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06-15-2020, 05:44 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 19
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Dometic 4223 Fridge Freezing or Too Warm
That's it. I've seen it said aptly that this fridge either results in frozen beer or spoiled meat. For what it's worth, I'm running primarily on propane. I'm 1 degree off of level, so no issues there. Admittedly, it may be the heat. It's 90+ degrees here, and the fridge isn't cool enough to be a fridge. However, in the morning everything is frozen. I'm running on "4" setting.
I'm wondering if the thermistor needs replacing, but this one seems far less straight-forward on this model. Any experience out there? A lot of You Tube videos make testing and/or replacing the thermistor appear to be super easy, but this one looks quite complicated. We are gearing up for an extended trip, so I want this sucker to work!
Thanks in advance!
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06-15-2020, 05:59 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,330
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It's not uncommon for this kind of refrigerator that cools by convection inside the unit.
The cooling is from the fins at the top of the refrigerator's inside and the idea is that cool air will drop and force warm air up. When temperature equilibrium is reached the control board turns off the cooling process. Unfortunately what often happens is that a LOT of much colder air settles and the thermistor thinks everything is just right.
I found a simple battery operated "fan cube" did the trick to keep air inside circulating and make temps more even from top to bottom. ~$15 from RV shops, Amazon, even many campgrounds. They work for about a month continuously on a D-Cell battery.
Put it on the lowest shelf and it blows that cold air up.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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06-15-2020, 07:12 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 19
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Right! I forgot to mention that I ordered a fan, and it's on the way!
Fingers crossed on that being the solution!
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06-16-2020, 01:26 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,089
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Evan, Mike
If you have actually have a 4223 Dometic fridge, then it is a small, continuous run fridge that Forest River installs in pop-ups, A-frames, and other small campers.
Some of my trials and tribulations of getting this fridge to cool consistently are contained in this thread: https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f221/im-liking-my-a-frame-fridge-104964.html
Bottom line is that Rockwood/Flagstaff seldom install fridges in the smaller units in accordance with Dometic specifications. With a limited amount of vertical height between the air intake and the exhaust vents, any trapping of air or failure of air to circulate in through the bottom vent and out the top vent will cause this fridge to stop cooling, particularly in 90+ outside temps. If you don't feel hotter than ambient air coming out the top vent, this fridge ain't cooling. And with the small size, it will heat up quickly.
The 4223 fridge has no thermistor or thermostat. On propane, the dial regulates how much propane gets to the burner. On propane, I always started the fridge on "5" and after a day or two, I could reduce down to 3 or 4 and it would maintain. Similar story on AC power - the dial is a regular light dimmer that regulates power input just like dimming a light bulb. Start on highest number, and reduce as fridge gets cold. On DC, there is no adjustment at all.
Not mentioned, but critical to monitoring the fridge, is a wireless, battery powered thermometer - mine was $10 at Wal-Mart. Batteries (2AA, 2AAA) last about a month of use, I take them out after each trip. My readout works fine while towing, when we camp I set it on the counter in the camper.
I did some work making the installation better conform to Dometic specs - filling the voids around and above the fridge with insulation, aiming the propane exhaust at the exhaust vent, etc. Detailed in the link I provided. But nothing worked consistently in hot weather until I installed a 120mm computer case fan to blow air out the upper vent. I used tie wraps to fasten the fan to the upper vent grill. With that fan, I never had any problems after that. The issue became stopping the fridge from freezing in cooler temps - I couldn't turn the AC or propane down low enough.
Now that I have a high wall A-frame and a different model fridge, I have the same issues. There are situations where the air stops flowing by convection across the cooling coils, and the fridge stops cooling. Many of the situations there is a wind blowing against the side of the trailer where the fridge vents are.
hope this helps
Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
prev 2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame with Dometic 4223 fridge
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time
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06-17-2020, 02:30 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brownsville
Posts: 1,166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Evan H
That's it. I've seen it said aptly that this fridge either results in frozen beer or spoiled meat. For what it's worth, I'm running primarily on propane. I'm 1 degree off of level, so no issues there. Admittedly, it may be the heat. It's 90+ degrees here, and the fridge isn't cool enough to be a fridge. However, in the morning everything is frozen. I'm running on "4" setting.
I'm wondering if the thermistor needs replacing, but this one seems far less straight-forward on this model. Any experience out there? A lot of You Tube videos make testing and/or replacing the thermistor appear to be super easy, but this one looks quite complicated. We are gearing up for an extended trip, so I want this sucker to work!
Thanks in advance!
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Is the sun beating down on your frig where you light it on the outside .if so you might need to put a reflector to cover the sun and heat
__________________
2019 Flagstaff 26 RBWS
2015 GMC Sierra 1500
2019 camp 17 nites. Bill,Alley and are two kids Sierra,Ivy. 2020 camp 9 nites
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06-17-2020, 06:03 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pgandw
Evan, Mike
If you have actually have a 4223 Dometic fridge, then it is a small, continuous run fridge that Forest River installs in pop-ups, A-frames, and other small campers.
Some of my trials and tribulations of getting this fridge to cool consistently are contained in this thread: https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f221/im-liking-my-a-frame-fridge-104964.html
Bottom line is that Rockwood/Flagstaff seldom install fridges in the smaller units in accordance with Dometic specifications. With a limited amount of vertical height between the air intake and the exhaust vents, any trapping of air or failure of air to circulate in through the bottom vent and out the top vent will cause this fridge to stop cooling, particularly in 90+ outside temps. If you don't feel hotter than ambient air coming out the top vent, this fridge ain't cooling. And with the small size, it will heat up quickly.
The 4223 fridge has no thermistor or thermostat. On propane, the dial regulates how much propane gets to the burner. On propane, I always started the fridge on "5" and after a day or two, I could reduce down to 3 or 4 and it would maintain. Similar story on AC power - the dial is a regular light dimmer that regulates power input just like dimming a light bulb. Start on highest number, and reduce as fridge gets cold. On DC, there is no adjustment at all.
Not mentioned, but critical to monitoring the fridge, is a wireless, battery powered thermometer - mine was $10 at Wal-Mart. Batteries (2AA, 2AAA) last about a month of use, I take them out after each trip. My readout works fine while towing, when we camp I set it on the counter in the camper.
I did some work making the installation better conform to Dometic specs - filling the voids around and above the fridge with insulation, aiming the propane exhaust at the exhaust vent, etc. Detailed in the link I provided. But nothing worked consistently in hot weather until I installed a 120mm computer case fan to blow air out the upper vent. I used tie wraps to fasten the fan to the upper vent grill. With that fan, I never had any problems after that. The issue became stopping the fridge from freezing in cooler temps - I couldn't turn the AC or propane down low enough.
Now that I have a high wall A-frame and a different model fridge, I have the same issues. There are situations where the air stops flowing by convection across the cooling coils, and the fridge stops cooling. Many of the situations there is a wind blowing against the side of the trailer where the fridge vents are.
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This is fantastic, thanks!
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06-17-2020, 06:04 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyBass
Is the sun beating down on your frig where you light it on the outside .if so you might need to put a reflector to cover the sun and heat
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It's mostly sunniest on the door side, but the whole rig is more-or-less in the sun where it's currently parked at my house.
Can you elaborate on the reflector idea?
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06-17-2020, 06:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brownsville
Posts: 1,166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Evan H
It's mostly sunniest on the door side, but the whole rig is more-or-less in the sun where it's currently parked at my house.
Can you elaborate on the reflector idea?
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When I was camping one time I seen campers blocking the door you get into for the frig and i ask they said when its that hot and the sun beating on the outside door the frig doesnt let it work right.
I try to find them for you but i cant .Dont know what they call them .I also seen them on another site .
__________________
2019 Flagstaff 26 RBWS
2015 GMC Sierra 1500
2019 camp 17 nites. Bill,Alley and are two kids Sierra,Ivy. 2020 camp 9 nites
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08-08-2020, 12:22 PM
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#9
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Cloud Rider
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Lees Summit, MO
Posts: 20
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We have a 2018 A122ESP with the Dometic 4223 refrigerator that has capillary type thermostats for both AC & Propane. Because I inadvertently drilled holes in both the tubes inside the refrigerator (short story: bad things happen when you hurry) they’re both worthless. I’ve been looking into replacements and they’re each around $90. The AC thermostat is made in Slovakia by Danfoss (Danfoss #25T65) and can be bought on EBay from a vendor in Bulgaria for $30 + $7 shipping. The AC thermostat is easy to get to and replace but the propane thermostat would be a chore to replace because of the plumbing involved. After following this thread and finding out most 4223 fridges are operating without any thermostat I’m considering bypassing both of mine to see what happens. I’ll let you all know how it goes. In all honesty, if I could find a fridge that would fit in the same space I’d throw this one in the junk pile. Like all Dometic products I’ve had experience with it’s a piece of junk in my opinion.
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