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06-12-2016, 10:35 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 11
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Running fridge while parked in yard
We are getting ready for an upcoming trip so the camper is sitting in our yard but not level...not even close to being level. Will we hurt the fridge because of that? I wouldn't think so since we can use it will driving down the road but wanted to check w the experts! Thanks!
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06-12-2016, 10:37 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Englewood FL
Posts: 2,797
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If it's an LP/electric, yes, it will hurt the fridge.
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2015 335DS
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06-12-2016, 10:41 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
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Depends on how out of level it is and in which direction.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...7SXP_tlG7os4OA
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2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
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06-12-2016, 10:47 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 643
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Why not just level the trailer before you start up the fridge? My drive isn't level and that is what I do as part of getting ready for a trip.
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06-12-2016, 11:08 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Cleveland, GA
Posts: 408
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I never level my camper when I return from a trip and I always plug in and keep my fridge going, never had an issue.
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Glen & Lee
Cleveland, GA : Rochester, NY
2019 Primetime Sanibel 3851
2017 Ford F350 PSD
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06-12-2016, 11:16 AM
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#6
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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The frig should be level side to side for the ammonia system to cool it correctly. There has to be liquid ammonia where the burner is or trouble will ensue.
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06-12-2016, 11:54 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,272
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It is generally not advised to run the fridge way off level. The internal mixture (water, liquid amonia, hydrogen gas, sodium chromate) has to be able to move thru the system as designed. The reason it isn't an issue on the road is you're always turning, going up and down hills, and hiting bumps allowing the mix to keep moving and not pool in one place and overheat. The sodium chromate particles in the mix ... when overheated can turn to crystal and start to block sections of internal piping in the boiler. Your fridge gets less and less efficient. This won't happen instantly, but over a period of time repeatedly running off level ... so why invite failure ... level her up a bit?
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06-12-2016, 11:56 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 64
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When you are on the road, the ammonia is not staying at rest anymore. The level seen by the fridge is continuously changing. When parked, should be at level or almost.
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06-12-2016, 12:01 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
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If you are going to run your fridge to cool down at your house level the TT as you would at a camp site side to side front to back. not being level you run the risk of doing damage to your fridge
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Retired Navy
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2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
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06-12-2016, 01:36 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 71
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Just curious, but if the trailer is plugged into electrical, is the amonia still a concern?
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06-12-2016, 01:44 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Lexington, NC
Posts: 2,621
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tjmezzan
Just curious, but if the trailer is plugged into electrical, is the amonia still a concern?
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Yes, the ammonia must still move through the system the same way regardless of whether the energy source is gas or electric.
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2018 Coachmen Apex 249 RBS
2010 Silverado LT 5.3 V8
The world is a great book, of which those who never stir from home
read only a page. - St. Augustine
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06-12-2016, 01:46 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,441
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Yes, the refrigerator operates the same whether on propane or 120 volt AC electricity, or 12 volt DC if you have a 3 way refrigerator. Either just supplies heat in the stack to heat the solution in the coil that transfers heat from the refrigerator to the outside air.
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RamblerGuy
2011 Sunseeker 3100
2016 Ford Edge Toad
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06-12-2016, 02:08 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,272
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Electrical or gas ... it's not the amonia that is the concern ... it is the whole mix inside your fridge on your RV. Like I mentioned, it is the unlevelness that causes excessive heat buildup and that leads to crystals forming inside the tubes. There are places inside the tubes that are rescticted down ... over time the crystals will near block or block those areas. The crystals cannot be removed. Some of the older folks used to remove the fridge and turn them upside down, then rightside up to breakup the blockage ... just a short term fix as they would plug up internally again.
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06-12-2016, 02:16 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Hoffman Estates Il.
Posts: 239
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Do NOT do it. It's important that a refrigerator be relatively level during operation. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it needs to be close, or you risk damaging the unit.
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06-12-2016, 07:39 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 297
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So just to be clear, if the motorhome sits at a slight incline on the driveway, it doesn't affect the refrigerator as long as it isn't turned on?
Toni and Sal
2016 Forester 2291S
Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums
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06-12-2016, 07:51 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ToniandSal
So just to be clear, if the motorhome sits at a slight incline on the driveway, it doesn't affect the refrigerator as long as it isn't turned on?
Toni and Sal
2016 Forester 2291S
Sent from my iPad using Forest River Forums
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No, without heat source no danger to cooling unit.
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06-12-2016, 08:17 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,748
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigmak304bs
We are getting ready for an upcoming trip so the camper is sitting in our yard but not level...not even close to being level. Will we hurt the fridge because of that? I wouldn't think so since we can use it will driving down the road but wanted to check w the experts! Thanks!
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Yes, you will damage the fridge. The keywords you used were "not even close to level". If you run the fridge in that manner, it WILL cause damage. This is all assuming it is an absorption type fridge.
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06-12-2016, 10:32 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Mo
Posts: 25
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Yes
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06-13-2016, 07:55 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SouthWest Michigan
Posts: 5,977
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When we are using the fridge in our MH,,, we keep one side on 6" thick wooden ramps in our driveway that I made so it would be level !!!
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06-13-2016, 12:23 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 297
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Level Refrig
When I backed our MH onto the street in front of our house to get the ref rig. running and cool down, it didn't sit level because the street dips slightly towards the curb. I couldn't park it further out into the street for obvious reasons. So, maybe for this upcoming trip I should put a leveling block under the front and rear right tires to prop it up out of the gutter ? Forgive my ignorance, I am VERY new at this, and am trying to learn to do things correct!
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