locates properly in the recess in the outer cover, with
the tongue engaging the slot at the bottom.
It will be necessary to remove the outer cover and
withdraw the extension tube before the refrigerator can
be
moved out o position at any time.
12. 12V ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
For operation from the 12V battery in the towing vehicle,
the boiler of the cooling unit is fitted with an 85 watt
heating element connected to a terminal block on the
back of the refrigerator (fig. 15). Before finally installing
the refrigerator in the recess, the wiring for the 1 2V
electrical supply should be connected to the terminal
block, leaving enough slack for subsequent insertion
and withdrawal of the refrigerator for servicing purposes.
To prevent undue voltage drop, which would impair
the performance of the cooling unit, the wiring for the
12V refrigerator supply should be connected directly to
the terminals of the battery in the towing vehicle and not
through any of the existing wiring (which may not be
capable of carrying the 7 amp load satisfactorily), and
not to an auxiliary battery in the car or caravan. The wire
used for connecting must be at least 2 mm
2
in cross-
sectional area (e.g. 28/0.30mm or 35/0.30mm), and
should be kept as short as possible. The wire may be
'twin' sheathed, or two singles taped together at
intervals; the chassis or body of the car and caravan
should not be used as a substitute for one of the wires.
Polarity is not important with regard to the refrigerator, but a fuse, such as Lucas part no. 188220, 7/15 amp, must be incorporated
in the supply (to the side of the battery not connected to the chassis) as near to the battery as possible. A good quality fuse holder
should be used, with adequate size contacts to carry the 7 amp load without undue resistance.
For connection between the car and the caravan, a suitable size weather-proof plug and socket will be necessary and
sufficient slack cable allowed for the normal manoeuvring of the car and caravan. (As the pins of the existing trailer plug and
socket will normally be taken up with lights and other electrical equipment, it will probably be necessary to install an
additional trailer plug and socket and use two of its pins for the refrigerator supply). A suitable switch or plug and socket
may also be installed inside the caravan so that the refrigerator can conveniently be disconnected from the 12V supply when
required.
When operating on 12 volts, the refrigerator has a relatively high current consumption and it is only intended to be used
by this method of operation whilst the engine is running and charging the battery, and for short stops, otherwise the battery
may become discharged to a point where it will not re-start the car engine. 12 volt operation is not thermostatically controlled
and the 85 watt heating element is 'on' all the time the refrigerator is connected to the 12V supply.
Note: To minimise the possibility of a drained battery due to the refrigerator being inadvertently left operating when the
engine is at rest, a suitable relay device (e.g. Lucas No. 6RA) may be fitted in the car, in circuit with the ignition switch, so
that when the engine is switched off, the refrigerator is switched off.
13. GAS CONNECTION
It is recommended that the gas pipe feeding the refrigerator is run underneath the caravan and is so arranged that it is possible to
turn off the supply to all appliances other than the refrigerator, when they are not required. The supply pipe should preferably be of
copper; if any other material is used, it must be of a type approved for use with continuously operating bottled gas appliances, and
have threaded connections throughout. Push-on connections must not be used. We do not recommend the use of "rubber" type
flexible tubing for connecting permanently operating appliances of this type in the United Kingdom.
All connectors etc. should be of a type specifically designed for the type and diameter of the connection pipe used, and screwed
joints should be sealed with a jointing compound approved for use with bottled gas.
The gas supply pipe should be connected to the angled inlet adaptor underneath the refrigerator on the left-hand side of the gas
thermostat. The adaptor will accept a 1/8" B.S.P. male thread.
Note:- In the United Kingdom, 'Wade' Couplings are available from Caravan Dealers and Gas Fitting Suppliers in suitable sizes
to connect the refrigerator to any of the usual sizes of metal tubing. For example, Wade Coupling No. 7061 has a union on the inlet
to take 3/16" o.d. metal tubing, and has a 1/8" B.S.P. male thread on the outlet which will fit the thread on the refrigerator gas
control. However, some dealers may not stock this particular fitting and Wade Coupling No. 1061 can be used as a substitute. A
further alternative is Wade Coupling No. 1041 which has union nuts and olives at both ends; - by removing and discarding the nut
and olive at one end, it can be used in place of the types 7061 and 1061 described above.
When fitting any of these couplings, the thread should be smeared with an approved sealing compound before screwing it into the
refrigerator inlet adaptor.
In making the connection to the refrigerator, a union gas cock of an approved type for bottled-gas must be incorporated in the
supply line in a position which is readily accessible to the user. For eventual servicing purposes, the union should be on the outlet
side of the cock and the pipework should be positioned so as not to prevent the refrigerator from being withdrawn easily.
In most cases, the union cock is likely to be in a cupboard to one side of the refrigerator, in which case an opening will need to be
made in the side wall of the cupboard sufficiently large to make the gas connection, or to retrieve the end of a piece of metal gas
pipe connected to the refrigerator inlet before placing the refrigerator in the recess in order to connect it to the supply pipe or gas
cock in the cupboard.
After the refrigerator has been connected, all accessible connections should be checked for soundness by applying a soap/ water
solution over them and watching for bubbles with, of course, the gas-bottle and any gas cocks in the line, turned on.
6
www.vwT25camper.info - a useful website for owners and enthusiasts of VW T25 / T3 / Vanagon Campervans
