Forum Discussion

crazyro's avatar
crazyro
Explorer
Apr 08, 2018

PSA: Fridge condensation switch and battery life

I honestly thought I'd have to get a new battery as our current one wasn't holding the charge as long as I would've thought. Then, while moving fridge to replace the drain tube, I hit the condensation (climate control) switch by mistake and realized it had been on the entire time, ever since we purchased our TT. I completely forgot about that darn thing. Sure enough, with it now off, the battery is rather happy. Check yours. :)
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2018
    Count yourself lucky your particular fridge even has a switch ... my Dometic DM2652 doesn't, even though the schematic says it does. :S



    So I added my own - cut the heavier red wire leading to the door switch and installed a SPST toggle switch so I can now turn that climate control heating element off.
  • EdTheEdge's avatar
    EdTheEdge
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2018
    I once left a light on in my storage compartment. Took me a week of battery problems to find that out. Doh!
  • jerryjay11's avatar
    jerryjay11
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2018
    SoundGuy wrote:
    Count yourself lucky your particular fridge even has a switch ... my Dometic DM2652 doesn't, even though the schematic says it does. :S



    Your switch should be to the right of the controls and under the lip of that top panel. You have to open the door to see it though.
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2018
    SoundGuy wrote:
    Count yourself lucky your particular fridge even has a switch ... my Dometic DM2652 doesn't, even though the schematic says it does. :S


    jerryjay11 wrote:
    Your switch should be to the right of the controls and under the lip of that top panel. You have to open the door to see it though.


    Should be but nope, no switch.
  • ependydad's avatar
    ependydad
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2018
    SoundGuy wrote:
    SoundGuy wrote:
    Count yourself lucky your particular fridge even has a switch ... my Dometic DM2652 doesn't, even though the schematic says it does. :S


    jerryjay11 wrote:
    Your switch should be to the right of the controls and under the lip of that top panel. You have to open the door to see it though.


    Should be but nope, no switch.


    Dometic did away with the switch. Same as SoundGuy, mine didn't have one.

    Same as SoundGuy, I tapped into the power to it (which is by the light). I just put spade connectors on the wires so I could easily disconnect it.
  • crazyro's avatar
    crazyro
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2018
    We are talking about condensation switch, not on/off switch for fridge/light.

  • ependydad's avatar
    ependydad
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2018
    crazyro wrote:
    We are talking about condensation switch, not on/off switch for fridge/light.



    So are we.

    The condensation switch has been removed in current Dometic fridges.

    However, the wiring for its power comes off of the light.

    You can add a switch for the condensation heater in the door by tapping into the power coming off of the light. Basically, you can DIY the switch that Dometic used to provide.
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2018
    crazyro wrote:
    We are talking about condensation switch, not on/off switch for fridge/light.



    So are we ... those of us who don't have this climate control heating element switch (despite Dometic's false claim otherwise) can install our own switch. There are two red wires going to the door switch, one heavier than the other, and that heavier wire feeds power to the climate control heating element. Install a switch in that circuit and one can now turn that element off, just as was originally intended by Dometic.
  • mikakuja's avatar
    mikakuja
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2018
    I didn't bother putting a switch on ours when I disconnected the heat strip... I simply popped the light switch out, unplugged the wires leading up to the condensation heat strip and put the light switch back in place. It made a huge difference in battery power consumption, and I have not seen any condensation build up over the past year.

About Travel Trailer Group

44,029 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 20, 2025