Dometic fridge - orange flashing light

[4WheelsFromCanvas]

I have (had! - my solution below) been plagued with the orange flashing light on my CRE50 from the start of my ownership (bought 2nd hand from a private seller).

Mine also had a dometic rectifier allowing the fridge to switch over to mains whenever I switch to EHU. Wiring went all over the place from leisure battery to rectifier to fuse board at back of van, and back to fridge. No solid pattern but often switched to orange flashing light. Removing the fuse at the fuse board for 30 secs or so usually rectified. But annoying. Also when all good and left to run when setting off on a journey - annoying to get to destination to a find it at some point had gone back to orange flashing light missing thr oppportuntiy to chill down as I was driving.

Suspected failing lead acid leisure battery sand wanted to upgrade so went for a Fogstar lithium battery. This immediately improved the situation but it wasn’t long before the problem came back.

The solution in the end was to remove the rectifier and all the old wiring and replace with one of these directly to the leisure battery.designed specifically for the job by Magnum Mororhomes. It’s fused and even has its own isolation switch which I’ve cut into the cabinetry. Thicker cabling able to handle the initial draw to fire the fridge up.
I liked the idea of the rectifier but felt that just complicated the wiring. So on EHU I still power the fridge from the leisure battery but have inserted a mains charger into the mix to top the battery up.

12v Supply Cable For Waeco CRX Fridges With Switch - Magnum Motorhomes

Custom made for us at Magnum’s This is loom designed specifically to connect Waeco CRX fridges to your leisure battery Suitable for use with CRE, CRP40, CRX50, CRX65, CRX80 & CRX110 There are a lot of issues with voltage drop on Waeco fridges and sometimes it can take months before the error...

magnummotorhomes.co.uk

Hope this helps.

 

[Bynxy]

I have (had! - my solution below) been plagued with the orange flashing light on my CRE50 from the start of my ownership (bought 2nd hand from a private seller).

Mine also had a dometic rectifier allowing the fridge to switch over to mains whenever I switch to EHU. Wiring went all over the place from leisure battery to rectifier to fuse board at back of van, and back to fridge. No solid pattern but often switched to orange flashing light. Removing the fuse at the fuse board for 30 secs or so usually rectified. But annoying. Also when all good and left to run when setting off on a journey - annoying to get to destination to a find it at some point had gone back to orange flashing light missing thr oppportuntiy to chill down as I was driving.

Suspected failing lead acid leisure battery sand wanted to upgrade so went for a Fogstar lithium battery. This immediately improved the situation but it wasn’t long before the problem came back.

The solution in the end was to remove the rectifier and all the old wiring and replace with one of these directly to the leisure battery.designed specifically for the job by Magnum Mororhomes. It’s fused and even has its own isolation switch which I’ve cut into the cabinetry. Thicker cabling able to handle the initial draw to fire the fridge up.
I liked the idea of the rectifier but felt that just complicated the wiring. So on EHU I still power the fridge from the leisure battery but have inserted a mains charger into the mix to top the battery up.

12v Supply Cable For Waeco CRX Fridges With Switch - Magnum Motorhomes

Custom made for us at Magnum’s This is loom designed specifically to connect Waeco CRX fridges to your leisure battery Suitable for use with CRE, CRP40, CRX50, CRX65, CRX80 & CRX110 There are a lot of issues with voltage drop on Waeco fridges and sometimes it can take months before the error...

magnummotorhomes.co.uk

Hope this helps.

I have just ordered some wire to make the same unit up to test the fridge before I go down the expense of a LifePO4

 

[4WheelsFromCanvas]

When you solve this specific problem it really takes a headache away. I’ve got complete confidence now that even turning my fridge on overnight whilst on the driveway before I need it for a trip or to work out of it as a mobile office the next day, when I come to put things in it the next day it is cold and not orange winking at me with the “yeah, I switched myself off 14 hours ago!” attitude.

I suspect for you that battery will still be a factor - but a beefier cable in the meantime direct to the battery gives you the best chance of finding out by ruling out other factors.

If and when it comes to it I recommend the fogstar I went with as a budget option. It hasn’t put a foot wrong in a year. Another fire and forget solution. I understand there’s and even cheaper ECO version now that’s only just a bit more expensive than a large standard leisure battery.

Good luck. If you solve it, be sure to post!

 

[Rachel B]

This forum is excellent… Thank you for the welcome. My fridge appears to be fixed for now. All I did was fiddle with all the cables around the LB and DC to DC pack. I think coincidental but who knows.

I have also learnt an awful lot about my set up! Thank you all. No doubt I’ll be back soon

 

[Bynxy]

tried wiring the battery to the battery still the same issue so I bit the bullet and purchased one of these which should arrive tomorrow Roamer 160SMART4 - 12V 160Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Leisure Battery will keep you all posted

 

[Bynxy]

New battery installed and just back from a trip up to Scotland and the dometic fridge worked without a problem

Even had the portable freezer we have for our dogs raw food plugged in as well and the battery worked perfectly