RV Refrigerators Cooling Issues

Surgtech94 wrote:
We’ve been having issues with our new TT Norcold refrigerator not keeping things cold, quit working and warming up. I’ve been watching a few YouTube videos. These new RV refrigerators are ‘gas/electric, absorption’ refrigerators, they can’t be filled full, some ppl have set a mini fan blowing inside on the fans. Teach me about these. What’s the best way to keep these cold, first off is making sure the TT is level? What about starting off on propane, I heard propane keeps it colder? Most of the time we put a bunch of beverages in the refrigerator to get cold, Should we be putting beverages in the outside refrigerator to keep cold? Thank you in advance

They've been around for decades, so nothing new about them.
- Filling them full is actually better. When you open the door, the cold air sinks out onto the floor...if it's full there is less air to lose and more mass to hold temperature. The fans are to keep the temperature more even.
- The downside is they cool slowly, so if you put 2 cases of warm beer in the fridge, it may literally take a day or so to cool it and it may warm up some of the existing items in the fridge.
- If it's working properly, propane or electric makes no significant difference. On electric, it's simply a heating element in the same location as the flame. Best to start it the night before with the non-perishables in, so it has a chance to cool down. Then add the perishables just before you head out (preferably precooled in your household fridge).