Running the fridge for 2 days off level?

DinTulsa wrote:
So what happens if I stop for lunch at a restaurant or truck stop and the lot is sloped, I’ve stopped at a few places with a large sloped lot. Does the fridge immediately start being damaged?

Best practice is to turn it off, but with ARP protection you are basically covered regardless. IMO very cheap insurance for such a finicky and expensive piece of equipment.

Larry

98coachman wrote:
So I'm assuming all of you never run your fridge while in transit then correct??? Unless you are driving on the plains your fridge is toast!! Maybe not even then:h. I'm on my fourth trailer in 35+years and have never had a problem, knock on wood!!! I've always levelled my trailer and 3 of the 4 trailers the refrigerators were installed incorrectly and were about a half bubble off. Go figure!! Happy camping, Bill :S

Moving helps the coolant circulate and is totally different than parked off level. Also, the vast majority of roads are less than the 5% maximum angle for the fridge.

So I'm assuming all of you never run your fridge while in transit then correct??? Unless you are driving on the plains your fridge is toast!! Maybe not even then:h. I'm on my fourth trailer in 35+years and have never had a problem, knock on wood!!! I've always levelled my trailer and 3 of the 4 trailers the refrigerators were installed incorrectly and were about a half bubble off. Go figure!! Happy camping, Bill :S

According to the Norcold manual, it is more sensitive side to side:

"CAUTION: The refrigerator is made to operate within 3°
off level side-to-side and 6° off level front-to-back (as
looking at the front of the refrigerator). Operating it at
more than these limits can cause damage to the cooling
system and create a risk of personal injury or property
damage. Make sure the vehicle is level before you
operate the refrigerator."

Side of Fridge to side of Fridge is less critical than back of Fridge to front of Fridge.

Sidecarflip is correct... Look at the back of your fridge or one sitting out in a store and note the direction of the tubes in the back. Front to back is critical as even a minor off level set will trap the liquid{refrigerant} in a low spot and damage will quickly occur. Priced a new frig lately???

Being off side to side is less critical but I agree with the others here who point out that irreversible damage occurs quicker than you think. If parked for more than a couple of minutes just shut it off, as long as you do not open the door you will lose little if any cold. If you forget to turn it back on a few hours with the door closed will not make much difference.

:C

Fore/aft---side/side
That really depends on which way fridge is installed

On sidewall, rear wall, center wall, angled.

Check out some tests using ARP Real Time Monitoring System
It has actually shutdown fridge during transit while driving up a long steep incline due to boiler temps rising

Accumulative/permanent damage DOES occur from overheating conditions
Overheating is from lack of coolant flow.
Simple thermo dynamics

Perfect 100% spot on level NOT a requirement
Level enough to be comfortable is level enough

Old-Biscuit wrote:

DinTulsa wrote:
I went ahead and hooked it up and leveled it out. Now I don’t have to worry about it.

That is what you should do.

20 minutes of off-level fridge operation begins causing damage which is accumulative and permanent

Fore to aft is way more critical than side to side because the cooling unit is thermo siphon. I run mine a full half bubble off side to side with no issues. Fore and aft...always level.

Won't be that way next year with the Danfoss/Secop being installed this winter.

dave17352 wrote:
Who knows, its kinda vague. I have read a hour a two is no big deal. Dont know if its true or not.

I have never seen that come from any official source and it isn't true.

Hi,

Then I suggest you do more research. 15 minutes may cause damage.

I liken it to damage to the roof air conditioner from low voltage, which is also cumulative.

dave17352 wrote:
Who knows, its kinda vague. I have read a hour a two is no big deal. Dont know if its true or not.