Resi fridges in more and more units

pnichols wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
LP does offer the most time for the energy cost
it does NOT offer the best cooling,

I heard a quote once that goes something like: "Perfection is the enemy of good enough."

Our Norcold propane refrig is only a little over 6 cu ft. (I think), so maybe smallness in propane RV refrigerators is the magic key ... as our Norcold cools just fine with it's 5 coldness settings. We never need it's maximum coldness setting of #5, and it's setting #4 sometimes is too cold in all but the very hottest weather. We usually need to have it set on it's coldness setting of only #3.

For us for some reason or combination of reasons, our two-way Norcold propane refrig has certainly been a stellar "good enough" performer. I wonder if the reason is it's modest size, or it's proper installation by Winnebago, or it's manufacturing date of being built back when quality was still present in RV appliances?

It's ONLY fault has been that for overall long life it needs to be kept somewhere near level when camping - and until they mount RV propane refrigerators on gimbals (as they should) - this is the only thing that keeps it from being hands-down far superior to a compressor refrigerator's unending energy requirements when drycamping.

For what it's worth, I believe that a somewhat spectacular person from history with a last name of "Einstein" coinvented the gas absorption refrigeration process.

Most cooling problems with absorption is due to the RV manufacturer. Norcold, Dometic, and Atwood all have very specific venting requirements and RV manufacturers seldom follow them, doing a half cocked job of the construction of the cavity behind and above the unit. Its the same principle as a masonry chimney. Hire a shoemaker mason to build it and see what you get when it does not create a draft. Also, mounting them in slides where the upper vent is in the sidewall is even more problematic, and requires mechanical ventilation (fans). Despite Dometic (not sure on Norcold) having fans at the cooling unit for a slide application they are usually not sufficient due to their mounting location. Movinv air that was pulled in the lower sidewall vent, does not like to flow up over the fins of the unit, then turn 90 degrees to exhaust out the sidewall vent. If you have an absorbtion fridge that has lackluster performance in a slide, add two 120mm fans to the upper vent panel itself ejecting air out and you'll increase the performance substantially.

As far as out of level/plumb. All manufacturers recommend they be within 3 degrees plumb side to side of the fridge and 6 degrees plumb front to back. The side to side is most critical because of the slope designed into the tubes, for the ammonia to flow back to the evaporator when condensed. With the fridge typically mounted at a sidewall typically, purposely put your rig 3 degrees out of level front to back and see if you would use it that way. It's more than most people think.

If I knew I was always going to be at sites with hookups, or had a rig set up seasonal, residential would be a no brainer I guess. That's not the case and solar would not be an option as we camp in the woods.