Vitrifrigo fridge fan running nearly always

[MartynShaw]

Hi there
The fan on our fridge runs, turns off for 10 seconds then turns on again, which is annoying and is running our hab batteries down somewhat overnight. The fridge is cold, freezer frozen and we have it set on minimum. It started doing it when the weather was cold and is still doing it now it's warm.
Any idea what may be wrong? Thermostat?
TIA
Martyn
Valencia area

 

[Bolti]

Hi, I have the same fridge and have recently had problems. Mine stopped cooling. Upon pulling it out we found that where the pipes enter the fridge at the rear, the hole was not sealed. The mastic was there but had come adrift, pushed it back in and applied foil tape to keep it in place.
Re-gassing, tried various domestic engineers who wouldn't touch it, so took it to a car mechanic we know who said he would have a go. The machine he brought out was twice as big as the fridge. The lowest his machine would go for charge was 50g. All working now cost 50 euros.

 

[Bolti]

The probe for your thermostat is in a piece of plastic underneath the freezer box, check you have not accidentally damaged it.

 

[rosalan]

Strangely fridges do not like cold weather. They get cold by evaporating hot liquid gas. If it is cold outside the fridge it must try harder to get the gas hot.
Try covering the outside vents to keep the cold out.

 

[Lenny HB]

Strangely fridges do not like cold weather. They get cold by evaporating hot liquid gas. If it is cold outside the fridge it must try harder to get the gas hot.
Try covering the outside vents to keep the cold out.

It's a compressor fridge.

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[MartynShaw]

The probe for your thermostat is in a piece of plastic underneath the freezer box, check you have not accidentally damaged it.

Thanks. I'll check that when we get back to the van.

 

[rosalan]

 

[AdrianChen]

Hi there
The fan on our fridge runs, turns off for 10 seconds then turns on again, which is annoying and is running our hab batteries down somewhat overnight. The fridge is cold, freezer frozen and we have it set on minimum. It started doing it when the weather was cold and is still doing it now it's warm.
Any idea what may be wrong? Thermostat?
TIA
Martyn
Valencia area



View attachment 1005611

Can only guess that it might be loosing its refrigerant, assuming the radiator/condenser coil isn't clogged up?

 

[MartynShaw]

Well, I have been talking via email with a local company who contacted the manufacturer and they say it is very unlikely that the thermostat has gone and it's more likely that our hab batteries are low. I am getting 12.3V on the panel meter near the fridge when it isn't on and 11.1-11.4V when it's running. We've been driving today so I'd expect a good charge in the batteries. Maybe time for that lithium upgrade I was thinking of?
Is it cheaper to buy them in Spain or wait until we get home, when we are getting solars fitted?

 

[PeterCarole29]

If you have them done in Uk you will have a better warranty

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[PeterCarole29]

If you have them done in Uk you will have a better warranty

 

[PeterCarole29]

Well, I have been talking via email with a local company who contacted the manufacturer and they say it is very unlikely that the thermostat has gone and it's more likely that our hab batteries are low. I am getting 12.3V on the panel meter near the fridge when it isn't on and 11.1-11.4V when it's running. We've been driving today so I'd expect a good charge in the batteries. Maybe time for that lithium upgrade I was thinking of?
Is it cheaper to buy them in Spain or wait until we get home, when we are getting solars fitted?

Did you check wether the fan turned off whilst driving as it would have been a better voltage
Logically doesn’t a compressor fridge fan come on to cool compressor that has got hot so therefore working as it should wether the voltage is low or not

 

[PeterCarole29]

Did you check wether the fan turned off whilst driving as it would have been a better voltage
Logically doesn’t a compressor fridge fan come on to cool compressor that has got hot so therefore working as it should wether the voltage is low or not

Therefore fan running too long is not a voltage problem but a different fault
My guess was the heat is not able to escape
Has it got vents not necessarily external but internal at top and bottom of fridge at the front
If it’s boxed in then that may be your problem

 

[Bolti]

You say the fan keeps running, do you mean the compressor?
Have you had a thermometer in the freezer to check how cold it is getting?
If it is running low on refrigerant, It won't be able to get the temp down so the thermostat kicks in. Now that mine has been regassed it about -8 to -10 degrees.