Fridge Electric Lamp But N0 120v

[BFL13]

Just found out the hard way, that the 1991 2-Way fridge we have (Servel brand) when switched to electric still shows the lamp even when the 120v not on. The lamp is 12v of course.

So we thought it was working ok even though the 120v had been lost, until it was opened and found to be not cold inside.

I don't know if that is normal for these fridges, even the new ones. The 2003 Norcold we had in the 5er had a "code" showing if you lost 120v to the fridge, which is what you want as a warning.

So if you have a fridge that does not show codes, be worth checking to see if that could happen to you. If so, maybe have to invent your own alarm, like a 120v lamp in the same circuit as the fridge 120v receptacle's.

[wa8yxm]

Ok RV fridges for this post come in basically 2 flavors

Most newer ones use 12 volt for control and the interior lamp. they may (or not) have a display panel or indicator LED's that show GAS/ELECTRIC Norcold usually has an alpha-numeric code. My Dometic just has GAS and ELECTRIC and FAULT led's.

But both have indicators.

Don't know yours but there shoudl be SOME kind of indicator if it's a newer model

Now some very old models... Not sure they had that feature.

[BFL13]

Thanks. We have the Dometic S 630 (Servel) The eyebrow switches seem to be working properly. When you go to gas the electric one goes out and the gas one comes on and VV. The check light with the gas side also works right.

My impression is that the eyebrow lamps just tell you what you have switched it to, but the electric one when lit does not mean you have any 120v actually there. ???

[enblethen]

Connector could be loose, Bad lamp, bad eye brown
Parts breakdown with wiring diagram

Troubleshooting

[DrewE]

I think most 2 way fridges these days have an automatic mode rather than an electric only mode, presumably for this very reason. I know the selections on mine are automatic and gas only (and, of course, off).

Still, it's a good caution for those who have only manual energy source selection. It probably would not be too hard to install a panel mount neon pilot lamp in or near the fridge control panel wired into the 120V supply for the fridge.