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Arriving on site: Motorhome fridge

Motorhome fridge-freezers are clever devices that can cool their contents with various power sources, but how does a motorhome fridge work? There are two types of fridges your Bailey motorhome can have: Compressor and Absorption. In this guide, we will show how to operate them both.

 

Absorption Fridges

The fridge in your caravan is equipped to operate on three power modes: 230v mains voltage, 12v, and gas

You can select the designed power mode using the controls on the front of your fridge

  • Mains voltage (230v) – You will use this mode when hooked up at the campsite mains

 

  • 12v – Use this mode when the caravan is connected to your towing vehicle if you are travelling with food in your fridge

 

  • This takes the power from your leisure battery
  • This mode maintains the temperature and won’t cool the fridge. Cool the fridge beforehand on mains electricity or gas
  • Once you arrive on site, change the mode to either gas or mains voltage

 

  • Gas – You will use this setting, for example, when camping off-grid

 

  • To operate your fridge on gas, you need to:
  • Open the gas cylinder valve
  • Open the manifold for gas supply to your refrigerator
  • Make sure the external fridge vents are clear
  • Select the ‘flame’ symbol
  • You may hear a quiet clicking sound as the fridge ignites the gas

 

How to use the Dometic Absorption Fridge

 

How to use the Thetford Absorption Fridge

 

Compressor Fridges

Compressor fridges work similarly to the domestic fridges we have at home, but instead of a 230v power source, they use 12v. For this reason, they are perfect for use in a  motorhome. Compared to absorption fridges, they use less power, perform well at higher ambient temperatures, and cool down quickly. Here’s how to use a Thetford compressor fridge.

Compressor fridge controls

The controls for the compressor fridge can be found at the top.

From left to right, we have the on-off button, temperature settings for the fresh food compartment, temperature settings for the frozen food compartment (if your fridge has a frozen food compartment fitted), and the night mode button.

How to turn on your compressor fridge

Push the on-off button and hold for a few seconds to switch on. The control panel will then change to standby mode and lock the controls. The blue on-off button indicates that the refrigerator is on. Switching off is the same as switching on; press and hold the button for a few seconds.

How to change the temperature in your compressor fridge

To change the cooling level in either the fresh or frozen food section, you first need to unlock the control panel by pressing and holding one of the icons. Then press either the fresh food or frozen section and hold it for a few seconds until the icons blink.

Changing the cooling level is as simple as sliding or pressing the temperature icons until you reach the desired level. After a few seconds, the control panel will save the settings and return to the locked standby mode.

When using the lowest setting for the frozen food compartment, the temperature will be around -6°C. This is suitable for ice cubes, etc., but should you wish to keep food products that require a lower temperature, such as ice cream, the highest setting is around -18°C. The highest setting will use more power, something to be mindful of if staying off-grid.

For the fresh food compartment, level 3 is suitable for ambient temperatures between 16°C and 25°C. A higher temperature needs a higher cooling level, and a lower temperature requires a lower level.

How to turn off the frozen food compartment in your compressor fridge (if fitted)

You can turn off the frozen food compartment by pressing and holding the icon for a few seconds. This mode can minimise the power used if the compartment is empty.

How to use night mode

Night mode is a handy addition to the compressor fridge, and once activated, it will select the lowest noise setting where possible. To turn it on, first, unlock the control panel and push the night mode button. The fridge will automatically return to normal mode after 12 hours.

Thetford compressor fridge travel lock

When travelling, it’s worth noting that the door locks automatically, so there’s no need to look for a travel lock or setting.

Storing your campervan or motorhome

When storing your leisure vehicle, flip out the blue catches on the fresh food compartment or the frozen food compartment (if fitted). This will maintain a degree of airflow throughout.

Return the blue catches to the stowed position before closing the doors.

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