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Old 06-12-2016, 10:35 AM   #1
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 10:37 AM   #2
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If it's an LP/electric, yes, it will hurt the fridge.
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Old 06-12-2016, 10:41 AM   #3
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Depends on how out of level it is and in which direction.

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Old 06-12-2016, 10:47 AM   #4
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 11:08 AM   #5
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 11:16 AM   #6
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 11:54 AM   #7
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 11:56 AM   #8
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 12:01 PM   #9
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 01:36 PM   #10
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Just curious, but if the trailer is plugged into electrical, is the amonia still a concern?
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Old 06-12-2016, 01:44 PM   #11
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Just curious, but if the trailer is plugged into electrical, is the amonia still a concern?
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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Old 06-12-2016, 01:46 PM   #12
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 02:08 PM   #13
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 02:16 PM   #14
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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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Old 06-12-2016, 07:39 PM   #15
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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?


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Old 06-12-2016, 07:51 PM   #16
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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?


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No, without heat source no danger to cooling unit.
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Old 06-12-2016, 08:17 PM   #17
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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!
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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Old 06-12-2016, 10:32 PM   #18
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Old 06-13-2016, 07:55 AM   #19
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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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Old 06-13-2016, 12:23 PM   #20
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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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