Read an article concerning ammonia fridges and their relationship to ambient versus internal temperatures.The article stated that the temperature differential is around 30 degrees internal versus external and it seems to hold water in my testing.Been running my Dometic on shore power in the side yard (empty). I have adequate airflow over the upper condenser with the correct baffles and 2 120mm muffin fans pulling the air through the backside cavity from the lower intake out through the upper vent and 2 additional muffin fans inside the fridge circulating cold air inside. The fridge is well insulated, I added almost a full roll of unfaced R11 insulation around the entire fridge, between the fridge body and the outer cabinet so I'm as 'efficient' as I can get.I have a recording remote thermometer in the fridge with the readout outside and I've watched for about a week now and the interior temp averages about 30 degrees colder than ambient, more at night, closer to 50 dergrees differential than during the day when it drops back to around 30The article I read seems to be correct at around 30 degrees temperature differential.I think this winter, I'll be pulling the Dometic ammonia fridge and installing another Dometic C series Danfoss Compressor unit in it's place. I have a portable Dometic Cool box I carry in the truck and it has no issue holding whatever temperature I set it at from 30 degrees on up in the fridge section to minus 15 in the freezer section.

I'll see if I can verify your numbers today as it will be pretty hot here. 2018 08 09Please let us know how the swap to Dometic Danfoss goes. Prices would be nice to have.Do you still have a link to the article?

I'm guessing that's 30C (54F), and for the refrigerator section, not the freezer. A 30F differential would mean a 60F fridge when it's 90F outside. And even that seems low. Ours does way better than that.

My Dometic stays sufficiently cold all the time. When it's over 90 outside and my a/c can barely maintain 80, the refer is having no problem.

Funny.......My Dometic RM2862 has been able to hold 5*F/Freezer and 38*F-40*F/Food compartment regardless of outside temps. (been in 110*F temps and in high humidity) And it doesn't even have fans.Course it was properly installed with less then 1" rear clearance, 0" clearances top/sides, NO dead air spaces and really good natural draft via roof ventDid have cooling issues couple times when we were in 0*F and lower outside temps (winter storm/snow) but that was easily resolved with the use of a 60W light bulb in lower section of outside compartment

Our Dometic must have been installed properly as it will stay about 50 degrees cooler than outside temps. Usually it will be about 40 degrees when the outside temp is 90+.

Ammonia Fridges, read an interesting piece a while ago

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Aug 10, 2018
Math was never one of my strong points. I used to sit in the front row so I could gaze at Ms. Pendergast's long legs....
Community Alumni
Aug 16, 2018
dougrainer wrote:
chag67 wrote:
My Norcold 2118S was working flawlessly. Then 2 months ago, the temps climbed to 60 in the fridge and 28 in the freezer. I set up a visit with a NORCOLD CERTIFIED technician recommended by NORCOLD. The technician stated it was a bad cooling unit. Norcold has since recommended that the technician come back out for minor things before they will send their own technician a cooling unit to install. Each visit is $175 out of my own pocket due to the mobile tech charge. The reason the mobile charge is that high is they are the closest to my at 2 1/2 hours away. Norcold units may be good but their customer service UNDER WARRANTY sucks. I have decided to scrap their crappy fridge and change to a residential. Norcold can go to #$%^!!!

Note that my RV and fridge are under warranty and are only 6 months old.

While you have a Warranty, YOU must make arrangements to get that Norcold to a Service Center. The fact YOU hired a Mobile Tech is NOT Norcold's fault. YOU chose to live 2 1/2 hours away. That is NOT Norcold's fault. These are MOBILE RV's and you need to get the RV into the Service Center for the best result and repair. Doug

My problem is not with the mobile fee. My problem is with Norcold ignoring THEIR OWN technician's recommendation as to what needs to be fixed. I had a non-Norcold mobile tech tell me it is a bad cooling unit. I had a NORCOLD mobile tech tell me it is a bad cooling unit. NORCOLD will not send their own NORCOLD mobile technician a new cooling unit to replace the bad cooling unit in my 6 month old Norcold fridge. NORCOLD customer service and warranty service sucks.
mchero
Explorer
Aug 19, 2018
I wish I had just one dollar for every misdiagnosed Norcold or Dometic fridge!
dougrainer
Nomad
Aug 19, 2018
chag67 wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
chag67 wrote:
My Norcold 2118S was working flawlessly. Then 2 months ago, the temps climbed to 60 in the fridge and 28 in the freezer. I set up a visit with a NORCOLD CERTIFIED technician recommended by NORCOLD. The technician stated it was a bad cooling unit. Norcold has since recommended that the technician come back out for minor things before they will send their own technician a cooling unit to install. Each visit is $175 out of my own pocket due to the mobile tech charge. The reason the mobile charge is that high is they are the closest to my at 2 1/2 hours away. Norcold units may be good but their customer service UNDER WARRANTY sucks. I have decided to scrap their crappy fridge and change to a residential. Norcold can go to #$%^!!!

Note that my RV and fridge are under warranty and are only 6 months old.

While you have a Warranty, YOU must make arrangements to get that Norcold to a Service Center. The fact YOU hired a Mobile Tech is NOT Norcold's fault. YOU chose to live 2 1/2 hours away. That is NOT Norcold's fault. These are MOBILE RV's and you need to get the RV into the Service Center for the best result and repair. Doug

My problem is not with the mobile fee. My problem is with Norcold ignoring THEIR OWN technician's recommendation as to what needs to be fixed. I had a non-Norcold mobile tech tell me it is a bad cooling unit. I had a NORCOLD mobile tech tell me it is a bad cooling unit. NORCOLD will not send their own NORCOLD mobile technician a new cooling unit to replace the bad cooling unit in my 6 month old Norcold fridge. NORCOLD customer service and warranty service sucks.

I don't know where you think Norcold has Technicians. They do NOT. They have Service Centers and independent Technicians that are AUTHORIZED to do warranty repairs. As in all things in life, there are competent and incompetent Repair people. IF a Authorized Norcold AGENT calls Norcold with the check out facts and it warrants a NEW Cooling Unit, they will replace the CU or send a complete NEW Refer. I have delt with both Norcold and Dometic for 38 years and still do. I have no problem getting what I need when the facts are presented.
Doug
Community Alumni
Aug 21, 2018
dougrainer wrote:
chag67 wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
chag67 wrote:
My Norcold 2118S was working flawlessly. Then 2 months ago, the temps climbed to 60 in the fridge and 28 in the freezer. I set up a visit with a NORCOLD CERTIFIED technician recommended by NORCOLD. The technician stated it was a bad cooling unit. Norcold has since recommended that the technician come back out for minor things before they will send their own technician a cooling unit to install. Each visit is $175 out of my own pocket due to the mobile tech charge. The reason the mobile charge is that high is they are the closest to my at 2 1/2 hours away. Norcold units may be good but their customer service UNDER WARRANTY sucks. I have decided to scrap their crappy fridge and change to a residential. Norcold can go to #$%^!!!

Note that my RV and fridge are under warranty and are only 6 months old.

While you have a Warranty, YOU must make arrangements to get that Norcold to a Service Center. The fact YOU hired a Mobile Tech is NOT Norcold's fault. YOU chose to live 2 1/2 hours away. That is NOT Norcold's fault. These are MOBILE RV's and you need to get the RV into the Service Center for the best result and repair. Doug

My problem is not with the mobile fee. My problem is with Norcold ignoring THEIR OWN technician's recommendation as to what needs to be fixed. I had a non-Norcold mobile tech tell me it is a bad cooling unit. I had a NORCOLD mobile tech tell me it is a bad cooling unit. NORCOLD will not send their own NORCOLD mobile technician a new cooling unit to replace the bad cooling unit in my 6 month old Norcold fridge. NORCOLD customer service and warranty service sucks.

I don't know where you think Norcold has Technicians. They do NOT. They have Service Centers and independent Technicians that are AUTHORIZED to do warranty repairs. As in all things in life, there are competent and incompetent Repair people. IF a Authorized Norcold AGENT calls Norcold with the check out facts and it warrants a NEW Cooling Unit, they will replace the CU or send a complete NEW Refer. I have delt with both Norcold and Dometic for 38 years and still do. I have no problem getting what I need when the facts are presented.
Doug

I am glad that you have not had any issues with Norcold in your experiences.

Mine have been less than stellar. It is a non-issue now. I have a residential fridge now. My opinion of Norcold has been formed based upon my personal experience dealing directly with Norcold on the phone and their authorized technicians. I will never have a Norcold fridge in any of my RVs.

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