Need new refrigerator

Seachaser186 · 10-17-2018, 04:04 PM

My Dometic RV refrigerator crapped out under warranty, replaced cooling unit and now new cooling unit is bad. Original warranty is now expired and Dometic would not warrant even though the new cooling unit was less than a year old.
Anyway I want to replace with an electric, original was an 8 cu ft and opening is 24 x 60. Bought one online and shipped to store and it was damaged to where I have to return it. After reading the owners manual it states not to be used in RV's so basically am asking for some good recommendations. I have been to quite of few stores and have not found anything in that size range. This is been a major PITA but I am a still hopeful.

Iwannacamp · 10-17-2018, 04:24 PM

I Googled it... seems pretty easy

https://www.build.com/frigidaire-fft...39?uid=2605104

https://www.google.com/search?q=24+w...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Iwannacamp · 10-17-2018, 04:26 PM

or maybe this way....

https://www.google.com/search?q=24+x...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Seachaser186 · 10-17-2018, 04:41 PM

Thanks, yeah I know. The problem is a 24" refrigerator will not work. The opening is about a 1/32" shy of 24. There is no option in enlarging the opening either, wish there was.

saus · 10-17-2018, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seachaser186

My Dometic RV refrigerator crapped out under warranty, replaced cooling unit and now new cooling unit is bad. Original warranty is now expired and Dometic would not warrant even though the new cooling unit was less than a year old.
Anyway I want to replace with an electric, original was an 8 cu ft and opening is 24 x 60. Bought one online and shipped to store and it was damaged to where I have to return it. After reading the owners manual it states not to be used in RV's so basically am asking for some good recommendations. I have been to quite of few stores and have not found anything in that size range. This is been a major PITA but I am a still hopeful.

Our Dometic fridge died also after numerous times of trying to get it fixed. We decided to put it an 11 cu. ft. fridge only, inside the camper. It had the same measurements as our, and your, dometic. We then put a single freezer in our outdoor kitchen. We took out the little fridge that was in there since we really didn't use it much. Here are the links to the two units we used. They have been great so far. The fridge is huge.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01KWEGX...+11+cubic+foot

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Iwannacamp · 10-17-2018, 04:58 PM

https://www.amazon.com/Danby-DPF073C...n%3A7319338011

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Chef-Fr...n%3A7319338011

Seachaser186 · 10-17-2018, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saus

Our Dometic fridge died also after numerous times of trying to get it fixed. We decided to put it an 11 cu. ft. fridge only, inside the camper. It had the same measurements as our, and your, dometic. We then put a single freezer in our outdoor kitchen. We took out the little fridge that was in there since we really didn't use it much. Here are the links to the two units we used. They have been great so far. The fridge is huge.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01KWEGX...+11+cubic+foot

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The 7.3 cu ft size will fit fine, I bought the RCA refrigerator and set it up in the opening and there is enough space for air circulation. My question would be: why is it not recommended for RV use? Does the Danby or similar owners manual say the same thing and people use them anyway.

formerFR · 10-17-2018, 06:03 PM

any reason why the fridge manual says 'not for RVs' ? that's strange...

Skip12 · 10-17-2018, 07:02 PM

Just a guess, but it seems that many camper set ups dont have enough airflow in the back of the fridge to keep them from burning out. You may want to put a small fan in the back to reduce the chances of the cooling unit frying out again.

Waukesharvr · 10-17-2018, 07:16 PM

They are worried that the compressor oil in the hermetic can, can get sloshed around either allowing the compressor to run dry and seize or get sucked up in the suction and slug the compressor.

Another reason, is that inside the hermetic can, the compressor is mounted on springs to eliminate noise. The bouncing in the trailer could break the compressor loose inside the can, that's when you hear the death rattle on shutdown, shortly after that it breaks the discharge line off inside the hermetic can and doesn't pump anymore.

The mechanical refrigerators that are designed or approved for use in the RV's probably have a different oil pickup or suspension arrangement to keep them from failing.

Found a cutaway of a hermetic compressor, the arrows are pointing towards the suction muffler/oil separator that works to eliminate droplets of oil or refrigerant that might enter the compressor and damage it but it would not separate out large amounts of oil entering it. on the bottom are the springs that support the compressor in the shell.

Reverse_snowbird · 10-17-2018, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seachaser186

My question would be: why is it not recommended for RV use? Does the Danby or similar owners manual say the same thing and people use them anyway.

Someone on here posted that their rv had the original electric fridge on a new unit and it stopped working. When they tried to get it worked on, everyone pointed out that putting it in an rv voided the warranty. Since they bought the rig new, they were not happy and I don't know if they ever reported back on their outcome.

You may also like: