Hi everyone any advice greatly received :)
We have just bought our first caravan a 1994 Esprit Charade and the fridge does not work at all we have tried it on 240v 12v and gas (we clicked the button which sparked but nothing fired up). We have been told it may be the gasses as its not been used for about 7 mths and to take it out turn it upside down for 24 hours and then leave it another 24 hours right side up and this might sort it out ? We've managed to find an Owners manual but can't seem to locate any installation information so we can have a go at taking it out to try the above.
Can anyone help please ? Thanks Jules & Joy :)
How long did you wait for it to cool down when you tested it on 240V? It can take a good few hours before the fridge feels cold (although you should notice the ice box shelf getting cold within an hour or so). Also, in case you're not aware, it won't work on 12V unless the car engine is running.
Sorry if this is obvious, but I just thought I'd mention it as you say it's your first caravan.
The igniter button is for gas operation only. When operating the fridge on 240 volt mains you just have to switch the large green button on (Top Left) which should illuminate. If it's not operating by either method then I doubt it's anything to do with the ammonia inside so taking out the fridge won't resolve the issue. The RM212 is an older model fridge which in 1994 they were a common fitment but the two fridge fixings will more than likely be on the top (behind the plastic grill which has to be unscrewed first) at each side and not 4 screws with plastic cover caps inside as those type of fixings were introduced on later Electrolux models. If you are powering the fridge by means of gas then the switch that says 'car/van' (as Jeff said) should be on VAN as it requires 12 volt power (from the leisure battery) to create the spark so if you have no battery installed this could be part of the problem. If you have got a fully charged battery leisure battery installed and connected then it could be a blade fuse that has blown. Regarding 240 volt mains, have a look at the MCB (trip switches) and make sure they are all switched on first as it sound more like to be something simple.
hold on don't take out fridge until having a look in all adjacent cupboards for 240v cable going to fridge it may be on a plug and socket that just needs plugging in or switching on. then look for copper gas pipe going to fridge follow along the pipe it may have a line tap ensure its on. To light on gas turn on cylinder light hob burner to make sure gas is coming through to purge any air from the gas line then turn fridge gas control knob to max and push in and hold in while repeatedly clicking ignitor button until flame can be seen continue holding in knob for a few seconds once lit if you let it go too soon the fridge will go out. NOTE FRIDGE ONLY WORKS ON THE 12V SIDE FROM THE CAR WHEN ENGINES ON DUE TO HIGH CURRENT REQUIRED BY THE 12V ELEMENT IN THE FRIDGE. PROVIDING THE CAR HAS BEEN WIRED TO OPERATE A FRIDGE.
I started by wondering what a 212 is doing in a 94 van? sadly that's explained by the Charade being made between 1984 to 1991?!
So best way to start is switch it to mains electric and after 10 minutes, hold your hand over the flue vent to the right of the main top vent outside. You should feel some gentle heat coming up from the element. If you do, then after 1hr you should feel the cooler in the ice box is beginning to freeze.
If not then it may well be the cocktail of fluids inside the cooling system need some remixing, so the fridge will need to come out. However leaving overnight is a total waste of time!
Turn it upside down and back again every 15 seconds for a minute or two and then on the last turn, listen at the back as the fluid settles back down and count the number of seconds until the last drip of fluid drops.
You want to count over 10 seconds hopefully 12secs and it should then work fine when reconnected.
No need to wait here either, if you can connect it up with a 3 pin plug then it can be tested on the bench straight away.
Of course while out the gas should be checked over and tested, this maybe beyond your abilities as might the need to reconnect the gas on re-installation of the fridge
After some advice believe the van I have just got is a cosmos voyager and it has a 3 way electrolux RM212F caravan fridge installed how can I test this is working on 12v and 240v as I don't want to run gas at this time until I have had the hob tested
Looking for handbook and user manuals if any one can help I'm new to caravans I'm a canvas man myself lol
Arc systems earlier post describes testing on 240v.
To test on 12v is essentially the same, except that providing the 12v supply involves hooking up to a suitably powered towing socket.
Caravan fridges work by having a heat source move the refrigerant. 12v and 240v operation use a resistive heating element, on gas operation the flame does the same job. So whatever heat source you choose, you can test by feeling for heat at the vent.
What amazes me is how something gets cold by lighting a fire under it. Clever invention.