Refrigerator ran off level

Absorption fridges will go the way of the Dodo as solar gets cheaper.

The 12-24v DC compressor fridges are efficient. and can be improved further with more insulation and a proper install, venting condenser heat properly Same with 120vaAC fridges on an inverter.

Propane is for cooking.

RV manufacturers could absolutely stop any propane refrig damage issues if they would only install them within a strong aluminum or steel gimbal framework -> as in an enlarged version of the drink holders used on boats.

Considering what replacement absorption RV refrigerators cost today, I'd gladly have spent $500 more for our RV when new to have it's refrig mounted this way. Just a little bit of movement within a restricted gimbal mechanism area would be all that's required to radically reduce off-level damage ... such that a vastly larger space in the RV would not be required just to allow some refrigerator box swinging movement in all directions to help compensate for a non-level RV.

It wouldn't be Rocket Science to incorporate this refrigerator mounting approach in RVs today ... after all, look what they're doing with multiple RV slides and RV decks!

hmmm... This is the Norcold N621 in my 2005 rental. I drive down the road with the fridge in AUTO. It's only turned off before entering a station to take on fuel or propane. The manual says that it can be +/- 3 degrees from level. In 2013 I had to make a U-turn on a road on Lake Coeur d'Alene. I pulled the MH onto a gravel side street to unhook the toad so that I could back up the MH into the road and re-hook up the toad.

1. the side street was a gravel hill with about a 30 to 35 degree incline.
2. I was driving by myself at the time.
3. I set the E-450 in Park and set the emergency brake, and chocked the rear tires.
4. I took 20+ minutes to unhook the car because I was having a massive panic attack for having to stand 10 inches from 14,000 lbs (US) sitting on a steep incline on a gravel road. I had flop sweat the entire time.

I completed the U-turn and doubled back to the RV park at Black Rock Marina. The N621 never quite or threw a code, nor has it given me any trouble since then.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Rmack1 wrote:

Strabo wrote:
I've ran ours off level for a few days, didn't harm it. Are you on propane?

I can do propane. I'm on 30 amps now, so I use that mostly. I turn it off to use the microwave, because that trips breakers in my friends system otherwise.

Running it off level for days..no harm
No harm that you notice YET! It will catch up with you

Off level operation interrupts the gravity flow which can cause overheating. Overheating causes sodium chromate to crystallize which plates out on tubing. That creates an obstruction which interrupts the gravity flow..more overheating....more crystals formed ...more plating....etc etc etc
This effect is accumulative and PERMANENT ......

Propane/electric........all the same
Heat source doesn't matter
Propane will start the cooling cycle a little quicker on initial startup but that is only for the first few hours.

Thank you, OB

Dave H M wrote:
:h I usually use a thermometer instead of a hot dog.

I am curious, after you let it run for a day or so now that it is level let us know if all is well.

The thing that panicked me in the first place was the fact that a pack of sausages actually, not hot dogs, was frozen solid before, but seemed to be soft. I checked with my level, and saw that the bubble was just outside of the two lines.

I do have a thermometer, so once I turn my Dometic back on, I'll check it in both compartments.

While standing on the window I gently lower the refrigerator door of my Vestfrost.

Hi MFL,

If I know I'm ridiculously out of level I do shut down the fridge rather than relying on the ARP.

That 15 minute window is a good guideline, but I shut down if it is even 5 minutes.

MFL wrote:

Doug...When I stop for a short while, somewhat off level, for rest stop, or lunch, about a half hour, I always turn the fridge off, and back on prior to pulling out. Am I just wasting my time doing so, since the tubes and solution are still hot? Would the short time off, back on, cause more issue than just leaving it on?

Jerry

MFL wrote:
When I stop for a short while, somewhat off level, for rest stop, or lunch, about a half hour, I always turn the fridge off, and back on prior to pulling out.

Same here. During the season I park our trailer here at the house but always level it so I can not only use it whenever I want but also so I can fire up the fridge in preparation for the next trip. When we're about to leave but before I begin my hitching up process I turn the fridge off and it stays off until we actually pull out. Same at the campground - arrive to register and one us of will turn the fridge off and it doesn't get turned back on 'til we're on-site and leveled. Same for mid trip stops along the way, whether to play tourist, have lunch, whatever - fridge goes off until we're ready to hit the road again. When we arrive home fridge goes off until such time as I've parked and leveled once again - always. I've followed this practice for years with every trailer we've owned and have never had any fridge issues at all. IMO, better safe than sorry.

ScottG wrote:

MFL wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
The end result is this. ALL those times short and long you ran off level cause extremely small (unless it is 24 hour or more) blockages. You never notice it because the affect is not felt until years down the line. Then one day, it is hot and your refer just seems to NOT cool that well. Then you blame the refer. Others also, if you post on a forum. Remember, in Transit, all those times you stopped overnight or for sightseeing or lunch and the refer was OFF Level, even for 15 minutes, that causes a blockage, like Heart Disease, it finally causes a major problem. The reason I stated 24 hours is to get the refer to STOP percolating and allow the Ammonia to return to its cooled normal state. You did do some harm but you want to minimize it. LP or 120 it makes no difference on unlevel operation. Doug

Doug...When I stop for a short while, somewhat off level, for rest stop, or lunch, about a half hour, I always turn the fridge off, and back on prior to pulling out. Am I just wasting my time doing so, since the tubes and solution are still hot? Would the short time off, back on, cause more issue than just leaving it on?

Jerry

Personally, I think that's a very good idea and will do no harm. It's what I have done since the shop told me about the 15 minute thing.

ScottG, thanks for the reply, good to know other knowledgeable people are doing the same.

Jerry

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
One fact I noted:
The old Home Servel gas refrigerators needed to be maintained extremely level or lose circulation.

They installed Servel's in RV's until about 1980/81. And YES, it was amazing how you had to have them almost perfectly level for the Servel to operate correctly. Doug