Cooling the Dometic refrigerator after not in use for a while.

[OswegoLion]

What mode brings the quickest cooling? Should it be set at the coldest setting? Thanks

[retiredcamper47]

I use frozen ice packs on the shelves and in the freezer. I then put it on propane mode for the quickest cooling. There is no electrical source where I store my unit.

Bob

[OswegoLion]

So electric takes longer?

[5picker]

When the refrigerator is first turned on from a warmed/inactive state, it does not matter what setting you put it on. The refrigerator begins to use whatever mode of heat (propane or electric) to boil the ammonia in a 'full on' state. Meaning it wont get any hotter (to cool) in the #1 position than it does in the #5 position.

Once the refrigerator comes to temperature, the control simply regulates the duration the heat source is active to maintain temperature.

[5picker]

In the 'old' days most refrigerators worked a bit better/quicker on propane as the heat from the burner was a little more efficient than the electric element at boiling the ammonia.

In today's RV refrigerators with their poorly designed vents and skimpy insulation, the extra heat in the back of the refer box from the propane burner can have an adverse effect on cooling. My new Dometic actually cooled a tiny bit quicker on electric than when on propane before my fan mods. This is the first one I owned that had done that.

[SidecarFlip]

Maybe I'm FOS but the addition of supplemental cooling of the coils should aid in a faster cool down of the refrigerated compartment. I noticed a difference going from one auxillary (muffin) fan to 2 muffin fans pulling air across the coils in the rear compartment.

Has to be pulling, not pushing... If you push, you can extinguish your propane flame in the chimney, it's not that big....

[5picker]

Nope... not FOS.
Supplemental cooling (addition of fans both inside and out) can greatly add to the cooling efficiency whether on propane or electric.

[bob dirt]

I live in Phoenix Arizona. It gets a little hot here sometimes. I don't think one way is any faster than the other. The trick is to be smarter than what you are working on. I turn mine one a couple of days before I need it. I don't put anything in it that isn't already cold or frozen. I don't use any fans inside or for the exhaust. Mine works just fine. If you put in hot stuff, It may never cool down depending on how many days you are out.
Mine is plugged in and set to auto just in case the power fails for some reason. I mostly camp in the boondocks so I have to rely on propane and solar when not home.

BTW, this is my 6th RV and they have all worked well if I pre cooled them.

[Mr. Dan]

Between trips, my unit is parked in a shed with electrical power hooked up and refrigerator turned off. A trip never surprises me (not spontaneous enough, maybe). When a trip is upcoming, I turn the fridge ON maybe a full day before the trip set to AUTO so it uses electricity. It is easier to replenish electricity for me. I have been known to put ice packs in the freezer but not very often. I never adjust the thermistor hoping the fridge will cool faster (see 5picker's post). When I shut down power to leave for the trip, the fridge automatically switches to propane as a heating source and stays that way until I plug in shore power at the campsite.