problem, the Mains lead into the Battery Charger has come loose.

The Mains plug is like your kettle plug and may have come partly out.

If you vehicle is post 2010 then the Battery Charger is located above the rear Leisure Battery in the base of the rear wardrobe.
If your vehicle is pre- 2010 then the Charger is located below the fridge. Access is via a cutout in the L kitchen cupboard.

I will check the mains lead to the charger tomorrow. It is too wet & dark at the moment

 

[DavidofHook]

No “plug” icon on the control panel - sorry if you’ve already checked, but has the breaker tripped (inside rearmost cupboard, above gas bottle)?

, yes, that’s ok thanks.

 

[WelshGas]

No “plug” icon on the control panel - sorry if you’ve already checked, but has the breaker tripped (inside rearmost cupboard, above gas bottle)?

The electric kettle wouldn’t have been working if the RCD breaker had tripped as both Charger and Mains socket run through it.

 

[DavidofHook]

The electric kettle wouldn’t have been working if the RCD breaker had tripped as both Charger and Mains socket run through it.

Agreed.

 

[DavidofHook]

Agreed.

I will check the mains lead to the charger tomorrow. It is too wet & dark at the moment

Our van is registered 2012 but I suspect 2011 but I can’t see anything above the leisure battery, just a flat plate which is I think the base of wardrobe. I’ve checked the opening in the kitchen. Lots of wires plus the fridge gas container. A number of plugs & sockets which seemed ok.
What does the charger look like ?
Currently there was no mains electric at 6 am so I ‘rebooted’ the mains connection outside & since then it’s been ok

I will check the mains lead to the charger tomorrow. It is too wet & dark at the

 

[WelshGas]

A rectangular black box.
See here https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/replacing-t5-1-battery-charger.36197/

It sounds as if the thermal cutout might be the problem.
Keep L kitchen cupboard open, remove any inspection plates on L cupboard wall to improve ventilation..

 

[DavidofHook]

A rectangular black box.
See here https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/replacing-t5-1-battery-charger.36197/

It sounds as if the thermal cutout might be the problem.
Keep L kitchen cupboard open, remove any inspection plates on L cupboard wall to improve ventilation..

I’m so glad you said that. Having identified the charger & looked at what a lot of clever people have done I was full of apprehension . However, removing the inspection plate i

 

[DavidofHook]

I’m so glad you said that. Having identified the charger & looked at what a lot of clever people have done I was full of apprehension . However, removing the inspection plate i

Sorry, I’ve removed the inspection plate and put a computer fan down there so hopefully that will do it. Up to now the fridge has kept running so it looks as if it is ok. Many thanks all & particularly Welshgas

 

[bob_summers]

The electric kettle wouldn’t have been working if the RCD breaker had tripped as both Charger and Mains socket run through it.

cheers! out of interest, is that the case too for the 240v inverter socket under the seat? Or is that on a separate circuit?

 

[WelshGas]

cheers! out of interest, is that the case too for the 240v inverter socket under the seat? Or is that on a separate circuit?

That works of the Leisure Batteries, so EHU not required.

 

[sidepod]

Out of curiosity, why is the fridge/cutout voltage so high. I thought 10.5 was the drop out point ?

 

[WelshGas]

Out of curiosity, why is the fridge/cutout voltage so high. I thought 10.5 was the drop out point ?

Definitely 11.5v. That is pretty low..

 

[sidepod]

Hmmm? The fridge and heaters deffo work down to 10.5 so it’s a VW induced low limit.
Perhaps it’s something to do with that daft electric roof?

 

[WelshGas]

Hmmm? The fridge and heaters deffo work down to 10.5 so it’s a VW induced low limit.
Perhaps it’s something to do with that daft electric roof?

If the Leisure Batteries have insufficient power then the Control panel just tells you to Start the Engine.