Need some ideas PLEASE

[shark918v]

Q: I own a 2001 FR 1610 pop-up trailer. Can you provide me some ideas on how get the maximum cooling from the small Dometic refrigerator?????????

The refer just doesn't get very cold at all......

[TURBS]

Don't open it every 5 mintues.
If you have kids buy a small dorm fridge for things there always after.
Before we had our outside kitchen we put a a cheap walmart dorm fridge on a table outside with with drink n snacks and that kept them out of the inside fridge. Just a suggestion.

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[OldCoot]

Put a couple of ball bearing computer fans on the outside blowing up from the burner across the whole back of the refrigerator and at least one inside to circulate the air.

[indybp57]

#1) Patience. These fridges don't work like a fridge in your home, and they require about a day to get fully cold. Google alcohol absorption fridge to learn how they work.
#2) Don't load it up with a lot of warm items. When packing for a trip precool as much stuff as you can in your home fridge before putting it in the dometic.
#3) The fridge should be reasonably level. If its grossly out of level then it can develop a vapor lock and not work correctly. So get your camper level - it doesn't have to be perfect but reasonably close.
#4) You should have access to the back of the fridge from an outside panel. Find the tank and check to see if it's hot to the touch. If it is then the fridge is probably working properly. We used to leave the access panel door open to allow the heat to escape - same concept as OldCoot mentioned but I didn't bother mounting a fan.

The fridge in our old popup was pretty slow to cool down, but once it did get cold it would freeze stuff that was too close to the cooling fins. It just takes getting used to and you have to realize it is not going to perform like the fridge in your house.

[KyDan]

Ditto all the other suggestions!
IF you've got kids that like to open the refer a lot- get them their own
ice chest and put their drinks in it.
Ditto- put in COLD stuff to begin with.
Mine actually gets cold a little faster on LP mode vs electric....
Believe it or not if the refer is pretty full of cold stuff- it looses
less cold when you do open the door due to less room for warm air
to get in there!

Finally get a fridge thermometer and place in there.
Watch to see if it's 40 deg F or slightly below in the morning after
a night of not opening the door.
IF it's 40 or colder it's probably working as good as can be.

Happy Camping!

[TURBS]

Such as

TURBS


"Sabre owners united"

[KyDan]

I'm jealous! My refer is 40 F period. Doesn't matter if it's 50 outside
or 95.... My refer does not have that little slider thingie that some have
on the fins so you can move it up or down to change the temp slightly.
It's 40 and that's all I ever get.
I know I could buy a dino board that is adjustable but we've been OK
at 40 for 6 seasons.
As I'm fond of mentioning-- I have a couple blue ice mugs and since my
freezer is really cold they are too.
Pour in your favorite 40 deg beverage and these mugs will put a skim
of ice on top in minutes! Food/milk is not in there long enough for the
marginal 40 degrees to be a problem.

A previous RV refer would freeze the lettuce and tomatoes every dang
time it got the least bit cool outside! This one doesn't do that!

[indybp57]

For about $20 at Walmart you can get a cheapo wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer. Put the outdoor sending unit in your fridge, and the indoor display in your tow vehicle. Then you can monitor it while on the road.

[Herk7769]

Mine works great. No extra fans either.

Number one rule is not to over pack the fridge. Air circulation around the food items is needed to prevent cold and hot spots.

Number two rule is to never leave the door open while searching for stuff in your over packed fridge. It will take HOURS to get that cold air back.

Freezer is typically at 9 degrees. Fridge at 35 degrees.

[OldCoot]

KyDan, put a pair of fans on the back and it will cool the inside of the fridge better. For less than $20 too.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

KyDan, put a pair of fans on the back and it will cool the inside of the fridge better. For less than $20 too.

My refer is apparently factory set at 40.
Not adjustable.
IF it was 40 on hot days and 35 on cool days I would add fans.
Mine is 40 when it's frosty outside so it's not a cooling the
backside issue. It's a 40 degree non-adjustable thermister issue.
Fans are great but won't make every refer run cooler.

[pgandw]

Originally Posted by shark918v

Q: I own a 2001 FR 1610 pop-up trailer. Can you provide me some ideas on how get the maximum cooling from the small Dometic refrigerator?????????

The refer just doesn't get very cold at all......

Previously had a 2000 Coleman Westlake pop-up; now have a 2014 FR A122 pop-up A-Frame. The refridgerators are quite a bit simpler than the larger models in the TTs, especially 10 years ago.

The Coleman had fixed cooling on 120V and 12V - no settings at all, just switches. The A-122 has adjustable 120V, but 12V is still fixed. Gas on both pop-ups has an adjustable gas valve, but no thermostat.

My procedure is to level, then plug in the camper the night (or maybe even 2 nights) before to run camper and fridge on AC. I always check the chimney after 30 min to make sure it's hot (fridge is working). Morning of or night before trip, load fridge with pre-cooled items (if unsure of plans, we just carry food in the minivan in coolers).

Disconnect shore power before hooking up minivan. When van is hooked up, switch to 12V power for fridge. On both campers, 12V cooling is pretty weak - enough to hold temp if fridge is kept closed while on the road, but not enough to cool further.

Turn off fridge BEFORE disconnecting minivan at camp site. Level and pop up camper. Then turn on gas and attempt to light fridge. Getting fridge to light at high altitudes (6,000 ft and above) is usually not easy. I have to purge all air by lighting stove burner, and holding down primer button for a full minute before trying to light. If the flame "pops", the burner is NOT lit, and I have to keep trying. The hand test on the chimney is my gold standard. If that is hot, I know the fridge is working.

Once the gas is burning, those babies will freeze stuff inside the fridge if left alone overnight. The first night, the gas is on or close to max. After that, I have to back off the gas to prevent freezing.

Many pop-up folks build an outer "duct" - with or without fan - around the burner and chimney to increase efficiency. And a small fan inside the fridge can help circulate the air.

just my experiences
Fred W

[indybp57]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Number one rule is not to over pack the fridge.

I disagree. "Rule #1: Obey all rules!" -Barney Fife

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