Just thought I would post this experience about a new Triton 430 we bought in 2016 from AL.

The fridge would not work on battery even though the light came on, it was not operating at all except on 240v. So I checked the car electrics and found that to be correct. (I am an electrical engineer and am capable around electrics).
So the next step was to report it to AL which I did at its next service. AL said the van was fine and I should get the car checked. We kept calm and carried on as you do - this was not a big issue after all. At the next service I again asked them to check the fridge on battery - which they did and AL said the van was fine. AL said did I realise that the fridge on battery is only a holding type of scenario, the idea is that before you set off, you plug the van into the garage at home, get the fridge nice and cold, then set off and the battery keeps the fridge at its cool temperature.
This is in fact incorrect because we would usually leave a site with a nice frosty fridge having run it on 240v and by the time we got home, the fridge was running with condensation and as warm as the rest of the van.
This year we swapped the Triton for a new Troll 540 on the same tow car and guess what - the fridge works fine on battery whether it is attached to the car or not.

If you are still with me on at this stage, my point in writing this post is to say that I think AL's technical ability is quite low for a main dealer, and they are capable of making it up as they go along. I think it was beyond their ability to check the van's electrical circuits and I have found that really annoying.

Hi Colin, Many thanks for the info which was all new to me. My towcar is a Nissan Pulsar 1.5D.
I have just realised that I got over excited about "the fridge working whether connected to the car or not". The fridge worked fine when connected to the car is the more accurate statement. I am not sure about when it is switched to battery and not attached to the car. I will have to try that.
Regards,
Vic

In case it's relevent, my Pulsar 1.5D with aftermarket tow electrics powers the fridge while towing.

Was it the same tow vehicle for the van that worked and the one that didn't?
A possibility is the "smart" alternator of modern cars. There are many problems with them not powering the fridge properly or charging the leisure battery in transit. This is because the alternator shuts down until the voltage of the vehicle battery is quite low and then puts in a massive amount during braking at over 17Vdc.
MY factory fit tow bar includes the intelligence to suspend smart alternator when a trailer is connected, just churns out a normal 14Vdc in the old fashioned way.
An alternative for aftermarket tow bar installations is the inclusion of an additional voltage regulator which provides a steady voltage to the trailer.

Just a thought, it may not be that AL are numpties perhaps?

Edit, just re-read your posts and find it is the same tow car. Are the fridges the same in both vans? Later models seem to have compressor driven cooling which can run off 12Vdc even when not connected to the car. The older absorption fridges will only work when connected to the car and engine running.

Hi Steve and Debbie, thanks for your info too. We have a Nissan towbar & electrics and yes Ray, the fridges were the same in both the Triton and our current Troll in that they are absorption fridges. Also having checked the fridge in the Troll, it only works with the car connected and the engine running as Colin previously said. The Triton however only ever worked on 240v mains.

As we've not been active for some time, things were not to good with our Electrolux 3 way fridge in a 1992 puck. Able now to set about removal and reconditioning task I removed the fridge, I have a good number of pictures once I can figure posting out.

Fridge is dated (stamp on back) 1991 so well over due for a service. I found the 240v element had just passed on, bit like me they had to rescue me twice. 12v and gas got a good service too as it's not a job you want to undertake too often.

240v and 12v elements can be found on Web and it's not a hard job to replace them.

Phillip