Fridge blue light special

[GalsofEscape]

Our 2016 23ws has the Dometic fridge with the blue LED lights.
We have now been out camping twice and that blue light just does not work well for us, we can't see what is in the fridge. What a gimmick.

Anybody change them out for white lights?

[Bama Rambler]

If I remember correctly, a few people have gotten Dometic to change them out to white lights.

[Flybob]

Replaced mine with LED. Cooler, lasts longer and less current draw.

[rogo]

We had the same experience. Kind of fun until you put food in the fridge. Meats look black, lettuce looks rotten, etc. I phoned Dometic and asked for a white light replacement. They mailed me a replacement panel at no charge. Easy swap with nothing more than a screwdriver.

[GalsofEscape]

Thanks rogo, was hoping it was an easy swap. Have a query into dometic.

Flybob, it is already LED, just a funky blue. Have noticed at the last few RV shows that some of the campers are using a lot of colored LEDs for recessed lighting inside the camper. Not my taste at all.

[camping baba]

We had the same problem and called Dometic and they sent out a replacement no charge . Very easy install .

[urocav2001]

Sweet thanks for the input do I just call dometic customer service or did you guys use a certain person when calling?


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[rogo]

Originally Posted by urocav2001

Sweet thanks for the input do I just call dometic customer service or did you guys use a certain person when calling?

I called 574-294-2511. Requested replacement with the lady who answered the phone. She asked for my fridge model number and date of RV purchase. She agreed without hesitation to send me a white light panel replacement via USPS.

Good luck!

[wicked1]

It is annoying but not a bother enough for me to change it out, it works and we usually do not keep going in and out of it as our kids are all grown so just us two adults, well she is an adult I am on the cusp 🙃


2016 F350 CREW 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
2015 FR Rockwood Roo 23IKSS

[SeaDog]

I also called Dometic and the lady I talked to said the blue light has not worked out very well for them, and sent my white LED board out that day. Pay attention to how the wires are routed when you take the old one out, the board is held in place by the little white clips. good luck

[Steamfitter]

Replaced mine last year after a call to Dometic.
Make note, for those who like to boondock a lot. The units without the "Energy" switch still have a heater built into them. To disconnect the heater do not connect the plug with only 2 wires. Those wires feed constant power to the heater wires built into the fridge trim to prevent moisture buildup. Don't have a picture available, but think the 2 wires are yellow and connect to the circuit board independent of the main wire harness.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Steamfitter

Replaced mine last year after a call to Dometic.
Make note, for those who like to boondock a lot. The units without the "Energy" switch still have a heater built into them. To disconnect the heater do not connect the plug with only 2 wires. Those wires feed constant power to the heater wires built into the fridge trim to prevent moisture buildup. Don't have a picture available, but think the 2 wires are yellow and connect to the circuit board independent of the main wire harness.

Here's the way to disable the heater:

[Steamfitter]

That mod only works for switches located as per photo. My fridge model has switch and light located at middle/top front face of fridge section.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Steamfitter

That mod only works for switches located as per photo. My fridge model has switch and light located at middle/top front face of fridge section.

Not disagreeing, as I don't know what model you have, BUT have you checked? Looking at the installation manual, most of the wiring diagrams look very similar, in that the lamp and the heater share a common connection. Although it's possible, it seems doubtful that Dometic would change something like that.

[andymil]

I called Dometic today (574-294-2511). The woman asked for the model number, and my address, and said they would send one to me, no charge.
She was very nice, no hassle and didn't even suggest that I pay for it.
Gotta love this forum!

[andymil]

Received the new circuit board today. Three days after I called, good service.

When I removed the old board I noticed there is a 10 watt 18 ohm ceramic resistor on the old board that is not on the new board. I think it is for the trim heater mentioned in a previous post, but I'm not sure. I think without that resistor the trim heater will be disabled. One lead from the resistor goes to the two pin plug.

I'll call Dometic tomorrow and question it.

[rockfordroo]

andymil:

Pull the lower access grill to your fridge. You should see a wiring diagram there. Might help. Doesn't make sense to have a resister in series with the heating element (which is basically a resister itself); they usually adjust the length/material so it works on 12VDC, no resistor.

I've attached my diagram. My door heater is item K (very bottom item on the left side, in parallel with the door switch and light). No resistor in series on mine. Of course, I don't have that circuit board, either, but I still don't think there's a resistor related to your door heater.

Maybe someone smarter will chime in.

If you figure it out, please let us all know.

[andymil]

rockfoordroo:

You’re right, it’s not in series with the heater. I've been troubleshooting electrical systems for almost 40 years so this is not the first time I've looked at a wiring diagram. I’ve seen better. It doesn't show the light circuit board as a separate component. The plugs on the light circuit board are not shown on the print. I think my trim heater is listed as a "Heating Cable" on the print. It is in parallel with the switch and light. There is also a "LAC Heater" on the print, but the wire colors don't match anything I see. I think this is the ceramic resistor, but I'm not sure what it's for. The other lead of the resistor goes to pin 3 of the four pin plug on the light CB. It's marked LAC on the CB. Your diagram is a little different than mine.

I'll let you know if I figure it out.

[Bama Rambler]

This particular model probably doesn't use the resistor, so they saved a nickel by leaving it off.

[andymil]

Yeah, I just talked to Dometic and they told me that the resistor was not used on that model (DMR702) and it will work fine without it. Just wanted to be sure.