frige level

Effy wrote:
So, if it should be level then how does it operate the same while going down the road? I think a lot of this is conjecture. Works fine on either while travelling I would think it would work fine if it wasn't 100% level parked. I don't know if it's over thinking or what but I think a lot of folks on this forum borrow trouble.

Here is direct quote from Dometic:
If the refrigerator is operated when it is not level and the vehicle is not moving, liquid ammonia will accumulate in sections of the evaporator tubing. This will slow the circulation of hydrogen and ammonia gas, or in severe cases, completely block it, resulting in a loss of cooling.
Any time the vehicle is parked for several hours with the refrigerator operating, the vehicle should be leveled to prevent this loss of cooling. The vehicle needs to be leveled only so it is comfortable to live in (no noticeable sloping of floor or walls).

When the vehicle is moving, the leveling is not critical, as the rolling and pitching movement of the vehicle will pass to either side
of level, keeping the liquid ammonia from accumulating in the evaporator tubing.

Similar verbiage from Norcold.

Much ado about nothing.......I don't think so. Off level will kill an absorption fridge cooling unit

Effy wrote:
So, if it should be level then how does it operate the same while going down the road? I think a lot of this is conjecture. Works fine on either while travelling I would think it would work fine if it wasn't 100% level parked. I don't know if it's over thinking or what but I think a lot of folks on this forum borrow trouble.

Below is the type of information people can get if they would just READ their operation manuals.
Doug

Operating refrigerator outside of the cooling system specifications of 3 degrees off level side-to-side and 6
degrees off level front-to-back can cause irreparable damage to cooling system and can create a risk for personal
injury or property damage. Level vehicle before operating refrigerator

Absorption cooling system.
In an absorption refrigerator system, ammonia is liquefied in
the finned condenser coil at the top rear of the refrigerator.
The liquid ammonia then flows into the evaporator (inside the
freezer section) and is exposed to a circulating flow of hydrogen
gas, which causes the ammonia to evaporate, creating a
cold condition in the freezer.
When starting this refrigerator for the very first
time, the cooling cycle may require up to four
hours of running time before the cooling unit is
fully operational.
The tubing in the evaporator section is specifically sloped to
provide a continuous movement of liquid ammonia, flowing
downward by gravity through this section.
Sodium chromate is used for corrosion protection (less than
2 weight % of the coolant).

Leveling the refrigerator.
Leveling is one of the requirements for proper operation with
absorption refrigerators. to ensure proper leveling the vehicle
needs to be leveled only so it is comfortable to live in (no noticeable
sloping of floor or walls).
Any time the vehicle is parked for several hours with the refrigerator
operating, the vehicle should be leveled to prevent this
loss of cooling.
If the refrigerator is operated when it is not level and the
vehicle is not moving, liquid ammonia will accumulate in sections
of the evaporator tubing. This will slow the circulation
of hydrogen and ammonia gas, or in severe cases, completely
block it, resulting in a loss of cooling.
When the vehicle is moving, the leveling is not critical, as the
rolling and pitching movement of the vehicle will pass to either
side of level, keeping the liquid ammonia from accumulating in
the evaporator tubing.

I believe my Dometic manual lists how level it should be for ideal operation (it's something like 6 degrees side-to-side, 3 degrees front-to-back).

When I go to park I stick a digital level on the bottom inside freezer and shoot for less than 2 degrees either direction and I've never had a problem. Or I'll open the bathroom door 1/2 way and if it stays still on it's own, I'm good enough for the fridge.....

When I first got my RV I plugged in the power on my 15 degree sloped driveway and after 24 hours thought that the fridge was broken as it didn't get cold at all! That's when I came to this forum and learned what an absorption fridge is :)

......and I put in a level parking pad next to the garage

*Edit* I know I read somewhere about "degrees of levelness", but it wasn't the manual. Page 7 talks specifically about the topic of this thread:

https://www.dometic.com/FileOrganizer/1-international/Operation%20&%20Installation%20Manuals/Refrigerators%20-%20Caravan-Motorhomes-RV/US/RM2620%20Install%20&%20Oper.pdf

Imagine a flat pan with liquid in it. When the pan is level the liquid is the same depth through out the area of the pan. Now if you were heating that liquid it would circulate and mix for a pretty reasonable even distribution of temperature. But tip the pan off level and with the same heat, some of the liquid will get heated and if off level enough, some of the heat can just heat the pan (actually burn it) because it is dry and no liquid to heat in that area. That is pretty much how it works and why if way off level the fridge does not work well and fail far to early. Now for going down the road there is enough movement of the liquid sloshing around that you get even heating and not hot spots on the dry pan.

JimM68 wrote:
Our first RV, I was buying a new cooling unit 9 weeks after buying the RV.
Our driveway slopes down 17" from the sidewalk, and tilts 9 inches left to right at the end.

I now ALWAYS level the RV in the driveway.

I have a decent slope at the top of my driveway. It probably drops 6" the length of the wheelbase (drops 4 feet til you get to the end, but thankfully I have a semi-flat spot at the top), and slopes maybe an inch or two to the left for drainage.

I always level it in the driveway so I can work in there (I use it as an office sometimes) and/or turn on the fridge as necessary. I know I have it right when doors stay where I put them (don't open or close themselves) and water pools on the roof :)

Our first RV, I was buying a new cooling unit 9 weeks after buying the RV.
Our driveway slopes down 17" from the sidewalk, and tilts 9 inches left to right at the end.

I now ALWAYS level the RV in the driveway.

Effy wrote:
So, if it should be level then how does it operate the same while going down the road? I think a lot of this is conjecture. Works fine on either while travelling I would think it would work fine if it wasn't 100% level parked. I don't know if it's over thinking or what but I think a lot of folks on this forum borrow trouble.

They say that when going down the road there is enough movement to keep the fluid circulating. When parking on an unlevel surface I've read it's best to shut it off.

So, if it should be level then how does it operate the same while going down the road? I think a lot of this is conjecture. Works fine on either while travelling I would think it would work fine if it wasn't 100% level parked. I don't know if it's over thinking or what but I think a lot of folks on this forum borrow trouble.

I wonder about this myself. I can put a level on 5 different surfaces in my RV and get 5 different "level" readings. The dash and table seem to jive with each other. The kitchen counter is way off of those readings, and if I put the level in the compartment where the fridge is installed I get something different yet. Don't get me started on the rear bedroom, which has a downward slope as it hangs behind the rear axle.

I just replaced my cooling unit and DO NOT want to have to do it again. I've been trying to get it close by putting a level inside the outside access panel where the fridge sits. It doesn't make the rest of the RV feel exactly level, but it's close enough for sleeping and walking around.

I was a service tech at RV dealerships here in Tucson. It is important, not imperative to level it up. If it feels level to walk inside the coach, it's probably level enough for the fridge to operate properly.

That said, I have a small line level that I use to check my fridge when we park. Yes, I know. A RV tech that actually owns an RV, oh well....lol