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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

Should you book a pitch with electricity or without, food & drink will remain chilled throughout your holiday thanks to a 230v hook-up or gas. Or should you have a long journey ahead of you, they can maintain lower temperatures with battery power until you arrive at your destination. The fridge in your motorhome is designed to operate on three different power modes – 230 volt, 12 volt, and gas. You can select the desired mode by using the controls on the front of your fridge.

 

12-volt battery

  • Often shown as a battery symbol, this function won’t cool the fridge but will maintain an ambient temperature if the refrigerator is chilled before travelling.
  • The 12v supply is taken from your tow vehicle while driving, not your leisure battery.
  • Once you arrive on site, switch to 230v or gas.

230-volt mains supply

  • Often shown as a plug symbol, this is arguably the most common power source from which to run the fridge.
  • Have you booked a pitch with an electric hook-up? Once connected to the site’s 230v supply, select the 230v function.
  • This mode will chill the fridge and freeze the freezer compartment.

Gas

Often shown as a flame symbol, gas operation is used when not connected to a 230v supply.

To use the gas mode:

  • Open the gas cylinder valve.
  • Select gas mode on the fridge.
  • Some fridges automatically ignite the gas. If yours has manual ignition, press the igniter button until lit.
  • If the fridge has manual ignition, success is usually indicated in one of two ways. A blue flame will appear behind a small window at the back of the refrigerator, or a galvanometer (a gauge with a pointer) will move into the green range.
  • Set to the desired temperature.
  • The refrigerator is now operational.
  • This mode will chill the fridge and freeze the freezer compartment.

 

Compressor Fridges

https://youtu.be/De02HZAidSo
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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