Fridge not working on hook up or leisure battery

[Marbleous]

Just bought a bongo and on our maiden adventure discovered that the fridge does not work on either the leisure battery or the electric hook up. It's a second hand conversion from clearcut conversions. It has a mini fuse board like you would have in you house and an 85amp leisure battery. It works very well when the ignition is running so the fridge works just not from the power input I want it too!

I would be grateful if anyone could shed any light on why and how I can get it fix. I feel very disappointed and frustrated.

A man with a campervan look at it and said that the fuses near the battery had not gone.

Thanks for any advice

Vicky

[Dodgey]

So it only works when the engine is running?

Does it try and fire up (the fridge makes a whirring noise) and then fail when on battery, or does it do nothing at all?

It sounds to me like your leisure battery is dead. Your split charging system is running the fridge when the engine is running, and then when off, the LB can't power it.

The hookup often won't power the fridge. I know that Clearcut, by default, only plug the mains into the mains sockets and nothing else.

[francophile1947]

Without knowing what fridge it is, it's difficult to advise.
If it's the normal 3 way fridge it will only work on 12V when the engine is running. For 230V use, there is often a switch on the fridge or zig panel.

[Dodgey]

Clearcut don't install 3-way fridges, just Waeco's / Vitrifigo.

[Marbleous]

Hmmmm Thanks for all your tips - I feel like a bit of a div!

It is a Vitrifigo - so does that mean it won't run on the leisure battery? - I really can't see the point of having a fridge if it is only on when you are moving! Plus you can only cool it down when you start moving which means putting cold/frozen food in a warm fridge/freezer.

I feel very frustrated. I've just got back from a short (about a mile) trip to the supermarket and I could feel a very warm engine through the middle console bit where the engine is. I really don't know anything about engines and am beginning to wish I hadn't bought the bloody thing. I guess that's a post for a separate thread though.

[Ian]

Don't panic! Where are you based? Change your user profile so we can see where you are! I'm sure somebody will help....

[philpdr]

The centre console area on any Bongo does get quite warm,worried me a bit at first too.Quite nice in winter though.

[Marbleous]

Thank you.

I've updated my location and I've started another thread about the hot centre console.

I'm really worried. I hate anything with an engine.

[Simon Jones]

There's often a seperate switch that controls the fridge as you wouldn't want it running while parked up for a few weeks. Have you asked the seller or called Richard at Clearcut for some advice?

[Dodgey]

Re-read my post above and let us know if the fridge fires up at all when the engine is not running.

I assume it's not a switch problem as you have it working when driving.

Clearcut don't tend to install Zig units.

Don't panic. They normally do good installations. Your fridge is designed to run for a couple of days of the leisure batter with no charging help.

[Marbleous]

Hi

The fridge does not fire up at all when the engine is not working. When the key is in the ignition the fridge fires up as soon as the switch is flicked.

We checked the power out put from the leisure battery with a volt meter last night and it read 13.

So many there is a problem with the wiring? Or a fuse in between the leisure battery and the fridge. It is extremely helpful to know it doesn't run off the electric hook up!

So as soon as I stop the vehicle the leisure battery should kick in - or should I have to flick a switch somewhere - you are right there is no Zig unit installed. There is a fuse box type thing a mini version of what houses have!

All this is becoming stressful as I was planning to leave for france next Wednesday in my bongo! The problem with the over heating is obviously worse but if I can deal with both at the same time then maybe there is a hope we can still take the camper.

Thank you for all your responses so far.

Vicky

[Dodgey]

OK- deep breath...we'll get there

Next question - does the fridge come on when you turn the ignition key before the engine starts?, or is the fridge on only with the engine running?

[Marbleous]

The engine does not need to be running - just turn the key in the ignition.

[Dodgey]

Aha! - so the previous owner has, for some reason, wired the fridge so it only runs off ignition. This is good news in as much as everything is working, just not quite as it should be!

Your fridge is either:

a) Connected to the leisure battery on an ignition triggered relay (for an unknown reason) - very unlikely
b) Connected to the starter battery on an ignition switched feed - almost certainly, and also strangely!

Basically, someone has connected your fridge to the wrong battery

Take a look at both batteries. You will find on one or both, a wire coming off the live (+) terminal with a fuse holder. The wire will have been fixed to the battery terminal with a round crimp connector and bolted on with the bolt that holds the battery terminal/clamp on.

Get your fridge running (turn up to full and open the door so it stays running), with your ignition on, then remove the fuse you found (if you found more than one, do them one at a time) until the fridge goes off. Once you find a fuse that stops the fridge... you "should" have found a wire on the starter battery that you want to disconnect and reconnect to the leisure battery instead.

Feel free to email me at roger.donoghue@solarcampersolutions.co.uk with photos if you need more help.

Roger

[Marbleous]

That's fantastic advice thank you.

However I can't try that yet as I am too concerned to start the engine given the overheating problem. I'm going to phone our garage today and speak to them about testing the pressure in the coolant system etc. So once that is fixed the fridge is my very nest port of call!

Thanks

VIcky