Refrigerator cooling question
I have followed all the threads involving improving cooling on RV refrigerators. My Norcold is a constant problem to keep the temps at around 40 degrees. My question is in regards to installing ad...
Forum Discussion
pulpwood007 wrote:dougrainer wrote:STBRetired wrote:
The ARP device shuts your fridge off if the boiler gets too hot. Not exactly the best thing for keeping the beer cold, but it might keep your RV from burning down. My temp sensor is right above the upper fins in the back. Right near the bottom of the baffles that lead to the roof vent.
PS. what burns down an RV is NOT a overheating cooling unit. What burns them up is a LEAK in the cooling unit and the LP flame "may" ignite the Ammonia. Also a dirty LP burner will cause a flame flash and ignite areas around the Cabinet and cause a fire.
So the ARP unit will not necessarily guard against fires in the refer, only against overheating in the flu. If I remember correctly the advertisement eludes to the fact it will prevent RV refer fires.
How frequent does an ammonia leak occur in a propane refrigerator that is not of advanced age?
It prevents RV fires by shutting the refer down when the ammonia leaks out and/or the flue gets too hot. RV refers for the past 20 years have a flame and temp disc built in and if there is a flame shuts the power to the refer. NOT the best, but it is installed by Norcold and Dometic. Now, I am not an expert on the ARP. Their manuals will state what how they prevent fires. Doug
From ARP
The Fridge Defend monitors the cooling unit "normal" boiler temperatures. The cooling unit boiler of your Dometic or Norcold will run at constant normal temperature as long as the cooling unit is preforming in a safe manner (see link above). When the cooling unit boiler temperatures rise above the "normal" temperatures, damage to the cooling unit results. Cooling unit damage can lead to premature cooling failure or even worse, the cooling unit boiler can crack due to excessive thermal stress and cause the fluids to leak externally resulting in an RV fire.
Here is a partial list of reasons that your RV fridge can overheat, neither Dometic nor Norcold controls address any of these issues:
Parking Off-Level
Driving Up/Down Steep Grades
Failure of Electric or LP Gas Heater
Cooling Unit Fluids Blockage or Internal Failure
Wind Preventing Air Circulation in Cooling Unit Compartment
Freezing Ambient Temperatures.
Ambient Temperatures Over 100 Degrees F.
