Effectiveness of Dometic Refrigerator in Desert Heat

[Trekker]

Hello. I have a 2012 Forest River Georgetown XL 337DS. I am camping at the Usery Mountain Regional Park outside Phoenix. The daytime temperature is reaching 108 degrees. The Dometic refrigerator is set to automatic and the coldest temperature setting possible. I am hooked up to electricity - 50 amps. However, during the day, the refrigerator seems to lose the battle with the ambient temperature. The refrigerator temperature rises to approximately 55 degrees during the day and then drops again during the evening. Is this normal or is there something wrong with the refrigerator?

[cfsoistman]

DOMETIC NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR FAN FOR RV, BOAT 12V | eBay

A number of us have added this type fan to our refrigerators with great success. As for dealing with 108 degrees I'm not sure how low the temperature will stay in the fridge but 55 seems way too high. Others have added this type fan to help displace the heat at the rear of the fridge. I haven't found the need for one yet but hopefully someone that has can give you their results.
RV Motorhome Camper Refrigerator Solar Fridge Cool Fan | eBay
Best of luck and try to keep cool!

[Mountainmanbob]

if we know we are heading out to the desert
where this time of year it hits well over 110
we turn on our fridge a few days before leaving
makes for a little icy wall build up
everything including ice cream has been ok
in extrem weather
we have the AC on during the day and into the night
this hold inside temp down to prox 80
if you are leaving your rig during the day
with the AC off
get's mighty hot in there

Mountainman

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Trekker

Hello. I have a 2012 Forest River Georgetown XL 337DS. I am camping at the Usery Mountain Regional Park outside Phoenix. The daytime temperature is reaching 108 degrees. The Dometic refrigerator is set to automatic and the coldest temperature setting possible. I am hooked up to electricity - 50 amps. However, during the day, the refrigerator seems to lose the battle with the ambient temperature. The refrigerator temperature rises to approximately 55 degrees during the day and then drops again during the evening. Is this normal or is there something wrong with the refrigerator?

Levelness, shade and airflow are your friend.

You MUST be level side to side for the fridge to function. This is MOST critical in hot weather when every BTU of cooling counts. Liquid Ammonia trapped in the coils will KILL your cooling capacity very quickly especially in hot weather.

I like to sleep with my head higher than my feet (maybe you do too) but adding tilt to the camper is not the way to do that when the fridge is mounted on the side of the camper.

Leave the awning out if it covers the air vents on the fridge (rig an awning if not) to add shade to the cooling chimney. Add a forced fan to increase airflow through the cooling fins in the chimney. Reduce what is in the fridge to allow better circulation inside.

Move the fin thermocouple to the top of the transfer fins.

All of the above

[Lostdog]

We have the double door model and are in the Florida heat and 99% humidity. The unit is on auto and set at it's coldest setting. Over night the temp will be at 33 or 34 degs and by the end of the hottest day the temp will come up to 38 deg or so. And you can hear the built in fans running the entire time. We do keep the awning out as much as possible and that shades the compartment.

If you don't have the fans I would say that would be the problem. Best guess anyway....

[ng2951]

I have not operated mine much above 100, but I have a 10 bag of ice in my freezer for the last couple of months. It has stayed frozen.

That may not be a good measure of temperature, but I do know I have checked it on hot days and it always seemed to be within norms.

I agree that if you expose the refer to the heat of the sun it will definitely negatively affect performance.

[OldCoot]

Fan(s) in the rear of the refrigerator compartment blowing up across the tubing is the most effective way of increasing the cooling capacity. A circulation fan inside the refrigerator also is a tremendous help, but you must have good circulation on the rear of the unit in addition to the refrigerator being level in all directions.

Just don't let the outside fans blow on the burner area.

[Iggy]

I agree with all answers to help refer in hot climates.
I have a 4 door model and I live in Arizona. I always turn on my refrigerator on a least a day before leaving if not longer. I have been in Nevada and Utah with 100 degrees plus and still able to maintain 33-35 degrees at full max. I also have 2 fans that kick in to help displace the heat buildup and helps the system maintain at high temps.
Trejjer when did you turn on your refrigerator? When you arrived at the campground at 100 plus temp?

Or did you turn on before you left home?

Also electric is slow to build up and I usually use gas to cool down first then maintain on electric if available.

[ronhanson]

I have fans inside and outside in the vent stack. No problems maintaining 36deg in 105 heat.

[RONN]

Originally Posted by cfsoistman

DOMETIC NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR FAN FOR RV, BOAT 12V | eBay

A number of us have added this type fan to our refrigerators with great success. As for dealing with 108 degrees I'm not sure how low the temperature will stay in the fridge but 55 seems way too high. Others have added this type fan to help displace the heat at the rear of the fridge. I haven't found the need for one yet but hopefully someone that has can give you their results.
RV Motorhome Camper Refrigerator Solar Fridge Cool Fan | eBay
Best of luck and try to keep cool!

Thanks, My dad has the some problem in the trailor, I will send for a fan for him.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by RONN

Thanks, My dad has the some problem in the trailor, I will send for a fan for him.

Need to get a couple for the outside, behind the refrigerator and pc cooling fans work great for that.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=all

[B47]

Originally Posted by cfsoistman

DOMETIC NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR FAN FOR RV, BOAT 12V | eBay

A number of us have added this type fan to our refrigerators with great success. As for dealing with 108 degrees I'm not sure how low the temperature will stay in the fridge but 55 seems way too high. Others have added this type fan to help displace the heat at the rear of the fridge. I haven't found the need for one yet but hopefully someone that has can give you their results.
RV Motorhome Camper Refrigerator Solar Fridge Cool Fan | eBay
Best of luck and try to keep cool!

Just ordered one - looks to be effective.

Thanks for the info.

[lindy]

A quick and easy solution while sort of "red neck" is to get a 12" box fan and mount it on the ouside fridges lower outside vent panel blowing in. When my fan thats mounted on the cooling coils of the fridge kicks on it's rather noisey, so I use the 12" box fan and then the factory installed cooling fan doesn't kick in and fridge actually stays cooler then with the factory cooling fan

[RONN]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Need to get a couple for the outside, behind the refrigerator and pc cooling fans work great for that.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=all

Thank you for the info, I have ordered two sets, one for me and one for my dad.

Thanks again
RONN

[sparks1032]

Does anyone have any pictures of the fan that was added to the outside back of fridge

[TheFordes]

Pics of the mod would be great. Having the same temp climbs to 48. I keep my fridge on all summer. and on gas in travel. Would love not to have to worry about it. That is if DH would do the mod!!!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by TheFordes

Pics of the mod would be great. Having the same temp climbs to 48. I keep my fridge on all summer. and on gas in travel. Would love not to have to worry about it. That is if DH would do the mod!!!

Here is the one I installed with the chrome toggle switch to control it. The fan is the black rectangle in the center between the small tube and the large tube.

[TheFordes]

Fridge is on a slide. Can you place the fan anywhere. I saw something about bottom vent??? Or do it on both? Should it be blowing upwards?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by TheFordes

Fridge is on a slide. Can you place the fan anywhere. I saw something about bottom vent??? Or do it on both? Should it be blowing upwards?

My fridge is not on a slide and yes, the fan blows up. Just make sure it doesn't blow toward the propane/flame portion.

[Freds342]

Although I just ordered one of the 12-V fans, I've always used (been a "Fan" of) the ones sold at Wal*Mart for about $15 that use two "D" cells.

It's 103 outside right now, and I'm drinking a 37-degree bneer from my Dometic!