Intermittent fridge charging - help please

[BongoGog]

Would appreciate any advice on a Vitrifrigo fridge in my JAL converted camper.

I thought at first it must be a leisure battery issue (although only 2 years old?). But went camping last weekend with hook up, fridge had no power in the morning and warm inside, not good. I did notice the charge indicator on the zig was flickering on hook up - could the hook up be too weak?

Really can't understand what is wrong, the L batt doesn't charge up on long journeys either. I've removed the L batt and charged with proper charger, reading of 12.38, and fridge works, but not for long. I believe a min charge of 11.7 is needed for optimum operation?

Any advice? Hope its not down to a crap fridge, although should have a bought a 3 way Waeco or similar.

Cheers in advance

[Jim the Box]

Fridge won,t always work on an incline, but that does not explain the flickering, could have been the site but I would check none of the fuses in the zig unit are loose.

[mikexgough]

sounds like there is something amiss with your Zig/PMS and the split charge system... Also....some LB's will only last 2 years or show signs of deterioration in that time..... most only have 2 yr guarantees anyway...

[winchman]

Would appreciate any advice on a Vitrifrigo fridge in my JAL converted camper.

I thought at first it must be a leisure battery issue (although only 2 years old?). But went camping last weekend with hook up, fridge had no power in the morning and warm inside, not good. I did notice the charge indicator on the zig was flickering on hook up - could the hook up be too weak?

Really can't understand what is wrong, the L batt doesn't charge up on long journeys either. I've removed the L batt and charged with proper charger, reading of 12.38, and fridge works, but not for long. I believe a min charge of 11.7 is needed for optimum operation?

Any advice? Hope its not down to a crap fridge, although should have a bought a 3 way Waeco or similar.

Cheers in advance

Firstly I would check the following then let us know the results.
Remove the battery and charge up, then take it to a motor factors for a test, should be free and ideally an electronic tester and not a discharge test.
Try the fridge when the van is level and on mains hook up, if it works thats one less thing, if not check the rear of the fridge bit thats insulated can look like a chimney is getting warm.
a 12v fridge will run for about 10 hours depending on battery size with out hook up or running the engine.
Your battery should easily be charged whilst travelling, so if the above is all ok have the voltage at the battety measured whilst the engine is running and see if it rises, Ideally you need to see the current being supplied to the battery.

[Dodgey]

A 12v Vitrifrigo compressor fridge should run a lot more than 12 hours on a full 100AH LB. More like 48 hours.

Your Vitrifrigo uses exactly the same electrics and compressor as a Waeco. A 3 way fridge would eat your battery in a few hours.

It does sound like your Zig has problems.

[winchman]

Interesting just googled them some of the smaller ones only use 2.1 amps thats really low power consumption for a fridge, the Dometics I get are very efficient and only 65w but even they use 5 amps, still a lot less than most but not as Frugal as these.

[Dodgey]

All the compressor fridges I've seen use a Danfoss BD35 compressor which uses 3.5-4.5 amps when running. The smaller fridges must use a smaller compressor. Anything under 3.5amps is very impressive.

This is the compressor you find on the back of all but the smallest fridges:

http://www.ra.danfoss.com/TechnicalInfo ... 00b602.pdf

[BongoGog]

Thanks for all your tips and help.

I've checked a few different scenarios and have discovered fridge works ok from charged LB alone, and with hook up with zig mains ON, but stops working when zig charger is also switched on. Fuses seem OK?

LB charge is now a steady 12.2v so I assume that is not at fault, although from some of your suggestions am now considering renewing, poss 100Ah. But LB does charge when mobile, just not on hook up? LB is a Numax 75Ah - would a 100Ah last any longer?

At least I now know that, as long as I don't switch charger on, I can have fridge use on hook up on site, but frustrating not being able to charge LB. Any ideas what the solution could be?

Really need to sort this, going to Brittany in a month - just had a thought, do I need adapter for continental hook up?

Appreciate any advice

[Dodgey]

The more AH the longer a battery will last, though I managed on a 75Ah with solar. Without might be a little challenging, unless you can get your hookup working of course!

Continental adapter - yep. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kampa-Continent ... B0029OIVQU

Your zig sounds odd.

When you select charge, does the battery actually charge? i.e. can you see the voltage rise - it should climb slowly, pasy 12.6v to over 12 at times, though anything over 12.6 indicates it is charging

[Muzorewa]

Really need to sort this, going to Brittany in a month - just had a thought, do I need adapter for continental hook up?

Read THIS thread, especially the last post on page 1

[francophile1947]

LB charge is now a steady 12.2v so I assume that is not at fault,

12.2V is very nearly flat - a healthy battery will read around 12.7V when fully charged.

[mikexgough]

LB charge is now a steady 12.2v so I assume that is not at fault,

12.2V is very nearly flat - a healthy battery will read around 12.7V when fully charged.

Correct..... my LB has been 12.9v after sitting about with a day of solar charge....

[BongoGog]

Your zig sounds odd.

When you select charge, does the battery actually charge? i.e. can you see the voltage rise - it should climb slowly, pasy 12.6v to over 12 at times, though anything over 12.6 indicates it is charging

Yep I think something's amiss with my charger on the zig. Voltage does NOT rise when charger is on - but fridge works ok, so must be charger button (as fuse OK, changed it in case, no difference arrghh!!). Wierdly the flickering light (on zig battery charge indicator) changes to solid steady when main lights are switched on ( also powered by LB)?

I've had a peek at the electrics at the back of the zig - looks so nasty, no idea how to fix.

Anyways, thanks for the advice, but looks like I'll have to take it in to a local caravan shop??

LB charge is now a steady 12.2v so I assume that is not at fault,

12.2V is very nearly flat - a healthy battery will read around 12.7V when fully charged.

So a range of just 0.5V is the difference between well charged and nearly flat?

[BongoGog]

Really need to sort this, going to Brittany in a month - just had a thought, do I need adapter for continental hook up?

Read THIS thread, especially the last post on page 1

Thanks for the link Muzorewa - that is some serious kit you have there. My first reaction was I don't need all that, but when you think it through, and consider worst case sceanrios, you're probably right, especailly with a young kid on board ours!

So what is the worse damage wiring polarities the wrong - is electrocution a possibility or just malfunction. I'm now thinking we've wiried up incorrectly in the past and thats the problem I'm now having with the zig??mmmm

Thats for all the links - Ill probably use the ebayer geezer - but toooo many different options - which to buy?

[Muzorewa]

Read and inwardly digest.... http://www.venture-caravans.com/pdf/gui ... -Guide.pdf

As you say, you shouldn't take chances with safety.