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Old 05-31-2016, 01:52 PM   #1
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Fridge too cold, no dial to adjust, only thingy on fin in fridge? How do I adjust?

First, let me thank all of you for being so helpful. My wife and I are pure rookies, and just got back from our very first trip in our very first travel trailer, a Coachman Clipper.

Everything worked pretty well. One strange thing was that the refrigerator was too cold, and some items froze. This is a basic unit, and does not have any buttons or dials to adjust the temperature. The instructions referred to only moving the white plastic gizmo that is attached to one of the fins in the back of the refrigerator. It was not clear whether I should move the white plastic thingy from one friend to another, or slighted up or down on the fin where it is.

I would be very grateful for your expert guidance on how to adjust the temperature in my refrigerator.

Once again, thank you so much! I truly appreciate all the help
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Old 05-31-2016, 02:09 PM   #2
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You slide it up or down. Not sure which is the warmer way to move. I would try down. Later RJD
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Old 05-31-2016, 02:11 PM   #3
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Down. And make sure the thermistor is all the way up into the plastic holder and that the whole thing moves when you slide it.
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Old 06-02-2016, 12:08 AM   #4
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Up (where it's warmest) makes refrig run colder. Down (where it's cooler) lets the refrig run warmer.

Just say it to yourself 15 times and it may set in...!

Or think of yourself as a sensor. What would you do in the warm zone? Call for more cooling, of course!




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Old 06-02-2016, 12:09 AM   #5
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Also see:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for....php?p=1209493


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Old 06-02-2016, 11:55 AM   #6
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Very helpful info. Thank you
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Old 06-02-2016, 12:27 PM   #7
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Fridge too cold

The slide holds an RTD (Resistive Thermal Device) that feeds back the fridge temperature to the temp controller. The closer it is to the cooling fins, the colder it reads the value as the fridge temp and the controller asks for less cooling from your fridge. The farther away the less cold it gets from the fins and it thinks the fridge is warmer and directs the temp controller to provide more cooling.
It is not intuitive and backwards from what most people think.

Closer to the cooling fins (better thermal conduction to the RTD) means less cooling to the fridge.

Thanks
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Old 06-02-2016, 12:35 PM   #8
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I had same problem. Dealer claimed he changed sensor (thermistor) twice. Did nothing. After 18 months went to another dealer ans they changed control board at rear of fridge. Seems better but I will see when the fridge is full. I am also wondering, if there is insufficient insulation between the freezer and the fridge sections, it would be like a big block of ice and the cold from the freezer would affect the fridge. I'll know in Aug. Good luck...
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Old 06-02-2016, 01:00 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aceinspp View Post
You slide it up or down. Not sure which is the warmer way to move. I would try down. Later RJD


To the OP: if you don't have the decal pictured below, you should get one OR print my pic and tape it inside your refrigerator.



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Old 06-02-2016, 01:18 PM   #10
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the thermostat thing came out of the sliding plastic. I have tried taping it back in and it did not work. How can I keep it in the sliding plastic which also seems a little loose on the fin
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Old 06-02-2016, 03:20 PM   #11
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That thing drove me insane on our previous camper.

Don't tell DW but I may have bought a fifth wheel just to get a refrigerator with real digital numbers.
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Old 06-02-2016, 08:03 PM   #12
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I have the same fridge, but I have an additional on and off switch labeled "climate control switch", not sure what the function is for?
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Old 06-02-2016, 08:11 PM   #13
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the thermostat thing came out of the sliding plastic. I have tried taping it back in and it did not work. How can I keep it in the sliding plastic which also seems a little loose on the fin
For the loose slide, take it out of the fridge, heat the folded edge with a lighter or torch and squeeze it tighter while it cools. This may take three hands. Duct tape should hold the thermocouple sensor in the holder.
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Old 06-02-2016, 09:00 PM   #14
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One of these days, I'm going to install my "snip the tip" refrigerator temperature control. Supposedly they're the bees knees to replace that stupid slider.
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Old 06-03-2016, 06:20 AM   #15
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We keep thermometers in all our refrigerators,,, I like knowing what they are doing !!!
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Old 06-03-2016, 08:43 AM   #16
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I had the RTD come loose in our Dometic DM2652RBX. I contacted Dometic and they told me the position for it, which was level with the top. I used a little RTV to keep it there and one of those spring type paper clip/binder to hold the whole thing where I put it.
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Old 06-04-2016, 10:58 AM   #17
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https://youtu.be/OmzDYZFYmx0 This might answer your question better!
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Old 06-04-2016, 11:14 AM   #18
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If you don't have a decal to note which way to move the Thermistor, remember the phrase, "Down to Hell" to remember. "Down" is warmer... This has worked for me over the years. You can also have a Dinosaur Electronics brand control board put in the fridge to provide you with more control over temps if needed.
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Old 06-04-2016, 03:17 PM   #19
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Fridge too cold, no dial to adjust, only thingy on fin in fridge? How do I ad...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945 View Post
We keep thermometers in all our refrigerators,,, I like knowing what they are doing !!!

Agreed - one in the refrig and one in the freezer takes all the guess work out of it and let's you adjust the slider to get it right (why they don't use a real thermostat is beyond me!).

These are good and small. I'm not sure why they are listed for $20. I bought several on Amazon for $2 each. They are accurate +/- 2 degrees or so which is adequate for this purpose. If you are compulsive (like someone I know) you can test them against a known good unit such as an infrared thermometer and mark it as +1 or -2 so you will always know.

Cooper-Atkins 330-0-1 Refrigerator/ Freezer Vertical Glass Tube Thermometer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041TJCB4..._EzZuxbBXF32T6


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Old 06-04-2016, 03:18 PM   #20
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Quote:
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If you don't have a decal to note which way to move the Thermistor, remember the phrase, "Down to Hell" to remember. "Down" is warmer... This has worked for me over the years. You can also have a Dinosaur Electronics brand control board put in the fridge to provide you with more control over temps if needed.

Or use a Sharpie to write "warmer" and "colder" on the wall. Done.


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