Using a mini fridge to reduce fire hazards

ChopperBill wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
Don't know anything about the refer recall on your model, but we have an electric cooler. It's DC (12 volt), so can be plugged into the cigarette lighter of the car or truck. It came with a power supply to plug into the wall and puts out 12 volt DC. Turn it on it's back and it's a cooler. Turn it on it's end and it opens like a refrigerator, complete with shelves. If on it's back, the shelves are dividers.

Flip the plug the opposite way, and it becomes a warmer. Instead of cooling, it heats. Works very well. We've had this for over 10 years now and still love it. It's a great supplemental refrigerator / cooler we usually keep outside the camper. They still make them, but you've gotta look around. We got ours from Wall Mart (like I said, more than 10 years ago). Used it with our first pop-up because it did not have a refrigerator at all.

Only problem with it is, you've got to make sure blue and blue are plugged in together. Because if red and red are plugged together it heats up! We did this a couple times. Nothing like HOT milk and hard boiled eggs (without water at that!) So we drank lots of hot chocolate that afternoon and ate hard boiled (without water) for the next few days! ... live and learn.

Rather than investing in a traditional refrigerator, why not consider something like this. That way, you can take it with you in our car too, when you're not camping! We love ours, still use it on almost every trip. And it's still running great!

Whats the name of you fridge? Sounds like something I could use.

No name on it, so looked a the bottom. Its made by Coleman, model 4650 Electric Cooler.

Did an internet search ... found it here:
http://www.coleman.com/product/5640B814G#.Uinjqsu9KSM

I think running the fridge on AC most of the time would minimize the possibility of fire. IMO, an open flame would be much more likely to ignite leaking gases contained in the cooling unit than a hot cartridge heater would.

I think the best fix is to install a residential (compressor-type) fridge. I think that's what I'd do if my present Dometic fails. Of course, this wouldn't apply to those who boondock a lot unless they have ample energy available.

Sorry about your fridge shorting out! But I think the recent issues have been leaking coolant catching fire.

Our 1995 burned to the ground in June due to the fridge shorting out. My first thought was maybe a recall but I left all my owners manuals in the trailer and have no way to know for sure. I had only had the fridge on for maybe an hour then it caught fire while we weren't home. The propane was turned on but the tanks didn't catch or explode thankfully. We did decide to purchase a much newer trailer in hoping it won't catch fire, but its still in the back of my mind.

The recall is doing its job. The mini fridge is a bit much.

My Dometic fridge was under a recall about 4 years ago for a fire hazard. The "fix" was to install a metal cage around the burner area, including a thermistor to sense heat in case of a fire in which case the propane supply would be cut off. I feel comfortable with this although it's not a perfect solution. A better solution would have been to replace the cooling unit with one with proper welds but the manufacturer wouldn't spring for that.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Don't know anything about the refer recall on your model, but we have an electric cooler. It's DC (12 volt), so can be plugged into the cigarette lighter of the car or truck. It came with a power supply to plug into the wall and puts out 12 volt DC. Turn it on it's back and it's a cooler. Turn it on it's end and it opens like a refrigerator, complete with shelves. If on it's back, the shelves are dividers.

Flip the plug the opposite way, and it becomes a warmer. Instead of cooling, it heats. Works very well. We've had this for over 10 years now and still love it. It's a great supplemental refrigerator / cooler we usually keep outside the camper. They still make them, but you've gotta look around. We got ours from Wall Mart (like I said, more than 10 years ago). Used it with our first pop-up because it did not have a refrigerator at all.

Only problem with it is, you've got to make sure blue and blue are plugged in together. Because if red and red are plugged together it heats up! We did this a couple times. Nothing like HOT milk and hard boiled eggs (without water at that!) So we drank lots of hot chocolate that afternoon and ate hard boiled (without water) for the next few days! ... live and learn.

Rather than investing in a traditional refrigerator, why not consider something like this. That way, you can take it with you in our car too, when you're not camping! We love ours, still use it on almost every trip. And it's still running great!

We have one also and it works well for us. One limitation is that it will decrease the temperature inside 40* below the ambient temp. So if the ambient temp is 90* it will cool things down to a chilly 50*. Not so good for food and definitly not for my beer!:)

smladybird wrote:

thomasmnile wrote:

Atom Ant wrote:
Are you sure your 97 was even part of the issue?

And if it is, did you ever take it to a Norcold dealer to perform the various fixes outlined in the recalls?

I have only owned the RV for a few months. I haven't used it yet.

Copy the model and serial #'s from the refrigerator. You can go to Norcold's website;they have a link there for the various recalls and info. on how to obtain necessary modifications. I don't know how many years back the various recalls go back, so couldn't say if your unit may be included or not.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Don't know anything about the refer recall on your model, but we have an electric cooler. It's DC (12 volt), so can be plugged into the cigarette lighter of the car or truck. It came with a power supply to plug into the wall and puts out 12 volt DC. Turn it on it's back and it's a cooler. Turn it on it's end and it opens like a refrigerator, complete with shelves. If on it's back, the shelves are dividers.

Flip the plug the opposite way, and it becomes a warmer. Instead of cooling, it heats. Works very well. We've had this for over 10 years now and still love it. It's a great supplemental refrigerator / cooler we usually keep outside the camper. They still make them, but you've gotta look around. We got ours from Wall Mart (like I said, more than 10 years ago). Used it with our first pop-up because it did not have a refrigerator at all.

Only problem with it is, you've got to make sure blue and blue are plugged in together. Because if red and red are plugged together it heats up! We did this a couple times. Nothing like HOT milk and hard boiled eggs (without water at that!) So we drank lots of hot chocolate that afternoon and ate hard boiled (without water) for the next few days! ... live and learn.

Rather than investing in a traditional refrigerator, why not consider something like this. That way, you can take it with you in our car too, when you're not camping! We love ours, still use it on almost every trip. And it's still running great!

Whats the name of you fridge? Sounds like something I could use.

smladybird wrote:
Is the fridge still a ticking time bomb even if it is switched off or unplugged?

no