We hate our RV refrigerator

dieseldodge · 05-20-2021, 08:30 AM

We are still unhappy with our Dometic refer in our 2019 Flagstaff. After trying and checking many things it (four door, 12 foot) stills struggles to keep our food cold. This WILL be our last 'RV' refer. Running on electric at 8,000 feet altitude.

I seem to remember that there was supposed to be a 'smart' time to turn them on, but cant remember when that was or for what reason. Any help?

IsleDog · 05-20-2021, 08:43 AM

can you post what model fridge you have?

adrienbaker · 05-20-2021, 08:45 AM

Have you tried one of the fans that circulates the air? I picked up a cheap Beech Lane unit that runs on D batteries and it seemed to help a lot.

Adrien

5picker · 05-20-2021, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

We are still unhappy with our Dometic refer in our 2019 Flagstaff. After trying and checking many things it (four door, 12 foot) stills struggles to keep our food cold. This WILL be our last 'RV' refer. Running on electric at 8,000 feet altitude.

I seem to remember that there was supposed to be a 'smart' time to turn them on, but cant remember when that was or for what reason. Any help?

Sounds like you have the RM-1350.
That's what we have too and we really like it. (after some mods)

You are probably referring to the Automatic Cooling Cycling System that helps defrost the refrigerator. From the owners manual...

Automatic cooling unit cycling
system and Low ambient control

The refrigerator has been design with an automatic cooling
unit cycling system that helps reduce frost build up in the fresh
food compartment. The first automatic frost reduction cooling
unit cycle begins 60 hours after turning “on” the refrigerator
(for best operational results the refrigerator should be turned on
anytime between 4 and 10 PM), and will last for approximately
120 minutes. Thereafter, the cycle will automatically repeat
every 48 hours as long as the refrigerator continues to run.

The automatic Low Ambient Control (LAC) ensures troublefree
operation in low ambient temperatures (e.g below 50° F).

dieseldodge · 05-20-2021, 09:03 AM

Thanks 5Picker....it is indeed a 1350. Between 4 and 10 PM....got it.

tomkatb · 05-20-2021, 09:09 AM

We have that fridge.

We have sort of figured out how to make it work.

They work better on gas!

We typically start all trips by precooling the fridge a day. We put 2-3 gallons of frozen drinking water in it.

All food going in should be cold. As much as possible. Adding a full case of warm brown pop is not a good plan.

We have the battery fan.

Large items can block air flow. No big pans of leftover warm lasagna.

Got to sort of leave an open space thru the middle of the fridge area.

They work better pretty full.

Takes 2 or 3 days to get running well!

Ours works adequately. Otherwise you have to fight the battery thing when not on shore power.

dieseldodge · 05-20-2021, 09:17 AM

I agree, they (RV refers) do seem to work 'better' on gas, but Dometic suggests not running their stuff on gas above 5,000 feet or so.

5picker · 05-20-2021, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

I agree, they (RV refers) do seem to work 'better' on gas, but Dometic suggests not running their stuff on gas above 5,000 feet or so.

I would guess that is your issue, altitude.

Here at about 3k' in PA we have no issues on LP and it does cool better on LP as the flame produces more heat than the element. With my fans and good interior circulation as tomkatb mentioned, ours will stay a consistent 37º even in 80º+ degree days in FL when we are there.

dieseldodge · 05-20-2021, 09:30 AM

I can understand the altitude affect on gas, but cant see how it (altitude) would affect running on electric.

NMWildcat · 05-20-2021, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

I agree, they (RV refers) do seem to work 'better' on gas, but Dometic suggests not running their stuff on gas above 5,000 feet or so.

5000' limit for propane refrigerator? That's a new one for me. Never heard or read that.
We have had many 2 way RV refrigerators and most of our usage is well above 5000'. We spend most of our time in the Gila National Forest which averages around 6500'. We also spend a lot of time near Ruidoso NM (7000') and Cloudcroft NM (8600').
Have never noticed any difference in operation between those elevations and sea level trips. We are almost always on propane (boondocking).
Do you have a refrigerator thermometer? That way you know exactly what the temp is and when it changes which could help you track down circumstances causing it.
Have you had a tech look at it and tried different fan placements?
Having an RV fridge not working correctly is frustrating, but there has to be a solvable problem. I hope you find it!

dieseldodge · 05-20-2021, 10:21 AM

Scott....both Dometic and Norcold recommend running the refer on electric (not gas) when above 5,000 feet (it might be 5,500 feet).

dieseldodge · 05-20-2021, 10:27 AM

And yes, we do monitor our thermo inside the refer....that's what irritates us the most. With the thing turned 'down' (coldest) all the way and not running the thermo will still read high 30's.

5picker · 05-20-2021, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

Scott....both Dometic and Norcold recommend running the refer on electric (not gas) when above 5,000 feet (it might be 5,500 feet).

I've read that on a few R/V forums but never seen documentation supporting and I don't live in altitudes like that so I can't confirm from experience.

With that said, I just scoured the RM1350 installation/user manual and see no reference to not using LP at any altitude.

Scott's real world experience is good enough for me if we ever get that high!

5picker · 05-20-2021, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

And yes, we do monitor our thermo inside the refer....that's what irritates us the most. With the thing turned 'down' (coldest) all the way and not running the thermo will still read high 30's.

Not sure I see an issue?

The FDA says refrigerator inside temps should be 40º or lower.

As I said earlier mine stays a consistent 37º and we've not had one thing spoil in 4 years of use.

TitanMike · 05-20-2021, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

And yes, we do monitor our thermo inside the refer....that's what irritates us the most. With the thing turned 'down' (coldest) all the way and not running the thermo will still read high 30's.

I had similar issues with "warm" refrigerator until I built a circulating fan setup for inside refer and added a "Titan Fan" system to vent stack with auto controller.
$65 on Amazon.

By increasing flow in vent stack and circulation in refer my freezer temps now stay around Zero and refer at 35 degrees. This even at altitude and on hot days, electric or propane.

It's all about circulation with an absorbtion type refer.

dieseldodge · 05-20-2021, 10:43 AM

5picker....the issue for us is how much the thing runs before it finally shuts off, only to grab a 'limp' ice cream bar.

NMWildcat · 05-20-2021, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Not sure I see an issue?

The FDA says refrigerator inside temps should be 40º or lower.

As I said earlier mine stays a consistent 37º and we've not had one thing spoil in 4 years of use.

Exactly. That is about what ours runs, even in the SW summer. But I will admit that none of mine have kept ice cream as hard as I would like in the freezer. But hard enough, and the fridge section is always in the 'good' thermometer range unless the grandkids hold the door open looking for the perfect snack

NMWildcat · 05-20-2021, 11:11 AM

DieselDodge, just noticed you are from Deming NM! We are in Cruces. So I'm betting we go to a lot of the same areas! We just got back from 10 days near Lake Roberts. It was perfect! Great weather, no phone service

I'm assuming you have had 2way refrigerators before, how did they compare to your current one?
Is it in a slide, so the vent is on the side? I have helped friends install fans in the slide vents which helped improve the fridge performance.

dieseldodge · 05-20-2021, 11:42 AM

Scott....we own a lot we take the Flagstaff to for the summer up in Catron county. Yep we've had several 'two way' refers in the past and our current one is the worst. It (refer) is on a slide, so it has a lower and upper vent. Flagstaff put a few fans in the upper vent and we have yet to try out a battery fan we got for the inside. I wanted to get this timing (when to turn it on) thing dialed in so it wasn't working when it was the hottest out.

5picker · 05-20-2021, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

Scott....we own a lot we take the Flagstaff to for the summer up in Catron county. Yep we've had several 'two way' refers in the past and our current one is the worst. It (refer) is on a slide, so it has a lower and upper vent. Flagstaff put a few fans in the upper vent and we have yet to try out a battery fan we got for the inside. I wanted to get this timing (when to turn it on) thing dialed in so it wasn't working when it was the hottest out.

Our RM-1350 in our Flagstaff is in a slide and until I put a fan in the upper vent area (blowing out) and one at the lower vent area, (blowing upwards) it had issues too. (the loud, cheap fans from the factory are pitiful... noisy and move little air)

I also use an interior circulating fan.

I bet if you do the same, your experiences will be better. And yes, the timing thing works better if it doesn't go into that mode in the heat of the afternoon. When ours goes into that mode the temps typically rise 3º to 4º.

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