Dometic CRX50 Fridge issue

[Outdoorrambo]

We have this fridge in our campervan and we used it for the first time a few weeks ago whilst on site connected to EHU.

It was fine for a day it but then it stopped cooling, triangular orange light (above the on/off buttoon) was on which, according to the manual, implies low leisure battery but the leisure battery is charged from the solar panel, alternator and/or EHU and the display was showing 100% so a bit confused....and i 'assumed' being connected to EHU it would automatically power the fridge as i can't see any button/switch to move between 12v and 24v.... or i have a got the wrong end of stick completely.

 

[CAB96]

Have you got a picture of the controls, and also your 12v control panel?

Are you sure the battery charger was on?

 

[Outdoorrambo]

Definitely battery charger was on, it's gone back in storage now so will take some pics next time we take it out.

 

[treblid]

The Domestic CRX50 is normally a 12V only compressor fridge in a campervan. They do automatically cut out on a low 12V supply.

The simple battery % displays are not very accurate. I would suggest you get a voltmeter (multimeter) on the leisure battery and see exactly what's happening when it's out next.

 

[Pausim]

You have a compressor fridge that runs on 12V only. However the EHU should be charging the 12V battery and it should keep running without a problem. Solar might be contributing very little at this time of year and how much is stored in the battery from the alternator depends on the size and condition of the battery. Some questions.
What battery do you have, type, size and age.
What 230V mains charger and 12V system is installed.
What size is your solar panel in Watts.
What else have you got running or been using on 12V.

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[Outdoorrambo]

Sorry guys, didn't get notification of your replies and have just put the van back storage DOH...but...yes have discovered the fridge only runs on 12v.
It's 120w solar panel, battery is charged by alternator and/or solar panel (see pics) BUT doesn't seem recharge the battery when on EHU (it's a conversion so not sure what's wired where really).
Running the fridge on full for an hour used 1.8 percent (went from100% to 98.2%) , switched fridge off and battery went back up to 100% after a while.
The pitch we had when we noticed the fridge issue was in a shady area under the trees so that may explain the power drain.
Only other thing we run off 12v is the water pump for the sink.
I am surprised the battery isn't recharged from EHU so maybe that's another avenue to explore??

 

[1967bowesj]

Sorry guys, didn't get notification of your replies and have just put the van back storage DOH...but...yes have discovered the fridge only runs on 12v.
It's 120w solar panel, battery is charged by alternator and/or solar panel (see pics) BUT doesn't seem recharge the battery when on EHU (it's a conversion so not sure what's wired where really).
Running the fridge on full for an hour used 1.8 percent (went from100% to 98.2%) , switched fridge off and battery went back up to 100% after a while.
The pitch we had when we noticed the fridge issue was in a shady area under the trees so that may explain the power drain.
Only other thing we run off 12v is the water pump for the sink.
I am surprised the battery isn't recharged from EHU so maybe that's another avenue to explore??



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Unless whoever did that build used wring colour cables the solar input has a neg where the pos+ should be. First pic shows with engine running? Id expect the fridge to not kill your battery that quick as the compressor frudge wont be running 24/7, how long did it run for before ut shut down?
Does battery last well without fridge on?

 

[Outdoorrambo]

1st pic is within 2 mins of engine being switched off then changes to 2nd pic of solar panel charging it quite soon afterwards.
Plugging EHU made no difference to battery charge (all 230v plug sockets work as expected)
Battery seems to last forever with no fridge running but it's being charged by the solar panel.
Drop in battery charge was slow over an hour (from 100% down to 98.2%)
Saw on another post that EHU charging battery was on optional extra on their conversation!!!
There is a supercharger that i assumed charged the battery from the EHU (see pic) but I'm not knowledgeable in thus area.

 

[1967bowesj]

That is more of a power supply for 12v than a multi stage charger but it would power the van.
What size is your battery/batteries?
There’s what looks like a white switch on the side of the charger, what happens if you turn that on?

 

[Outdoorrambo]

Oooh, hadn't noticed a switch, will look when next out of storage, thank you

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[Outdoorrambo]

Yep, defo a switch, it's in an awkward place see it but it's now in the "on" position....but how do I know it's actually doing its job as I can't see any lights on the supercharger (not sure if there should be though)...and would the ctek show any different lights?

 

[1967bowesj]

If you have a multi meter you can test voltage across leisure battery before switching that on then again when switched on, does it go up?

The lights on the ctek will or should say should change when the engine is started, depends how its wired you could get lights on the bottom left a for alternator or on both lefts alt and solar.
Best check that switch when its dark as the solar will already be pushing the leisure volts up.

 

[Outdoorrambo]

Thank you very much for the reply, ehu power going via the supercharger to the battery seems to be working as battery is staying between 99.5% and 100% (with the fridge on coldest setting).
Will double check once dark so as solar panel is out if the equation and its just on ehu. Fingers crossed your brilliant observation of the switch will be the resolution

 

[1967bowesj]

You might be able to pop that switch out and extend the wiring so switch is more easy to get too. Should just be a tight push fit

 

[Outdoorrambo]

All sorted, fridge been on all night with ehu plugged in and battery 100%...whoop whoop

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[Pausim]

Sorry guys, didn't get notification of your replies

We don’t get email notifications anymore, Jim had to withdraw them because people were moving them to junk which puts him on the naughty list with service providers. Just have to check for notifications when signed in online.