Dometic Refrigerator Temperature slide control

tmmar · 07-03-2013, 11:41 AM

The thermistor that is in the white temperature slide control inside the refrigerator on the cooling fins came out of the plastic slide. Does anyone know where in that slide the thermistor should be placed and how to keep it from coming out again?
Thanks,
Tom

Wiscampsin · 07-03-2013, 11:59 AM

The top of the thermistor should be flush with the top of the slider. A small piece of double sided Scotch tape that might work to keep it from moving.

tmmar · 07-03-2013, 12:19 PM

I'm not sure that I would want to use the double sided tape on the thermistor because it may interfere with the thermistor's temperature sensing capability.

Wiscampsin · 07-03-2013, 02:12 PM

Just a small 1/8" strip along the side so it doesn't slide out shouldn't hurt.

TaterColo · 07-11-2013, 10:24 AM

Does anyone have trouble with the fridge staying cool? On our long trips with the fridge packed it does not get cold enough. We've lost some fruit to mold because its not cold enough. Currently the readout on top of the Dometic reads 5 and 1. Sometimes on this trip it reads 5 and 8 or 5 and 9. It all over the board. It also seems to not make a difference if we are on propane or shore power.

BTW we are camped at White Pines State Park in Illinois. Beautiful park.

tmmar · 07-11-2013, 10:39 AM

Your fridge must be different from mine. Not sure what you mean by '5 and 1' and '5 and 9'. I have a 2 sensor thermometer that I use to tell me the temperature in the coach and I put the other sensor in the fridge. On a recent trip, the temp inside the fridge did vary quite a bit. I went up when it was opened, as you would expect it to do. Went down when it sat closed. But it doesn't seem to stay as cold as it used to be. That's when I discovered the thermistor had come out of the slide. Have you tried moving the white slide on the right side of the fins in the back up? That should bring the temp down somewhat. Also, I would get a remote senor thermometer that you can put in the fridge so that you can monitor the internal temp without having to open it.

Forgot to mention that I also have 5 temp settings and keep mine set on 5. I also have a fan that clips to the back coils that helps and I put a pc muffin fan in the outside compartment which blows air upward to dissipate the heat better.

klucas · 07-11-2013, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaterColo

Does anyone have trouble with the fridge staying cool? On our long trips with the fridge packed it does not get cold enough. We've lost some fruit to mold because its not cold enough. Currently the readout on top of the Dometic reads 5 and 1. Sometimes on this trip it reads 5 and 8 or 5 and 9. It all over the board. It also seems to not make a difference if we are on propane or shore power.

BTW we are camped at White Pines State Park in Illinois. Beautiful park.

My fridge goes from 1-5. 5 being the coldest setting. Give that a try. I also found when its really hot if the ice maker is on it has a effect on the temp. We spent a few weeks in the desert last month and I made these changes and it was fine after that. Hope it works for you.

TaterColo · 07-11-2013, 06:03 PM

Here is my setup. Note number I'm upper right And is this the thermal coupler you are talking about?

tmmar · 07-11-2013, 06:13 PM

Yours is a double door. Mine is a single door (really 2 doors - 1 for the fridge, 1 for the freezer). The thermocouple is in the back of the refrigerator usually on the rightmost fin in a white plastic slide piece. I have read a post where the poster said that the rubber flap between the doors of double door refrigerators sometimes gets folded and allows warm air to enter. When you close the doors, you should check to make sure the flap is not folded under. I am trying to include a link to a picture of the slide. Hopefully this will work. It is the white plastic piece on the right side.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...1&d=1367980299

klucas · 07-11-2013, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaterColo

Here is my setup. Note number I'm upper right And is this the thermal coupler you are talking about?

That number on the outside is the inside temp. You want that under 40 deg. If you open the door there is the temp setting button, top right next to the on: off button. . If you hit it it will go between 1-5. That sets the temp setting. Higher the number colder it will get.

TaterColo · 07-11-2013, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klucas

That number on the outside is the inside temp. You want that under 40 deg. If you open the door there is the temp setting button, top right next to the on: off button. . If you hit it it will go between 1-5. That sets the temp setting. Higher the number colder it will get.

Yes. I have the temp setting at 5 (the coldest I understand). Current reading now is 58 (i never knew that was the temp of the fridge - I thought the first number was the cold setting and the second number was the cold factor on a scale of 1-9) I don't ever recall seeing the fridge at the low 40's. I'll test that with an empty fridge when I get home - with ice maker off.

Thanks for the clarification.

Todd

klucas · 07-11-2013, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaterColo

Yes. I have the temp setting at 5 (the coldest I understand). Current reading now is 58 (i never knew that was the temp of the fridge - I thought the first number was the cold setting and the second number was the cold factor on a scale of 1-9) I don't ever recall seeing the fridge at the low 40's. I'll test that with an empty fridge when I get home - with ice maker off.

Thanks for the clarification.

Todd

Mine will take a full 24 -30 hrs after storage to get to temp. Usually in the early morning the temp will be about 35. By the end of the day it will be about 40-41. If it hot out. I had a few days it was mid 40s. Once I turned off the ice maker it went back to normal. The only thing I could think of was the warm water was to much to overcome for the fridge. By your picture it appeared as it wasn't fully packed with food so it's weird your having this problem. Check all the gaskets ect. Maybe have a tech check it out.

TaterColo · 07-11-2013, 09:22 PM

It appears the "flap" on the left door was not sealing all the way when the door was closed. I pulled it closed by hand then shut the right door. I'll let you all know if that helped.

klucas · 07-11-2013, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaterColo

It appears the "flap" on the left door was not sealing all the way when the door was closed. I pulled it closed by hand then shut the right door. I'll let you all know if that helped.

Glad you found that. Hopefully by morning you will see a big difference. Also FYI. Go outside at the vent on the side of coach. Make sure the drain is working. Since your temp was so low you would have a lot of condensation. I discovered mine was leaking inside the panel and not draining out properly. I had to pull the hose off and remount to drain properly. Pull off the vent on the side and look to the right. Make sure there is no water in there.

VinceU · 07-11-2013, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaterColo

It appears the "flap" on the left door was not sealing all the way when the door was closed. I pulled it closed by hand then shut the right door. I'll let you all know if that helped.

I've food bits in the lower guide which rotates the flap on the way closed. Enough to retard the snap closing of the flap. It wasn't obvious but when cleaned it worked again without assistance. Without the flap closing, it's like leaving the door open 1/2"!

TaterColo · 07-11-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinceU

Without the flap closing, it's like leaving the door open 1/2"!

WOW! Hopefully that's my problem as its an easy fix!

Mmnsc · 07-12-2013, 06:38 AM

I have a similiar problem with the refrig warming up during the day. I spoke with Dometic on Monday and the rep told me to "refresh" the door gaskets by gently warming them with a hair dryer. I have not tried this yet but will when i finally get home and let the refrig turn off and wsrm up.