Refrigerator on 12v Transit Mode

[ventura67]

My 2003 StarCraft has a three way fridge that is to be run on 12 volt mode while in transit.  The manual and its wiring diagram shows that it should have a live wire from the TV through the 7 way connector that is dedicated for the fridge.  I had my mechanic install the 7 way connector on the tow vehicle and not knowing which of the pins should be this live wire for the fridge (the manual does not show this) he put it in the auxilarly slot which makes perfect sense to me.

So I hooked up the camper's plug to the TV and idled the van for a while with the fridge set to 12V and it did not cool at all, I assume it was getting no electricity.

Could the 7 way be wired incorrectly? (seems simple enough to me.)

Could it be some other terminal in the 7 way?  (All the others are accounted for except for the brake terminal which the trailer does not have brakes.)

Maybe a short to the fridge in this mode?  (Fridge works in both other modes.)

Is an idling van not producing enough RPM to get the amperage up to actually heat the refigerant?  (heating element showed no life and fridge seemed no cooler what so ever.  Seems like the van's battery is charged whether its driving or at idle.)

I am taking the camper and the van over to him in the morning, if it's an RPM issue should it be working after a 20 minute highway drive?

We leave for the U.P. (9 hours) next week and I don't want to be surprised by a fridge full of rotten food!  

Any ideas for me and my mechanic?

Thank you!

[wavery]

My 2003 StarCraft has a three way fridge that is to be run on 12 volt mode while in transit.  The manual and its wiring diagram shows that it should have a live wire from the TV through the 7 way connector that is dedicated for the fridge.  I had my mechanic install the 7 way connector on the tow vehicle and not knowing which of the pins should be this live wire for the fridge (the manual does not show this) he put it in the auxilarly slot which makes perfect sense to me.

So I hooked up the camper's plug to the TV and idled the van for a while with the fridge set to 12V and it did not cool at all, I assume it was getting no electricity.

Could the 7 way be wired incorrectly? (seems simple enough to me.)

Could it be some other terminal in the 7 way?  (All the others are accounted for except for the brake terminal which the trailer does not have brakes.)

Maybe a short to the fridge in this mode?  (Fridge works in both other modes.)

Is an idling van not producing enough RPM to get the amperage up to actually heat the refigerant?  (heating element showed no life and fridge seemed no cooler what so ever.  Seems like the van's battery is charged whether its driving or at idle.)

I am taking the camper and the van over to him in the morning, if it's an RPM issue should it be working after a 20 minute highway drive?

We leave for the U.P. (9 hours) next week and I don't want to be surprised by a fridge full of rotten food!  

Any ideas for me and my mechanic?

Thank you!

Some vehicles, especially Fords, must have a relay installed to power the 12v power to the trailer harness.

Here is a typical trailer wiring diagram:
http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm

You might want to check it out with a test light to be sure that you have power.

BTW, it takes about 12 hours to cool down the fridge on 12v. However, the chimney (on the back of the fridge) should get warm to the touch in about 30 minutes.
.

[tknick]

On our Expedition, we had to add a relay (which came with the car in the package with the trailer brake pigtail and 7-way to 4-way adapter) under the hood to make the charge line hot.  The charge line is the #4 pin.  The Auxillary connector #7 pin can be anything you want.  Ford wires it to the reverse lights.  That will probably explain why you aren't getting any power to the fridge.  

Like waverly said, pre-chill the fridge on 110v or propane to get it cool enough to ensure food doesn't spoil.  As for functionality, check that the chimney is getting hot just like waverly said.

travis

[JimS]

My Starcraft manual states that the 12V transit mode is only to maintain the cold, not to get cold.  I tried this out with the unit warm, and after several hours on the 12V, very little difference.  Once it was cold from 110V or the propane, it would stay cold on the 12V.