Could someone let me know what the nominal temps should be for the freezer and refer of an Dometic 5er?I just had it in again for service and they said all was "just fine". And the cheapie refer thermometers I had in the freezer and refer were no good. Hey, I don't doubt that.Our ambient temp here today is about 70 and I had the cheapies in the refer for about 5 hours on gas. Coldest setting. And I put a digital unit that has a wire and sensing probe on the end.They stayed at 402 or so (both) and the digital said 60 after 5 hours.So I put one of the cheapies in the freezer and in a few minutes it was -10.Now I have an additional digital in the refer and see what it says here in an hour or so.My thoughts have always been to have the freezer at zero to 10 below and the refer in the, say, 36 to 42 range.Any input would be appreciated.I can't find the manual and Dometic is closed for the weekend.Thanks.

Dometic 5er? Never heard of that model. Typical refer temp should be around 42. Gas usually works better than electricity for cooling. Clean the chimney is my first suggestion.

Here's what my Dometic runs :Internal and external fans added to help

Oops, Dometic in my 5er (5th wheel)

My Amish Norcold hits -4 and 38.

They replaced the switch on the back that turns on the outside fans when the refer gets too hot. Well, the fans are obviously not running. I agree with 43 and 10 but with it set at the coldest (5) the freezer could get down to -10.

Refer Temps | Good Sam Community

DSDP_Don
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
When you Google average refer temps, it is recommended that the refer be kept between 35-38 degrees to keep bacteria from forming. I like my stuff cold and keep both the house refer and RV refer at 34 degree and the freezer at -4.
Lauren
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
This is all good. I will take a glass of water and test it.

On edit ........

No need for the water in the glass.

The cheapie thermometer in the freezer was buried below 20 below zero and the good ones in the refer were 36 and 38.

So I was wrong in not allowing more time.

Thanks for educating me; even old guys can learn. :-)
RJCorazza
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
X2 or 3 on waiting 24 hours. Also, with an empty fridge measuring air temps you will be chasing wildly fluctuating temps. For starters place the thermometer in a glass of water for a more accurate representation of the fridges cooling.
Fresno_Tundra_D
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
donn0128 wrote:
Dometic 5er? Never heard of that model. Typical refer temp should be around 42. Gas usually works better than electricity for cooling. Clean the chimney is my first suggestion.

I think your sarcasm was missed. Like others have said already, leave it on gas unopened for at least 24 hours.
Lauren
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
When one is camera ready and shoots the pic within 2 seconds of opening the door the thermometer does not react that fast for the temp to change. Especially a digital.

And it just seems warm in there anyhow.
popeyemth
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
They work better on gas than electricity
More heat produced
Opening the door to check a thermometer in an empty fridge is counterproductive
All the cold air falls out an is replaced by warm air with no contents to act as a cold buffer....you get warmer not colder.
The display in my picture is a remote reading thermometer.
$30 or so at Amazon
Lauren
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
What gets to me is that the repair place said it was fine and was in the 40's in a few hours. I am on gas; will see tomorrow when I plug it in if that makes a difference.

The fins do not even seem cold.

I really don't care about the differential between the two; I just want the refer to get down to 42 and, if I really cranked it to coldest just to see, I would expect it to be down to about 32. Based on our highs here right now of about 75 or so.
popeyemth
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
Freezers by design get cold first then the fridge
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Mar 21, 2015
You can adjust the difference between freezer and fridge by sliding the thermistor up and down the fin.

A fan inside the fridge evens out the temps too.

I bought the one that runs off the light when the door closes.
Lauren
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
Thanks - will give it 24 hours and see where it is at. Refer is empty. Amazes me, though, that the freezer drops right down to -10 and the refer has hardly cooler; in fact, the refer is warmer now than about 9 hours ago. Will give it til 10am tomorrow; that is 24 hours.

Forum Discussion

Refer Temps

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Refer / Freezer Temps

Motor Cross Reference

Lithium battery box temps

Adding Batteries / Refer Support

refer cooling fan