Fridges…

I've got a 2-way 12v/gas fridge (which has never been connected to gas as far as I know) and I'm contemplating adding a mains element to it alongside the 12v to make it effectively 3-way. Has anyone else done this? Elements appear to be around £30 on flea bay...

 

Wouldn't a battery charger from your mains hook up achieve the same thing?

 

Maybe, but my current charger does fancy conditioning stuff…and it doesn't like running a fridge too...

 

some of the RM fridges had a spare slot for a 240v element brazed onto the boiler tube....not sure if they all did, but this is what you'd need to do if not.
If you're going to the trouble, it's definitely worth making a cowl for the back of the fridge so that it works properly.....yet to see a conversion that's ever done this as standard....

 

I guess I'd better check whether I've got a spare slot first then…I guess it might be a standard thing…one boiler tube for different configurations?

 

you can just make out where the elements slot in (LHS upright is the boiler tube....element holders at the base) you'll have to pull the heat insulating jacket, obviously

 

that's what you'd expect.....maybe ask the guy at leisure spares, or O'learys....

TBH it's just a short tube brazed to the main boiler.....at a pinch you could hold the element in situ with stainless straps (eg. exhaust wrap ties).....and wrap some exhaust wrap round the whole shooting match, plus some rockwool.....
I refurbed an old RM 122 in much the same way.....worked like a good 'un....could make ice cubes in summer....


the other thing to do is replace the gas jet, clean the burner.....stand the whole unit upside down overnight....or use a blow torch to rejuvenate the sludgey chemical inside...think it's freon but can't remember

 

Thanks for that. I'll pull the fridge and have a look at it

 

I think you need to fit a thermostat for 3 way use. It doesn't much need one on 12V as this is only for travelling purposes and it's not very efficient since it's not constantly level. Once you're parked and level and it's on full time on the mains it can get too cold.

Maybe somebody can comment but on my Westy Berlin fridge (an Electrolux RC152C EG) the thermostat seems very unsophisticated and works like a room thermostat on your central heating. It just trips in and out on the temperature of the air in the switchgear compartment which sits above the heating coils. This seems to work Ok but I guess you could just turn it on and off manually as necessary.