Refrigerator Problems At High Altitude

This might or might not help... The laws may have changed but when I got certified in 78 in Denver, gas appliances could have the S.L. btu input up to 2000' but the input had to be derated 4%/1000' as soon as they went above 2000'. BBQ grills, gas driers and anything with over sized heat exchangers were exempt from that rule but I have no idea about RV fridges. The correct way to derate is with a smaller orifice but the pressure stays the same cuz the pressure is critical to get the correct air/fuel ratio. Decreasing the orifice pressure will cut down the input but there's no guarantee the mixture can be adjusted correctly with the primary air shutter. Craig

rtate wrote:

Rvpapa wrote:
The 11" WC works great at sea level where it is based at. If you are only visiting the higher altitudes and not planning on living there try turning the regulator down a bit. I have been down to near 7" at a couple of higher spots. Don't forget to reset when you come down.
Art.

How do I turn my regulator down?

Like this

2 stage LP Regulator


Just don't be surprised if other propane appliances start having issues with that lower pressure
11" WC is only 0.4 psi-----7" WC is roughly 0.25 psi (nothing more than a poof)

Smaller orifice and correct pressure (11" WC)

Rvpapa wrote:
The 11" WC works great at sea level where it is based at. If you are only visiting the higher altitudes and not planning on living there try turning the regulator down a bit. I have been down to near 7" at a couple of higher spots. Don't forget to reset when you come down.
Art.

How do I turn my regulator down?

The 11" WC works great at sea level where it is based at. If you are only visiting the higher altitudes and not planning on living there try turning the regulator down a bit. I have been down to near 7" at a couple of higher spots. Don't forget to reset when you come down.
Art.

At high altitude gas appliances can be starved for AIR. They are fuel rich due to the higher altitude.
A smaller size orifice would be needed to correct the air/fuel ratio


Some appliances work OK....some work intermittently and some don't work at all
ed
Suburban is the only one that I know of that has a 'high altitude kit' and it is for their water heaters

The manual for my Norcold said it might not operate on propane above a certain altitude (I think it was 5,000 feet). It was almost right. It worked fine at 7,000 feet but not at 9,000 feet.

The first thing I'd do is make sure you have 11" WC for your propane flow.

Do a search for your make & model of frig.

"High Altitude Orifice"

Do the stove, water heater and furnace work? If so, it would seem to be a problem with the appliance rather than an elevation issue.

HMMMM our fridge works great at 10,000 ft but then again buying the rig here may have meant things were changed knowing it would be used at higher elevations.