Fridge Question

Half bubble out is about the accepted maximum an RV refer can be out. Not getting cole can be a sign of inpending failure or simply the thermostat set right.

donn0128 wrote:
Half bubble out is about the accepted maximum an RV refer can be out. Not getting cole can be a sign of inpending failure or simply the thermostat set right.

Ok if half bubble out is the max then I'm way off. I'll level it out and give it a few days and see what happens. Thanks for the response.

Half bubble can mean very different things on different levels; the bubble to angle ratio is in no way standardized (at least so far as I know).

Check the manual for the fridge, but I think Dometic usually just says "so that it's comfortably level in the RV" or something similar and equally nebulous, while Norcold specifies somewhere around 3 degrees max out of level. Three degrees is really quite a little bit; it's somewhere around a five inch difference side to side for most RVs (i.e. those around eight feet wide).

If you're trying to gauge the fridge temperature based on what the air feels like to your hand, that's not a particularly reliable measure. Better is to put a dish of water in and let it reach equilibrium and then measure the water temperature with a thermometer. (If you can't put the thermometer into the dish of water, the fridge is running a little too cold :B )

If you have run it out of level for a whole week then the cooling unit is destroyed.

donn0128 wrote:
Half bubble out is about the accepted maximum an RV refer can be out. Not getting cole can be a sign of inpending failure or simply the thermostat set right.

Half bubble on what? A 2" level half bubble would be about 8 inches off in 8 feet. A 4 foot level would be about 3 inches off level in 8 feet. Which half bubble are you?

If you leave the fridge on when it's not level (within specs) you will soon need to replace it. And it's not cheap!! You're looking at $1500.00... :(

352 wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Half bubble out is about the accepted maximum an RV refer can be out. Not getting cole can be a sign of inpending failure or simply the thermostat set right.

Half bubble on what? A 2" level half bubble would be about 8 inches off in 8 feet. A 4 foot level would be about 3 inches off level in 8 feet. Which half bubble are you?

Seems to me that a half bubble, on two levels that have been calibrated to be accurate, would be the same no matter how long the level is. I am not a carpenter but I am assuming that there is a standard size for the actual "bubble" glass but don't know for sure. If there is, then there would be no difference between the two levels.
Barney

I had a Dutchmen TT for 18 yrs. If you've tried running it off level for only a week like you said just leave it on gas and take it out for a tow right away. A 30 min plus shake up could settle it out. I don't think you've damaged it but they aren't that great to begin and yours is no spring chicken.

Get the model # of the fridge and do a search about adjusting the temp. There are a couple of different types and some aftermarket thermostats floating around. When checking the temp don't peek every hour. Maybe get one of those outdoor thermometers and put the sensor in the fridge.

ScottG wrote:
If you have run it out of level for a whole week then the cooling unit is destroyed.

Maybe...likely not in my experience. Will it impact total life span, probably.

BarneyS wrote:

352 wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Half bubble out is about the accepted maximum an RV refer can be out. Not getting cole can be a sign of inpending failure or simply the thermostat set right.

Half bubble on what? A 2" level half bubble would be about 8 inches off in 8 feet. A 4 foot level would be about 3 inches off level in 8 feet. Which half bubble are you?

Seems to me that a half bubble, on two levels that have been calibrated to be accurate, would be the same no matter how long the level is. I am not a carpenter but I am assuming that there is a standard size for the actual "bubble" glass but don't know for sure. If there is, then there would be no difference between the two levels.
Barney

There is no standard for the level vials. Just look at the common stick on fore/aft and side to side RV levels. They have a different curve to each type. And how much is half a bubble on my smart phone? That is what I use these days to level the TT.

There is a difference between refridgerators on how much out of level they can handle. You need to take a look at the coil on the back side. All parts of the coil need to slope up. When you are off level enough so that the fluid does not want to thermosiphon is when you get into trouble.

My previous TC had a Dometic that you would have been very uncomfortable to be inside as far off level as it could handle. My current TT has a much newer Dometic, that can't take much angle at all.