Vitrifrigo 12v Fridge Not Working

[DeanoH]

Hope someone can help. I have a Vitrifrigo C51i 12v which has stopped working, when I open the door the light is on but when I turn the switch on the compressor doesn’t start

There is continuity to the fan, the switch works ect but I have disconnected the feed and there is no continuity across the supply cables as show in the photo

I cannot find a way to get inside the back of the fridge where the cables go into…. Any advice??

 

[DXX]

Many domestic fridges are dumped unnecessarily due to a failed thermostat which is a cheap repair. I used to work for a company that made thermostats and they had to assure white goods manufacturers that they weren’t too reliable.
I’m guessing the wires you are holding are for the thermostat. If that’s the case and there is no continuity across them on a warm fridge I’d say the thermostat has failed.

 

[DeanoH]

The wires I’m holding are where the 12v feeds connect to the fridge from my vans electrics

 

[DXX]

I just looked online for a wiring diagram, the feed should go to the controller. You can see that the thermostat (5) in connected to the controller.
Try measuring continuity across the thermostat.

Vitrifrigo Installation

EDIT: I assume that you have checked through the fault diagnosis flow in the manual first.

 

[DeanoH]

I found that wiring diagram and I cannot understand why the feed goes into the back of the fridge and not the controller, the thermostat is plugged into the correct connectors on the controller
The fridge has always worked until today

 

[DXX]

Did you check this?

 

[DeanoH]

Yeah put a link between terminals and nothing happened

 

[DeanoH]

Ok.. now feel little stupid… didn’t realise the spade connectors were double connectors….. all back working now

 

[DXX]

So the thermostat has failed if it works when it was jumped out.
I don’t see anything in the manual regarding spare parts or access, best to contact the technical support group.
OR you could do some exploring the thermostat tends to be near the top of the fridge as that is the warmest point.