I have a Dometic model RM2856 refrigerator in a 2002 Cardinal 5th wheel. It worked fine but I needed to defrost it. I shut it off and opened the doors to the refrigerator and the freezer and let it thaw. I turned it on today and it would not cool on electricity or gas. I tried on gas again just now and it started to cool. (I could feel the unit get hot).
I have 11.95 VDC and 115.8 VAC at the unit. Does anyone have ideas as where to start? Are there manuals available for troubleshooting? I would guess that the problem might be in the control board. I have digital test equipment. Thanks - Jim
First, your bateries are dead at under 12 VDC. 12.7 VDC is a fully charged 12 volt battery at rest. 12.2 VDC is 50% discharged, and this is the lowest you want to take them for maximum battery life. Charge them up. Low voltage CAN cause irratic refrigator opperation as the PC board runs on 12 VDC.
And how long did you have it on when you determined that it was not cooling? Absorbtion refrigerators often take overnight to reach operating temps with the freezer cooling first.
Thank you wolfe 10. The batteries read 13.71 VDC at the battery terminals and 13.71 at the distribution panel. The battery has been on charge from the landline since I returned from the last camping trip about 12 days ago. It is a new 12VDC deep cycle battery Dometic uses the 12 VDC for the control panel. They will operate at voltages as low as 10.5 VDC. I didn't realize that the freezer portion cooled first. Thank you for your help - Jim
Bedias Cougar wrote: Thank you wolfe 10. The batteries read 13.71 VDC at the battery terminals and 13.71 at the distribution panel. The battery has been on charge from the landline since I returned from the last camping trip about 12 days ago. It is a new 12VDC deep cycle battery Dometic uses the 12 VDC for the control panel. They will operate at voltages as low as 10.5 VDC. I didn't realize that the freezer portion cooled first. Thank you for your help - Jim
First you said your battery was 11.95 and then you said the battery was 13.71, Which one is it? If it is 13.71 that tells me that you are plugged into shore power and the reading you are getting is because the Convertor is charging the battery at that rate. Wolfe has given you some great info. I start my refer 24 hours before I want to use it. It takes a long time to cool and I don't even open the door for at least 18 hours, but after that the freezer holds at 0 degrees. Give it time.
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