12v magic chef fridge

[Prc]

Ok, I know this subject has been beaten to death, but here we go…

So disgusted with the performance of this unit I’m ready to set it on fire.

Shore power, 12v, solar power, the thing won’t stay cold. We’re in the middle of a two week trip now on shore power, and fridge temp is averaging 50 degrees. We tried running the ac to cool the interior of the Rv to help, no difference. We’ll check the settings every few hours and the indicator will be flashing, so we’ll reset it, only to find it flashing again…..

When in battery power, we have solar panel charging all day and will run the generator at night to “top off” while we shower before bedtime. Morning voltage has been hood, 12.3-12.5, however we’ll run the generator to charge up and, of course, coffee.


Any ideas on what we may be doing wrong? What else can we try? Is the unit defective? (2021)

We may even get a new fridge.

So frustrating.

[Aussieguy]

Is there a panel under the fridge you can remove to allow some airflow behind it?

if yes... leave the panel off for a little while for testing
if it improves you need to add better ventilation to be fridge cabinetry

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make sure no food is blocking the internal air flow vents

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measure VOLTAGE at the fridge while fridge is OFF and while it is running

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by Prc

Ok, I know this subject has been beaten to death, but here we go…

So disgusted with the performance of this unit I’m ready to set it on fire.

Shore power, 12v, solar power, the thing won’t stay cold. We’re in the middle of a two week trip now on shore power, and fridge temp is averaging 50 degrees. We tried running the ac to cool the interior of the Rv to help, no difference. We’ll check the settings every few hours and the indicator will be flashing, so we’ll reset it, only to find it flashing again…..

When in battery power, we have solar panel charging all day and will run the generator at night to “top off” while we shower before bedtime. Morning voltage has been hood, 12.3-12.5, however we’ll run the generator to charge up and, of course, coffee.


Any ideas on what we may be doing wrong? What else can we try? Is the unit defective? (2021)

We may even get a new fridge.

So frustrating.

It seems that others,including myself have had luck increased the ventilation in the fridge cabinet

There seems to be a magic ambient temperature cut off to make these fridges work or not.

[Prc]

Thank you so much for the reply guys! there’s a solid bar, or panel to keep her from sliding out, I’ve set up a fan to blow air in to see if it helps… if so, I’ll modify the cabinet with a 12v fan when we get home

Thanks again!

Ps.. I’ll file a full report in a few hours with results

[jlankford]

Originally Posted by Prc

Thank you so much for the reply guys! there’s a solid bar, or panel to keep her from sliding out, I’ve set up a fan to blow air in to see if it helps… if so, I’ll modify the cabinet with a 12v fan when we get home

Thanks again!

Ps.. I’ll file a full report in a few hours with results

One person here (can't remember who) cut ventilation holes at the bottom and top of the cabinet to allow passive convection air flow, no fan. Said it cut the duty cycle of the compressor in half. I plan to do the same.

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by jlankford

One person here (can't remember who) cut ventilation holes at the bottom and top of the cabinet to allow passive convection air flow, no fan. Said it cut the duty cycle of the compressor in half. I plan to do the same.

That was me. Wasn’t half. More like 30% over a longer test time.

Never ceases to amaze me that the builders continue to ignore the installation instructions

[Mookie58]

Prc, could you tell me what Magic Chef model number you have? I have a 10 c.f. 12V Magic Chef that seems to work fine, but I've read from others that the same model in their RV doesn't work so well. Judging from the cabinetry around the fridge it looks to have adequate ventilation space, so maybe that is the key.

[Ox Brown]

We had a 12v Magic Chef in our small GeoPro 19FD and it stayed around 45 degrees at the coldest setting. The top ventilation hole was really small, about 3x4 inches. I enlarged the ventalition hole so it was the full width of the fridge and about 20x4 inches. I also cut about 10 inches from the lower rubber trim seal on both sides of the fridge, hoping to create a chimney effect.

After several camping trips, I honestly couldn't tell it made a difference. The temps were still around 45 degrees. I even tried to adjust the temp swing set screw. And that made the fridge get colder...and then get warmer, so I set it back to the factory default.

Our new, much larger 12v Magic Chef seems to be the same. Fridge temps are around 45 degrees. Unfortunately, I don't think I can do much to improve the ventilation given the way it's installed. The manual does say not to place food up against the back wall of the fridge, as that will impede air flow.

Having two RVs with the old-school 2-way fridge did seem to work better and kept food colder.

[Prc]

A fellow camper here is suggesting the air flow inside from the freezer to the fridge area is or could be blocked. Does this make any sense?

[Giboneys]

The 12V fridges cool the freezer first and then the air drops down the vent to the refrigerator portion. Make sure vents in the back of the freezer are not blocked, there is room in the back of the refrigerator for the air to fall (nothing packed tight against the walls of the freezer and refrigerator)

There is a dial at the back of our 12V refrigerator that we set to the middle and the control in the refrigerator to 3 (mid point)

This keeps our refrigerator below 40 and freezer below 0. We have slide toppers and have been able to keep it like this for two years in 100+ temps

If you have cranked the refrigerator all the way to the coldest option you may have ice behind the panel in the freezer and in the vent that allows air to drop to the refrigerator. We did this at first and had to shut it down for a defrost.

It's also possible that you have a bad unit, how are you taking the temperature and what does the freezer temperature normally run at?

Once you get used to it it's great, hope you find this helpful

[Prc]

Thanks everyone for helping. We’re down two degrees… we’ve turned everything down from full speed to mid point. We really can try the defrost, but when we get home, I’ll try variousssettings to get her right.

Many Thanks!

Phil

[Prc]

This am the refrigerator temp is 30 degrees. Todays high temp is supposed be in the eighties. Fingers crossed with everyone’s help, we’ve solved the problem.

I turned the freezer temp to the 12 o’clock position and turned the refrigerator to three. I’m inclined to believe we were freezing the vent to the fridge.

Anyhoo, I appreciate all the input on this thread. We had started shopping for a new one, and am quite happy we won’t need to buy another unit.

Thanks again everyone!

Phil

[Mookie58]

[DJ252]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

That was me. Wasn’t half. More like 30% over a longer test time.

Never ceases to amaze me that the builders continue to ignore the installation instructions

Can you give some details on how you did this?

Thanks.

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by DJ252

Can you give some details on how you did this?

Thanks.

Sure. I drilled 4 one inch holes in the trim board at the top of the fridge and 2 holes on each side at the bottom of the fridge

I measured the run time with a 12 volt timer that I use for this purpose at work. I piggy backed it on the compressor positive wire on the controller

[AZWanderers]

Originally Posted by MGD1961

Sure. I drilled 4 one inch holes in the trim board at the top of the fridge and 2 holes on each side at the bottom of the fridge

I measured the run time with a 12 volt timer that I use for this purpose at work. I piggy backed it on the compressor positive wire on the controller

Would you mind posting a picture? I think that I understand, but want to be sure before I go drilling holes. We are having trouble with our refrigerator and we just began a three month trip.

Thanks!