Heating frig coils and cold weather questions
I did a search on “coils” and can’t find what I thought I read on this forum. Maybe I didn’t read it here, I’m not sure? I thought I read that some people are putting a light (as a heat source) o...
Forum Discussion
This is from the 'sticky' Winter RV Camping in the Full Timers sub-forum....LINK
5) Gas Refrigerator: The refrigerant in a propane/electric refrigerator is a mixture of distilled water, ammonia, sodium carbonate and hydrogen gas, all at 200 psi pressure. When the temperature drops below 20 degrees this liquid can turn to a gel and may permanently plug the coils of the refrigeration system.
To help prevent this from happening, remove the outside refrigerator access cover and use duct tape to cover the top two (out of three) vent slots. Applying the tape to the inside of the cover will prevent leaving marks when removing the tape. Alternately, and easier to do, is to use round half inch pipe insulation to plug the top two slots from the outside.
It is also necessary to put a 100 watt light bulb behind the access cover near the base of the coils. Don’t lean the bulb on any flammable material.
Here are other posts concerning fridge & cold outside temps
See 'camperpaul' post
See 'pianotuna' post
See 'ins1505' post
RV fridges need to exchange the heat to outside air in order to cool inside of fridge....but when outside temps drop low enough the cooling medium (ammonia, water, hydrogen, and an anti-corrosive agent) can gel (water) so it needs to retain some heat in order to flow properly. Restricting the amount of air flow will decrease the amount of heat transfer. Adding a small wattage bulb can provide additional heat.
We have been in -14*F temps and below 0*F temps (several occasions) and I didn't have to resort to these tactics.
Neighbors did...light bulb.
IF I had problems will fridge temps rising I probably would have done it also.
5) Gas Refrigerator: The refrigerant in a propane/electric refrigerator is a mixture of distilled water, ammonia, sodium carbonate and hydrogen gas, all at 200 psi pressure. When the temperature drops below 20 degrees this liquid can turn to a gel and may permanently plug the coils of the refrigeration system.
To help prevent this from happening, remove the outside refrigerator access cover and use duct tape to cover the top two (out of three) vent slots. Applying the tape to the inside of the cover will prevent leaving marks when removing the tape. Alternately, and easier to do, is to use round half inch pipe insulation to plug the top two slots from the outside.
It is also necessary to put a 100 watt light bulb behind the access cover near the base of the coils. Don’t lean the bulb on any flammable material.
Here are other posts concerning fridge & cold outside temps
See 'camperpaul' post
See 'pianotuna' post
See 'ins1505' post
RV fridges need to exchange the heat to outside air in order to cool inside of fridge....but when outside temps drop low enough the cooling medium (ammonia, water, hydrogen, and an anti-corrosive agent) can gel (water) so it needs to retain some heat in order to flow properly. Restricting the amount of air flow will decrease the amount of heat transfer. Adding a small wattage bulb can provide additional heat.
We have been in -14*F temps and below 0*F temps (several occasions) and I didn't have to resort to these tactics.
Neighbors did...light bulb.
IF I had problems will fridge temps rising I probably would have done it also.
