ARB fridge/freezer is freezing.

[saj]

I was wondering if anyone has experienced their 12volt fridge freezing on the lowest setting..
I have an old ARB rebadged Engel fridge, the one with no digital display MT45F.. Fridge works but is hovering around the -4C to -6C on the lowest setting.( I have a seperate Jaycar temp sensor). Could it be the control setting Knob or is it more likely the Thermostat... cheers

[Pixie_au]

Is the sensor reading correctly? I have a two-zone sensor and it reads lower than the Engel but I trust the Engel based on results.

[Keithyv]

Does sound like a thermostat issue. Does it get even colder of you set it to a lower temperature?

[stevemc181]

You could use one of these temp controllers and set it to whatever temp you want, it will do the job and you'll then have a digital temp display. I had a couple of similar ones running on my Engel eclipse fridges for a few years, no probs.

Edit: Apologies: I originally linked to a 220vac unit, the link has now been corrected to the 12v unit: There are multiple types and brands of these available on ebay. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-STC-...frcectupt=true

[saj]

Does sound like a thermostat issue. Does it get even colder of you set it to a lower temperature?

No, Higher setting equals colder..... Jaycar wireless temp gauge I got yesterday to monitor temps, everything was freezing....

From what I can gather setting 1 puts the fridge at -6C
setting 2 puts it at --9C... and so on.

[saj]

You could use one of these temp controllers and set it to whatever temp you want, it will do the job and you'll then have a digital temp display. I had a couple of similar ones running on my Engel eclipse fridges for a few years, no probs.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Inkbird-....c100005.m1851

So you replaced the old knob style controller with one of these steve? Interesting

Are they difficult to swap?

[saj]

Is the sensor reading correctly? I have a two-zone sensor and it reads lower than the Engel but I trust the Engel based on results.

I'm not sure, I only have a one zone fridge and the thermostat looks a lot like this one ... Only the thermostat looks the same not the fridge, my one is older than the fridge shown in the youtube link....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOMlnJ0St_k

[KevsChallenger]

I've been running my ARB fridge a bit recently, its in a transit bag and always in the back of our Challenger. I have been running it on setting 1 and temps inside the fridge based on Engel digital gauge range from 0 to 4 degrees depending on ambient temps and temp inside the car.

[saj]

I've been running my ARB fridge a bit recently, its in a transit bag and always in the back of our Challenger. I have been running it on setting 1 and temps inside the fridge based on Engel digital gauge range from 0 to 4 degrees depending on ambient temps and temp inside the car.

Thx Kev,

On setting 1 mine cuts in at -3 then turns off at -6. Changing the setting lower than 1 doesn't change anything, stays the same temp..


cheers

[stevemc181]

So you replaced the old knob style controller with one of these steve? Interesting

Are they difficult to swap?

You don't swap anything, you just put this inline on the power line to your fridge, it cuts off the power when the set temp is reached. I just zip tied the temp probe inside the fridge and hung the thin temp probe wire out of the top.

https://4x4earth.com/forum/index.php?threads/fridge-temp-controller.31610/

You won't need the relay I have shown in the link, as most of these controllers are rated 10 amp now, mine was only a 5 amp model,

[saj]

You don't swap anything, you just put this inline on the power line to your fridge, it cuts off the power when the set temp is reached. I just zip tied the temp probe inside the fridge and hung the thin temp probe wire out of the top.

https://4x4earth.com/forum/index.php?threads/fridge-temp-controller.31610/

You won't need the relay I have shown in the link, as most of these controllers are rated 10 amp now, mine was only a 5 amp model,

I see, that's pretty clever... that's all I need cause it still is working and just needs to be told when to switch on and off, I just ordered one.... Thx very much Steve

[stevemc181]

I see, that's pretty clever... that's all I need cause it still is working and just needs to be told when to switch on and off, I just ordered one.... Thx very much Steve

No Worries, they worked well when I was using them, and it should do the trick for yours as well.