Webasto BI41 top loading fridge - excess water / condensation
- Thread starter Wills
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- bi41 fridge top-loading
Does your fridge have an external drain and could it be blocked?
You had a tube? Did you have installation instructions?
The drain doesn’t drain water away so maybe its a redundant design functoon left in place but not in use?
Mine ices up quickly too then eventually thaws but the resulting water pools in the bottom. What temp are you operating at?
The drain doesn’t drain water away so maybe its a redundant design functoon left in place but not in use?
Mine ices up quickly too then eventually thaws but the resulting water pools in the bottom. What temp are you operating at?
I’ve varied the temp, but even in the early + range I’ve got ice.
I can dig out the instructions later if you want a copy?
I’ve found the online manual, which recommends 5-6* operating temperature Usage Instructions; Thermostat-Controlled Temperature Regulation - Indel Webasto BI40 Installation And Usage Instructions [Page 39] | ManualsLib
Excess moisture can be created / caused by a leaky seal so will look at that.
Excess moisture can be created / caused by a leaky seal so will look at that.
A little thread resurrection...
Just taken delivery of a Vitrifrigo TL43 to go into my upcoming camper kitchen fit-out, and I've found the instruction book that came with the fridge contains no information regarding top loading models, it's all front loading types detailed in there.
No mention of the drain, where it's supposed to go, whether how it arrived is how it's supposed to stay etc etc.
It has a bit of soft plastic pipe linking the drain from the cavity (lit by torch from above in the picture below) to another pipe attached nearby, now I don't reckon it's supposed to be fitted like this but without any meaningful instructions otherwise who knows?
The plug that was in the drain hole is removable, but if the fridge had any decent amount of water in it, who knows what would happen if the drain was meant to go somewhere other than how it is.
Why even bother to fit a bit of pipe if the drain is meant to be fed outside? Am I supposed to feed both 'drain' pipes out of the van or just the one?
Just taken delivery of a Vitrifrigo TL43 to go into my upcoming camper kitchen fit-out, and I've found the instruction book that came with the fridge contains no information regarding top loading models, it's all front loading types detailed in there.
No mention of the drain, where it's supposed to go, whether how it arrived is how it's supposed to stay etc etc.
It has a bit of soft plastic pipe linking the drain from the cavity (lit by torch from above in the picture below) to another pipe attached nearby, now I don't reckon it's supposed to be fitted like this but without any meaningful instructions otherwise who knows?
The plug that was in the drain hole is removable, but if the fridge had any decent amount of water in it, who knows what would happen if the drain was meant to go somewhere other than how it is.
Why even bother to fit a bit of pipe if the drain is meant to be fed outside? Am I supposed to feed both 'drain' pipes out of the van or just the one?
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I have that one as well. TBH I just dropped it in and used it as is. probably a couple of weeks use with no problems. It was thrown into its cabinet to get us through a couple of trips before we can finish the campervan properly. I’ll have a good look then.
in the meantime you could try emailing Vitrifrigo for specific instructions:
www.vitrifrigo.com
in the meantime you could try emailing Vitrifrigo for specific instructions:
Service - Vitrifrigo
Learn more about Vitrifrigo and our international sales network. Contact us for information about our products or to receive a quote.
www.vitrifrigo.com
Query sent, there's no literature on their website either..
I am hoping I can adapt it to run off 240V as well (when on hook up or at home for precooling) and think I can just change the controller out for the 101N0510 controller (at an eye watering £236)
I am hoping I can adapt it to run off 240V as well (when on hook up or at home for precooling) and think I can just change the controller out for the 101N0510 controller (at an eye watering £236)
Query sent, there's no literature on their website either..
I am hoping I can adapt it to run off 240V as well (when on hook up or at home for precooling) and think I can just change the controller out for the 101N0510 controller (at an eye watering £236)
did you ever hear back on this?
Nope, no reply or acknowledgement of inquiry.
Bump.Query sent, there's no literature on their website either..
I am hoping I can adapt it to run off 240V as well (when on hook up or at home for precooling) and think I can just change the controller out for the 101N0510 controller (at an eye watering £236)
I bought one of these last year (October) and wondered the same about the drain. Any updates on longer term use with the drain pipe “as delivered”? I haven’t taken mine out of the cabinet since installation and the drain pipe is not accessible.
If you’ve got a EHU with leisure battery charger then you shouldn’t need the extra mains controller.
On mine the “night mode” has stopped working. Which is disappointing as it does make a difference to the noise generated by the compressor. Given the lack of customer support from the manufacturer I had better contact the supplier.
I managed to find a 12/240 controller cheap in the states, picked it up while I was there in May. Not fitted it yet. I've had no issues with running the fridge off 12v so far, any drain on the leisure battery has been replaced by the 200W solar panel before I get my lazy arse out of bed most days, I have it on at the moment 24/7 letting the solar do its thing and keeping a few beers cold (thanks Paynewright) to see if it will do extended off grid duty.
As It's not in its final resting place yet (currently sitting in a home made box so it is usable) it still has the tube looped but I will be extending it to drain outside when it goes into position in the units.
As It's not in its final resting place yet (currently sitting in a home made box so it is usable) it still has the tube looped but I will be extending it to drain outside when it goes into position in the units.
Via the retailer I managed to get a new switch plate and ribbon cable delivered. Penguin refrigeration (I think, Distributor) offered to talk me through the part replacement on the phone, so I took the opportunity to ask about the “drain” Hole and pipe configuration.
Basically they said the drain hole feature is for boats where you have the opportunity to drain to outside or somewhere sensible for cleaning out. For a van they recommended leaving as is and the plug in place.
Bear in mind cold air sinks so if you leave the plug out, you’re losing cold air (disclaimer: I’m not a physicist) constantly.
I had considered the 240v controller option but discounted it.
Can I ask what the point of this is? When on “shore power” my leisure battery receives 12v charging supply which goes straight out to the load(s) as needed. Why the need for a 240v controller? Is it an efficiency thing in the voltage step-down at the LB charger stage?
The fridge is the most power hungry item in the van, and it's on all the time I'm away. The ability to have it be powered off mains when it's available is a plus for me, I don't have a mains battery charger for leisure battery, just solar or DC-DC when the engine is running.
Understood. Cheers for the reply
