Thetford fridge playing up again 🤔

[garysavannah]

Morning Funsters
Recent trip to Europe highlighted a few sites with underrated 240 supply so fridge would automatically switch to gas when detecting a lower 240 supply.
Back in Uk now and for last 3 days same is happening here, I accept this can happen in Europe but in your experience does this happen here or is there something else going on with thetford 3 way fridge, checked fuses etc but still remains on gas even though plugged in to 240v.

 

[StillGoing]

Check the mains voltage.

 

[icantremember]

Morning Funsters
Recent trip to Europe highlighted a few sites with underrated 240 supply so fridge would automatically switch to gas when detecting a lower 240 supply.
Back in Uk now and for last 3 days same is happening here, I accept this can happen in Europe but in your experience does this happen here or is there something else going on with thetford 3 way fridge, checked fuses etc but still remains on gas even though plugged in to 240v.

We had the same problem on a French site and with the constant switching between electric and gas the 240v fridge element failed .... the timing may have been just a coincidence but I don't think so.

 

[garysavannah]

I think your right I need to check the 240 element, although I did change it 12 months ago.

 

[garysavannah]

Check the mains voltage.

Checked all ok, even run a shorter cable to reduce any voltage drop and still switching to gas when connected. It’s looking like a fridge fault, now to find it

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[Fat Albert]

Did you check the fuse on the fridge PCB? It is a pain the rear to check, have a comfy chair to sit in or you will end up with sore knees and backache. To check that you have the partially remove the PCB by removing the cover and removing screws that hold the PCB to the body. I found it easier to take photos and disconnect all the cables. Photos come in handy for the correct cable routing when fitting. My fridge (Thetford) failed in Norway on the 12V side but OK on gas. The fuse had melted not blown, burnt a hole in a relay and the fuse holder became detached from the PCB as the solder melted. The kicker was that the fuse still passed the multimeter test. Replace PCB with the newer version which now has a 25A fuse, which was also a pain in the wallet and a few months out of warranty.
The last image is of the 25A fuse position away from the board for easy access to check and replace. Happy Dayz Hopefully yours won't be

 

[garysavannah]

Did you check the fuse on the fridge PCB? It is a pain the rear to check, have a comfy chair to sit in or you will end up with sore knees and backache. To check that you have the partially remove the PCB by removing the cover and removing screws that hold the PCB to the body. I found it easier to take photos and disconnect all the cables. Photos come in handy for the correct cable routing when fitting. My fridge (Thetford) failed in Norway on the 12V side but OK on gas. The fuse had melted not blown, burnt a hole in a relay and the fuse holder became detached from the PCB as the solder melted. The kicker was that the fuse still passed the multimeter test. Replace PCB with the newer version which now has a 25A fuse, which was also a pain in the wallet and a few months out of warranty.
The last image is of the 25A fuse position away from the board for easy access to check and replace. Happy Dayz Hopefully yours won't be
View attachment 893752View attachment 893753View attachment 893754View attachment 893755View attachment 893756

Thankyou very much for this, was the fuse blowing from a problem else where or just related to the board. I’ve exhausted all external options and all ok so the board is coming out tomorrow along with checking the 240v element.
Fortunately I’ve had this out before and taking photos is definitely the best thing to do before removing.

 

[Fat Albert]

Unfortunately for me it was just the board and as you have checked your fuses. Top tip take photos more the better because some cables take a torturous route and have to be refitted in the Haynes methodology. I was never on EHU in Norway so I couldn't check the 240v side out. Expensive board in all was well. What I couldn't work was how to get the fridge working on gas whilst travelling. I know there will be a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth but when you are still travelling North, and all the Thetford distributors are all in the South of Norway. It would be a trick I'd like to get my head around.

 

[garysavannah]

Unfortunately for me it was just the board and as you have checked your fuses. Top tip take photos more the better because some cables take a torturous route and have to be refitted in the Haynes methodology. I was never on EHU in Norway so I couldn't check the 240v side out. Expensive board in all was well. What I couldn't work was how to get the fridge working on gas whilst travelling. I know there will be a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth but when you are still travelling North, and all the Thetford distributors are all in the South of Norway. It would be a trick I'd like to get my head around.

I feel your pain, I’m very close to replacing the thing has been nothing but trouble, but replacement is £1600 now that’s an ouch!!!!

 

[garysavannah]

I have the Thetford N150 ses any thoughts on best replacements.

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[Fat Albert]

Bought a PCB off the dealership, thought they were being kind £180. Bought a spare because I can £129. No warranty because it’s not fitted by a highly trained electrical specialist. What a crock of

 

[garysavannah]

Bought a PCB off the dealership, thought they were being kind £180. Bought a spare because I can £129. No warranty because it’s not fitted by a highly trained electrical specialist. What a crock of

And they wonder why we seek alternatives first, their heartless.

 

[Fat Albert]

I have the Thetford N150 ses any thoughts on best replacements.

I wouldn’t know. I’m sure the fridge is the first item nailed to the floor and everything else is assembled around it. It might be the PCB has gone to PCB heaven and a new updated version will give the fridge a new lease of life

 

[garysavannah]

I wouldn’t know. I’m sure the fridge is the first item nailed to the floor and everything else is assembled around it. It might be the PCB has gone to PCB heaven and a new updated version will give the fridge a new lease of life

No pcb available for this now totally obsolete so if it’s that I’m replacing fridge

 

[Fat Albert]

There are now old versions of the board available. Mine is an N3000 series and the PCB is part #692247. Not sure if it’s good for your fridge though

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[GeoffnDee]

garysavannah , have a look at www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk their catalogue , fridge section , lists a possible repair service for the obsolete Thetford PCBs

 

[StillGoing]

I have the Thetford N150 ses any thoughts on best replacements.

Not a Dometic. Overpriced and poorly designed IMHO.

I think the Thetford N4150 is the direct replacement for the N150. It’s about £1,400.

 

[garysavannah]

Not a Dometic. Overpriced and poorly designed IMHO.

I think the Thetford N4150 is the direct replacement for the N150. It’s about £1,400.

Thankyou, I think that time is approaching

 

[garysavannah]

garysavannah , have a look at www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk their catalogue , fridge section , lists a possible repair service for the obsolete Thetford PCBs

Yes was looking at them last night, still haven’t resolved the issue so hopefully weather permitting!!! Looking at the PCB today.

 

[VXman]

Not a Dometic. Overpriced and poorly designed IMHO.

I think the Thetford N4150 is the direct replacement for the N150. It’s about £1,400.

Ridiculous price for a fridge! Compressor fridges are becoming more popular in motorhomes. More efficient and reliable. The Thetford ones are still expensive though

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[StillGoing]

Ridiculous price for a fridge! Compressor fridges are becoming more popular in motorhomes. More efficient and reliable. The Thetford ones are still expensive though

You should see the price of Dometic ones!!

I swapped an unreliable Dometic absorption for a Thetford compressor. I wish I’d done it a long time ago.

 

[garysavannah]

Ridiculous price for a fridge! Compressor fridges are becoming more popular in motorhomes. More efficient and reliable. The Thetford ones are still expensive though

Thought of the compressor option BUT if your plugged in on power I think definitely worth it, but for me I like to spend more time off grid so battery and solar may have a hard time keeping up with the fridge power demand and there’s the lack of quality sun to consider.

 

[VXman]

Thought of the compressor option BUT if your plugged in on power I think definitely worth it, but for me I like to spend more time off grid so battery and solar may have a hard time keeping up with the fridge power demand and there’s the lack of quality sun to consider.

It's much easier and cheaper to have more electric now. I think providing enough power for a fridge is doable on a reasonable budget.

 

[garysavannah]

It's much easier and cheaper to have more electric now. I think providing enough power for a fridge is doable on a reasonable budget.

Would a Thetford compressor fridge be a viable option then in your opinion