Fridge temp
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 421
From: Long Island USA
I just wonder, how much amperage do you need at 120VAC to get the same amount of heat generated by a propane flame?
I fully understand the ammonia-stack type of cooling system.
I'll be sure to check the heating element when I get up there for Labor Day... for all I know, the darn thing is crusted up and useless.
It's a Norcold. Here's the control board. The diode in question was inline with the 12VDC, apparently to keep a reversed battery from burning out the board. To get it working, I just used a test-clip to bypass the diode, but I repaired it the "right way" anyway, just in case. OK, totally off-topic.
I fully understand the ammonia-stack type of cooling system.
I'll be sure to check the heating element when I get up there for Labor Day... for all I know, the darn thing is crusted up and useless.
It's a Norcold. Here's the control board. The diode in question was inline with the 12VDC, apparently to keep a reversed battery from burning out the board. To get it working, I just used a test-clip to bypass the diode, but I repaired it the "right way" anyway, just in case. OK, totally off-topic.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: La Plata, NM
Dometic refrigerators - Download Dometic Manuals
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
Simple math:
120v/75ohms=1.6amps
120v/100ohms=1.2amps
120X1.6=192watts
120X1.2=144watts
They don't use very much! It's roughly comparable to a pair of 75watt light bulbs. But then - the gas flame is about the size of a cigarette lighter.
One major difference, the gas flame is at the bottom but the electric element is on the side.
120v/75ohms=1.6amps
120v/100ohms=1.2amps
120X1.6=192watts
120X1.2=144watts
They don't use very much! It's roughly comparable to a pair of 75watt light bulbs. But then - the gas flame is about the size of a cigarette lighter.
One major difference, the gas flame is at the bottom but the electric element is on the side.
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
If your refer has not been used for some time it seems as though mine, at least, doesn't get up to speed after setting for a period of time. Also be sure you are operating it as level as possible. The front to back level is much more important than the side to side. If operated too far out of level your refer will "block up". Consult your manual on how to fix this little problem but it involves removing the refer. As said before it is really important to allow adaquat air circulation around the cooling fins. Some of the newer units are auto temp, I don't think I'd like that very much.
But again it takes maybe up to a day for the temp to level out to where you want it in an absorption refer. I hope you've got it working.
But again it takes maybe up to a day for the temp to level out to where you want it in an absorption refer. I hope you've got it working.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
Mine was really sucking at getting the fridge to temp and keeping it there on Gas. Took it in for the recall/ add a bunch of sheilds on it. Talked to the tech there. he said if it was cooling on electric but not on gas it probably just need to be cleaned out. I used a leaf blower to blast all the debris and dirt out of the back, there was more in there than what I thought would be. Cleaned up the burner as well. Now it sits really nice just above freezing on Gas, never check electric afterwards. Not sure of the accuracy of the temp gauge but it was at 34 degrees and the freezer was actually frozen.
I am going to add blowing out the back of the fridge to my spring and fall maintanance. I also have a small tooth brush to clean the burner if needed as well.
I am going to add blowing out the back of the fridge to my spring and fall maintanance. I also have a small tooth brush to clean the burner if needed as well.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
Be careful of that! There's a twisted metal piece that sits in the gas flame chimney you could unseat that is intended to slow heat rising through it. If it gets out of position, good luck even finding it...
"99% of the appliances in RV's are built like a Coleman lantern..."
"99% of the appliances in RV's are built like a Coleman lantern..."
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 0
From: Utah County, UT
I agree to that, I kept it about two feet away. Also the leaf blower we have is a little electric black and decker. Not much compared to the high powered gas models.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
Just looked at ours and the tag says up is colder and down is warmer. We have ours all the way up and it keeps things very cold. Just be sure nothing touching fins as it will freeze them.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
All of the above apply plus you can get an extension for the thermistor that plugs into the module board and also can switch your board to a Dinosaur board that is adjustable. Finally the element draws about 2-3 amps depending on the model of fridge. If you want to know exactly get your meter out and connect it in series with one leg of the element but be careful as that is 120 VAC and you can get a shock. Element size is restricted due to campground limitations on available power, but Dometic had their fires when they upped the amp draw and the element temperature increases causing the cooling coil welds to weaken and spring leaks.
Fridges installed in slides have a much harder time cooling as the air flow over the cooling coil has to make a 90 degree turn at the top of the fridge and often the space is very tight so flow is restricted.
Stay cool!
Steve
Fridges installed in slides have a much harder time cooling as the air flow over the cooling coil has to make a 90 degree turn at the top of the fridge and often the space is very tight so flow is restricted.
Stay cool!
Steve
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
Steve is right there !!!
I bought a small fan to plug into the fridge lite inside the box that hangs on the fins to distribute the air...
then a nice 4 fan assembly for the top of my outside vents since they are on a slide...
pulls the air thru nicely.... and dropped the temp a bunch...
BUT the new rv was ordered with a residential as I got tired of the "is it cold enough" from the wife
I bought a small fan to plug into the fridge lite inside the box that hangs on the fins to distribute the air...
then a nice 4 fan assembly for the top of my outside vents since they are on a slide...
pulls the air thru nicely.... and dropped the temp a bunch...
BUT the new rv was ordered with a residential as I got tired of the "is it cold enough" from the wife
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Steve is right there !!!
I bought a small fan to plug into the fridge lite inside the box that hangs on the fins to distribute the air...
then a nice 4 fan assembly for the top of my outside vents since they are on a slide...
pulls the air thru nicely.... and dropped the temp a bunch...
BUT the new rv was ordered with a residential as I got tired of the "is it cold enough" from the wife
I bought a small fan to plug into the fridge lite inside the box that hangs on the fins to distribute the air...
then a nice 4 fan assembly for the top of my outside vents since they are on a slide...
pulls the air thru nicely.... and dropped the temp a bunch...
BUT the new rv was ordered with a residential as I got tired of the "is it cold enough" from the wife
For a customer I had last year whose white wine was never cold enough I wired in a small fan like you find on a desktop computer (Northern Tool) on a switch they turned on at the start of the camping season and turned off at the end. No complaints now and I guess you can fall asleep to the hum of the fan.
Steve
Last edited by RV_Tech; Aug 15, 2013 at 05:26 PM. Reason: addition
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