A Wallace
Florence, Al
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Joined: 01/05/2002
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In another post I had written about my 2410 Dometic all manuel opr.in my TC not cooling well on LP. I have cleaned the burner tube with a bore brush cleaned the orifice and checked the the pressure bypass screw. I am also using a different regulator factory set at 11 inches water column. the tube from the burner is so hot you cannot touch it but cools as it goes up. the temp range is early in the morning about 33 on next to the highest setting but as the day heats up the temp creeps up to about 46 with a 90+ outside temp. I have tried to check the thermostat when it is at its coldest I can turn the control knob from high to low and can move the flame some. 46 is unacceptable. What do I do now.
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mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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We have found that RV refrigerators are affected by ambient temperatures. Their cooling efficiency drops somewhat in hot weather, especially if the RV is parked with the fridge on the 'sunny' side. One thing we do in hot weather is to put ice packs (that we freeze overnight) in the refrigerator during the day. Other people put little battery-operated cooling fans in the back of the unit.
Husband: Derek
Dog: Bucky
RV: 2000 Aerolite 19RB TT
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This car used to be our toad, now is our TV!
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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Have You listened to the cooling unit? Or have You felt the Tubes and the Larger Canister to see how warm(Hot) they are?
If There is a gurgling sound and/or the Cooling Unit Tubes feel really Hot, You likely need a "New" Cooling unit or likely a New Refrigerator!
Rob & Jean 90 Southwind John Deere/Oshkosh/Freightliner Class A Ford 460/ Toad 92 Tracker 2 wd 5sp Convert Still running Great!
" Everything in it"Still" Works"
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tomlang
Los Angeles area
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Joined: 06/11/2007
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How is it working on AC power? If it is OK on AC but not so good on LP, then the problem is most likely with the burner, as everything is the same regardless of the heat source.
RV refrigeration is not like what you have in your home. It does not work so well in hot weather. Most of us add fans to help air circulation both inside and behind the refrigerator.
Tom and Lynne
Tom is an Electronics Engineer, Lynne a retired teacher.
old rig is a 1988 Winnebago Superchief, just back from being on tour with the Blue Turtle Seduction (band)
new (our dream rig) is a 2003 Foretravel 38' U295
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canusa
hanwell, new brunswick, canada
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Joined: 06/24/2004
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I have the smallest 3 way Dometic fridge, I can't remember the model number off-hand, but it is totally manual. Even brand new I had the same problem you are describing. If the manual that comes with the fridge were actively honest it would tell you to expect hot weather to make cooling difficult
Fans were the answer for me. I combined 3 2.5 inch computer fans into a bar and controlled them with a temp control module that allow it to cut in at a stack temp of 90 degrees and off at 75 and mounted that in the stack just below the finned cooler and above the slanted elongated coil of pipe where it could help exhaust the built-up heat there. I also rigged a tiny 2", very thin computer fan inside the refrigerator itself to help circulate the cold. I have manual switches on both fans so that I can shut them off or turn them on independent of temperature if I want.
That pretty well solved the problem. The frig still reacts to outside temps but even when they get high I don't get above 40 degrees inside.
One more thing. If you don't have it now you should get a decent little LCD indoor/outdoor thermometer. They cost under $10 and allow you to monitor the fridge temp. without opening the door to do it. Human nature says when you get concerned about a problem you will keep checking it. In my case I found as the fridge got warmer in hot weather I was forever opening the door to see if it was doing any better. That, of couse, defeated any hope I had of the thing ever cooling! With the thermometer in place I can check temps without opening the door.
I do freeze 1 or 2 gallons of water in milk jugs for the start of a trip but re-freezing overnight with the tiny freezer in my unit just can't be done. Freezing some foods or juice is also a good idea as they help with the cooling until thawed or consumed
Good luck with yours!
Herb
04 dodge cummins
03 northstar adventurer 8.5
reeeetired!!
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itsalleasy
USA
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Joined: 07/20/2007
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Look up the outside access door behind the refrigerator. Make sure there is nothing to stop air flow, insulation sometimes hangs and blocks the opening. How much space between the wall and coils? If there is a wide gap there will be little or no flow. The effect should be like a chimney where the warm air rises and creates a draft.
Is the top vent on the roof or side wall? Changing directions of flow is hard to do and takes a lot of power, something convection doesn't have. Good convection air flow really is the key, any thing to stop or significantly slow the flow will hurt the performance of the refrigerator.
If the flue is clear but the top vent is on the side wall or there is a large cavity behind the frig, try a small computer fan to help move the air. Small, low rpm is good, it is quiet with a low current draw, you only want to aid the air flow. Another small one inside the refrigerator will help move the air for even cooling.
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steigerhouse
Mercersburg, PA
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Joined: 03/24/2005
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All the above mentioned problems is why when my Dometic leaked out the ammonia, I junked it and bought an apartment size refig/freezer that is frost free. I put an inverter in to operate it off the DC while I am driving and switch it to A/C once I get to a hook-up. They simply work so much better than the ammonia filled type.
ALASKA BOUND
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A Wallace
Florence, Al
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Well I have added 1 more fan to the 1 I had in the back and 1 on the inside. The temp last night was down to 23 with the thermostat on 5 out of 7 and max. the temp at 3:00 or now is 41 with outside temp in the mid 80's. the cooling unit seems to be ok very hot from the burner and cools off as it goes up no sound at all. I changed the gas regulator yesterday but this is still not good. The thermostat seems to be working ok when it is down low about 32 I have my wife to turn it down until the flame decreases in size and the hold the door open and I watch the flame and it will increase in just a few mins. I am at the end of my rope I may just junk it and buy a new one. It does work ok on electric. I have had 6 RV's and normally they have worked better on gas than elect.
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Chris Bryant
DeLand, Florida, USA
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Joined: 03/26/2003
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When you say you cleaned the flue- did you replace the baffle in the flue, and was it in good shape?
-- Chris Bryant
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kneal44
EAST CENTRAL TEXAS
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Joined: 01/24/2008
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similiar problem here with norcold works great on ac but on propane a real pain. i took the burner apart and cleaned it then on the blog here saw pictures of clean burners and noticed mine was eroded out where the air/propane comes out of burner. just put in a new burner tube today and fired it up 4 hours ago. temp started out at 90 inside frig now its 70 so i expect by morning to be very cold inside i will post my final results in a few days.
oh on ac i froze the lettuce... hope i can get close with propane.
when u play in the sand .... you can get stuck
9-24-08 corpus christi padre island texas. wrecker had to haul me out!
'92 dp 5.9 cummins 190 hp....8mpg yuck!
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