Fridge!! ?

Campervanannie

Campervanannie

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I have an Electrolux fridge freezer in my van and always been quite proud (borderline on the smug side) that it work even when the van is not level well this weekend I was defiantly not level either back to front or side to side and my fridge freezer descided not to work murdering about £40 of food thankfully most of the mackerel was eaten or given away to friends as soon as I left the wild festival and parked up level it started to work again.
So my question is why does this happen I’ve heard a lot of people have this issue but never had a definitive answer as to why.
 
Our first ‘proper ‘ van had a ‘tilt-tolerant’ fridge which was good for around 15°. I don’t think standard versions work beyond 8°. Someone will be along shortly to tell you to turn your fridge upside down, I find this dents your roof.
 
Well it appears 41 people have read this thread and nobody knows why this happens ?. I’ll just park on the flat in future ??
 
Most fridges have a tilt switch I think.
For safety .I personal think it is because the flame burns strate up and does not change angle as the van does when parked.
This could be a fire hazard.
 
Mikehanky said:
Most fridges have a tilt switch I think.
For safety .I personal think it is because the flame burns strate up and does not change angle as the van does when parked.
This could be a fire hazard.
Click to expand...
At last an answer that makes sense to me anyway. ?
 
Your fridge uses heat and gravity to remove the heat from your fridge and radiate it from the back.
The problem is there are several different sections in the pipework that do not operate correctly if they are at a tilt. The liquid no longer drains to the bottom of the system because of gravity and stays in the pipe corners blocking the system.

fridge 1.jpg

If you look at the tube section you can see that with a 3 degree tilt the pipes now run uphill.

Imagine a ball bearing rolling down the inside of the tube on the left, It would travel downhill without issue. Gravity will keep it rolling down to the bottom.

Now look at the tube on the right that has been tilted by 3 degrees, the pipes now run uphill and the ball bearing would just stop at the first bend.

I hope this helps.
 
Mikehanky said:
Most fridges have a tilt switch I think.
For safety .I personal think it is because the flame burns strate up and does not change angle as the van does when parked.
This could be a fire hazard.
Click to expand...
Some fridges do have a tilt cut out, but this is normally to stop the boiler in the fridge from overheating and boiling dry. If it does the sodium chromate can produce hard particles that can block the fridge.
 
This is precisely the reason why i always get as level as possible despite all the laughing and sniggers that you get off some nobs.

The instructions say they need to be level to work properly / efficiently, it was not put in there just for fun
 
Wooie1958 said:
This is precisely the reason why i always get as level as possible despite all the laughing and sniggers that you get off some nobs.

The instructions say they need to be level to work properly / efficiently, it was not put in there just for fun
Click to expand...

They can also be damaged by using them whilst the van is very unlevel.
 
I've just spoken to a fridge repair man he say s.

Motorhome fridge /freezer cut out at 30 deg angle this is because if you re freezing ice the cubes the will be a funny shape .
And most fridge manufacturing company no what a load of asshole motorhome owners are .
And how many complaints they will have .about this ..
 
Phil said:
They can also be damaged by using them whilst the van is very unlevel.
Click to expand...
I have never seen the back of a compressor fridge so will post what may end up being today’s stupid question :)

Does a compressor fridge not have these pipes then Phil as I park up on slopes without worrying if Caz isn’t with me (was laid diagonally across the bed last night to stop rolling) and out fridge just cools and freezes no matter what. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s hot cold or tilted
 
Phil said:
Your fridge uses heat and gravity to remove the heat from your fridge and radiate it from the back.
The problem is there are several different sections in the pipework that do not operate correctly if they are at a tilt. The liquid no longer drains to the bottom of the system because of gravity and stays in the pipe corners blocking the system.

View attachment 37941

If you look at the tube section you can see that with a 3 degree tilt the pipes now run uphill.

Imagine a ball bearing rolling down the inside of the tube on the left, It would travel downhill without issue. Gravity will keep it rolling down to the bottom.

Now look at the tube on the right that has been tilted by 3 degrees, the pipes now run uphill and the ball bearing would just stop at the first bend.

I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

If you are tilting either downhill or uphill, a one direction tilt would be ok? We very rarely use chocks but not experienced the fridge failing for that. However generally when we have been on a slope it is normally sloping back to front.
 
nabsim said:
I have never seen the back of a compressor fridge so will post what may end up being today’s stupid question :)

Does a compressor fridge not have these pipes then Phil as I park up on slopes without worrying if Caz isn’t with me (was laid diagonally across the bed last night to stop rolling) and out fridge just cools and freezes no matter what. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s hot cold or tilted
Click to expand...
A compressor fridge has a compressor to move the refrigerant around the fridge. The absorption fridge uses heat and gravity.
 
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