Level RV Every Time I Park?

A local cooling unit rebuilder told me that damage starts in as little as 15 minutes.
So if I'm going to be parked that long or more I just shut the fridge off until I get back.

I have a related question as a fairly new guy here. Is it just as critical to be level when I am plugged in and running on the 120 V refrigerator? I understand why when running on the flame it is important. But to me it seems like running on electricity it won't be quite as critical especially if only slightly off level

All I could afford wrote:
I have a related question as a fairly new guy here. Is it just as critical to be level when I am plugged in and running on the 120 V refrigerator? I understand why when running on the flame it is important. But to me it seems like running on electricity it won't be quite as critical especially if only slightly off level

Yes, it's just as important.
FWIW, the flame isn't the critical part.
The movement of the refridgerant is caused by the heat source and the whole process is not very strong. Therefor if your too far out of level there isn't enough force to move the coolant around and the damage begins.

All I could afford wrote:
I have a related question as a fairly new guy here. Is it just as critical to be level when I am plugged in and running on the 120 V refrigerator? I understand why when running on the flame it is important. But to me it seems like running on electricity it won't be quite as critical especially if only slightly off level

Running on electricity is the same process as running on gas—you're just using an electric heating element instead of the gas flame. It may be very, very slightly less important because the electric element is typically less powerful than the flame, but running too far out of kilter on electric will cause damage in time just as doing so on gas will.

follow downtheroads advice. we,ve had 7 rv,s never killed a frig.

midnightsadie wrote:
follow downtheroads advice. we,ve had 7 rv,s never killed a frig.

Bad advice. It takes very little time to "kill a fridge" and the damage is cumulative so while it may not kill it immediatley, it will make it so it wont keep up in hot weather when it needs all it's capacity.

BTW, I HAVE killed a cooling unit by accidentally having it on and out of level. But some have to learn the hard way.

My current fridge has been carefully taken care of at every turn.
Because of that, mine still works fine on electric even at temps up to 107.

Hi,

The ARP unit shuts down the fridge before the temperature can rise enough to cause the anti corrosion material (sodium chromate) to precipitate out of the solution.

From the RV Doctor site:

"Continued operation in an over-heated condition results in cooling unit blockage whereby the rust inhibitor becomes crystallized and blocks sections of the internal tubing in the boiler. Unfortunately, this process cannot be reversed."

wclement1248 wrote:
I think the only thing the ARP solution will do is shut down the unit if it overheats. There will still be damage to the unit if it is operated when it is not level.

YES!

I didn't even know the fridge could be turned off. (The things I need to learn about RVing and my RV in particular could fill a set of encyclopedias.) Thank you everybody.

Another classic thread of the worriers verses the never had a problem bunch.

If it's really as bad as the worriers say, perhaps there needs to be an auto shutoff system on refrigerators?

I'm sure theres truth to the worries, but why not an over temp shut off ?