Warm Refrigerator

I have had cooling issues on my fridge using propane.I took a small wire brush to the area on the burner where the flame comes out. Also I use compressed air to blow out the fridge area on the

outside and also up the warm air tube . I had leaves etc in there and also be sure the vent cover is not clogged. On my TT I installed a 12v. fan and it helped.

For an accurate measurement of food compartment temps place a thermometer in a glass if water. This give you a measurement of how well the fridge is maintaining the 'food temp' and not the air temp.
Air temp can be deceiving due to lack of circulation and warm air is introduced into compartment every time door is opened. Absorption fridges are slow to recover air temp but doesn't mean food temp has changed.

Also fin temp will be 10*F lower than actual.

Empty food compartment will NOT be as cold and hold as steady of temps as one that has food in it. Cold food helps keep food cold and will help regulate temps.

You have an 'adjustable' temp setting on upper panel........therefore moving thermistor will not cause temp changes overall.

Dometic fridges that have no adjustment (use factory pre-set t-stat) can be affected by movement of thermistor.
Having thermistor in mid position on far right fin is best using the for temp sensing. Make temp adjustments using the temp control on upper panel


You mentioned it is in a slide out..
Installing a 'fan' in outside compartment will help improve draft air flow.
Simple 12V DC computer fan install center line mid position above absorper tubes (lower slanted tubing) with ON/OFF switch and 1A in-line fuse.


Per Dometic
NOTE: The operational range of these refrigerators is 46° to 35° ± 3°F


As a test of cooling units capability.......remove thermistor from clip and hang it down as lower in food compartment as possible.
With it hanging down.....t-stat will not get proper sensing so it will continuously operate electric or propane

Run it for 12 hrs. then check temp (thermometer in glass of water in food section)
After 12 hrs. temp of water should be below 40*F (on that vintage of cooling unit)


Empty food section
Measuring air temp
ETC.

You may NOT really have cooling issues.

Dometic C1821, original in our 1993 Tioga, slide out with top freezer and bottom fridge, measuring it with a refrigerator dial thermometer. It has jumped back up to 50 degrees during the day, so something is not right.

What fridge Brand/Model?

Is it a 1993 vintage?

Is it in a slide out?

How are you measuring temps?

Double check that the thermistor hasn't slid *down* while inside of the plastic holder.

Make sure your thermostat, that you're using, is accurate. The cheapie ones might be +/- 2* or more!

Our house fridge is set to 36*, so if you're below 40 now, you don't have too much farther to close the gap and could also be within the error of your thermometer.

Try to keep the fridge side of the RV away form the sun during the hottest part of the day if possible. There are also fans that can be retrofitted to move more air over the back side of the fridge to aid in the exchange of heat. You can also get some "blue ice" type things and freeze them. When the fridge isn't keeping up just move them from the freezer to the fridge.

Also as the outside Temp goes up do not set the fridge thermostat to a colder setting, you may freeze the cooling unit, rather set it to a warmer setting, this will make the cooling unit/ burner cycle more often and it will cool better.

anything below 42 degrees is still with in limits according to Norcold specs. Mine stays at about 38 degrees with a new cooling unit installed.

Refer cooling unit is on its last leg

We lived in the Palm Springs area with some months of 90 to 110 temperatures, I installed 12vdc fans on the exhaust vent on the roof of the RV and had to adjust the thermistor down, stuff started freezing in the bottom of the refrigerator, you can purchase 12vdc, make sure that you install a fuse and a switch to turn them off when not needed.

It also helps if the wall where the fridge is is not exposed directly to the heat of the sun some shade helps, there is 12vdc power at the back of the unit.

navegator