malcy Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 Hi Ive just returned from a trip from Hereford with the fridge set to12v. and it worked normally but I have since discovered that I am unable to select another source of energy. The fridge is a Dometic RMS 8401 manual selection, automatic ignition with the push button control panel. The problem is when switched on the selection defaults to 12v. and no amount button pushing or switching the power on and off makes any difference. So if anyone has had any issues with this model of Dometic fridge your help would be much appreciated. BTW it is fitted in a 2013 swift escape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 Are you on hook up for 240v and is the gas switched on? (It doesn't allow gas to be selected for ten minutes after the ignition is switched off.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 A manual for a Dometic RMS 8401 fridge can be found here https://www.caravanfridges.co.uk/pdf-manuals/rm-rms-rml-operation-manual.pdf with operating advice beginning on Page 15. Some trouble-shooting advice is on Pages 27 and 28. Although Dometic AES (Automatic Energy Selection) fridges have a 15 minutes delay before automatically switching to gas operation following 12V operation, I’m pretty sure that a MES (Manual Energy Selection) fridge has no equivalent delay feature. Basically, a MES fridge should be manually switchable from 12V to gas and - if gas is present at the fridge - the fridge should immediately operate from that gas-supply. But as malcy can only get his fridge to choose 12V operation, clearly something is wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 malcy - 2020-01-27 7:40 PM Hi Ive just returned from a trip from Hereford with the fridge set to12v. and it worked normally but I have since discovered that I am unable to select another source of energy. The fridge is a Dometic RMS 8401 manual selection, automatic ignition with the push button control panel. The problem is when switched on the selection defaults to 12v. and no amount button pushing or switching the power on and off makes any difference. So if anyone has had any issues with this model of Dometic fridge your help would be much appreciated. BTW it is fitted in a 2013 swift escape. It may help if you say what your van make, model, and age, are. Ours has a Dometic RM 5380 three way fridge (one step more manual than yours :-)) with battery ignition for gas. It has CBE electrics. I discovered last autumn that when the fridge was switched to 12V, with the ignition off, the fridge still ran. This should not happen, as there should be no 12V cooling supply to the fridge with the ignition off. With engine running OK, as the supply effectively then comes from the alternator. As the van was still within warranty, when it want in for its annual warranty damp check I asked the dealer (Southdowns) if they could check and rectify the errant 12V supply to the fridge. (The van is delivered as standard with a 12V compressor fridge which takes its power from the supply intended primarily for AES fridges, which need a permanent 12V supply.) Apparently, when substituting the optional three way fridge for the standard compressor fridge that linking wire on the main CBE 12V distribution box had not been disconnected, as it should have been, thus leaving the fridge running on the habitation battery whenever "12V" was selected with the engine stopped. Fortunately, the mains charger had sufficient output to charge the habitation battery as well as run the fridge on 12V when on EHU. Knaus 0, Southdowns 1. :-D I wonder if something similar may be affecting your van? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Brian, To be fair, Malcom did mention that his MH is a 2013 Swift Escape, but it was almost as an after thought at the end of his initial post. Malcolm, I am not familiar with the Dometic 8000 series fridges, but from your description of push button selection, it would seem to have been developed from the 7000 series which has a rotary selector knob. To build from Brian's comments modern MH fridges need a separate 12V supply to operate the selection system etc. From a quick inspection of the Swift handbook, may I suggest that you check habitation Fuse 12 (5A Tan), this is designated as Electronics / Fridge / Alarm. If nothing else is achieved, you will at least have eliminated this possibility. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Alanb - 2020-01-28 6:19 PM Brian, To be fair, Malcom did mention that his MH is a 2013 Swift Escape, but it was almost as an after thought at the end of his initial post.........................….Alan To be fair, so he did! Think I'm having a bad day. :-) I overlooked that and only looked in the details panel for his van details. In that case it seems unlikely to be the cause. Your suggestion seems potentially more fruitful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 An installation manual (with wiring diagrams) relevant to a Dometic RMS 8401 fridge can be downloaded from here https://www.caravanfridges.co.uk/pdf-manuals/rm-rms-rml-installation-manual.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcy Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 Thanks for the replies everyone Derek that wiring diagram should be very useful.Brian Brian The fridge has run for seven years without any problems until now, so it seems unlikely to be a manufacturing mistake' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcy Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 Sorry guys hadn't finished replying, hit the wrong button Alan I've checked the fuse you mentioned it looked OK but I still replaced it and the fault is still there. FWIW the best way I can describe the fault is that the touch button control board is frozen. The electrical input is there but it just does not respond to any touches of the buttons. I've just about exhausted my limited knowledge of electrical problems, looks like I,ll have to call in an expert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Have you tried powering down the entire fridge for a few seconds to reset things? Pull all fuses associated with the fridge or maybe even disconnect the hab battery for a few seconds. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcy Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 Thanks Keith, tried that but no joy.Also disconnected vehicle battery then disconnected both batteries but still no joy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polarbear Posted April 27, 2021 Share Posted April 27, 2021 Hi did you resolve your problem with your fridge as I’ve the exact same problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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