Forum Discussion

Campincarters's avatar
Campincarters
Explorer
Aug 17, 2016

Rv fridge turning off for a while

We are currently camping and my rv fridge has been off most of the day. It was running fine it is set on auto. I did notice that it was frosting up a bit in the freezer but I have seen that before. I tried to put in on gas but we are camping near the ocean and it is rather humid so I think it is not getting a spark to ignite. The light is on in the front stating it is on auto. Items are cold but my little thermometer states the temp is lose to 60. Is it normal to turn off to defrost. It is not over loaded with items. The light inside the fridge is not turning on either. The drain is clear also and there is some runoff from the drain. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Class C
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2016
    Sfla2 wrote:
    This is for all members esp new rv's when your camping ,need something to at nite to do read your manual's,lots of ? answered in those books


    Don't be so quick to judge. :W
    If an RV'er bought a 'used' unit not all of them come with complete manufacturing manuals. Been there done that.

    If it weren't for this forum helping me out when my ac and fridge went all haywire, and explaining to me about the ac and fridge using 12 volt for the thermostat, I would not have know about it either. :C
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2016
    Low voltage to fridge.

    It will run on propane and electric BUT.......
    when the fridge reaches it's desired temp set and shuts off it can NOT turn back on if there is low voltage, I.E. 12 volt.

    The fridge thermostat runs off of 12 volt. So does the AC thermostat.

    Check the out put of converter. Converter 'can' boil your batteries if not functioning correctly. Bad converters can put out both too low and too high power.

    Note: Low voltage will also affect the AC unit. AC thermostat needs 12 volt also. AC will come on and run but when it shuts off at desired temp it can not come back on either.
  • SCVJeff's avatar
    SCVJeff
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2016
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    Sfla2 wrote:
    This is for all members esp new rv's when your camping ,need something to at nite to do read your manual's,lots of ? answered in those books


    Can't.....dead battery--------no lights!
    Touché
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 18, 2016
    Sfla2 wrote:
    This is for all members esp new rv's when your camping ,need something to at nite to do read your manual's,lots of ? answered in those books


    Can't.....dead battery--------no lights!
  • Sfla2's avatar
    Sfla2
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2016
    This is for all members esp new rv's when your camping ,need something to at nite to do read your manual's,lots of ? answered in those books
  • Butch50's avatar
    Butch50
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2016
    I would be surprised if is continues to run. Even when you run on propane you still have to have 12VDC for it to operate. If you are having problems with 12VDC when you ran the engine you might have gotten a little charge into the batteries but it well probably drain down again.

    Good Luck.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Aug 18, 2016
    No! It needs 12VDC to operate.
    Go buy an inexpensive battery charger, connect it to your house battery until you can get tour problem figured out. Likely a dead converter of possible a main fuse blown.
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2016
    The fridge needs 12v DC to run on gas too. You have an electrical problem in your RV. a dead battery and/or a bad converter. Fix that before getting the fridge sorted.
  • Campincarters's avatar
    Campincarters
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2016
    Thank you. I started my rv and the light came on. When I had it on auto the light started to flicker. I have switched the fridge over to propane mode and it lit and is still running. My battery must be low for the coach as you said. Once it is on gas mode will it continue to work.

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