Ice maker is slooww...

[cgcis]

Two days ago the Fleetwood service center in Eugene, Oregon replaced the dying Dometic refrigerator in our 2007 Fleetwood Southwind with a new model (DM 2862), complete with ice maker, since that's what our coach was originally equipped with. After a few hiccups everything is now working, but here's my question: is it normal for an RV-type ice maker to cycle just once every four hours?

Before we purchased the coach the former owner had removed the ice maker, so we have nothing to compare this output to. Per my thermometer the freezer is at zero degrees, we're plugged in at 50 amps, the coach is level, and it is making ice--it's just dropping a puny seven cubes every four hours. Forty (or so) cubes a day seems a little sparse for the room the ice maker occupies, but if it's normal, I'll suck up my disappointment and head out. If it's not, I guess I'll wait here (I've been camped in the service center "campground" for two weeks) until they open on Monday. Surprise!

[cgcis]

Just to close this out, Dometic responded to my inquiry and it is absolutely normal that the ice maker cycle only 5 or 6 times a day. Not a huge output, but at least I know it's operating as intended. Thanks to all who responded.

[donkeydew]

it must be a sloooww day to be counting ice cubes.
ares puts out more than that, i would call the installer and check with them

[MrWizard]

our Freezer ice cube trays could not keep up with our amount of use
so 5yrs ago we bought a USED 'Danby' portable ?..(it weight 47#) ice machine off Craigslist
early this week it started to malfunction, so i went to target and bought an Emerson ice machine, it weighs 21#, its smaller, its slower, it quieter
But .. it will do the job

[WyoTraveler]

Now you know why PO took it out. Ours worked but takes up a lot of space We prefer the extra space. We needed the freezer space to buy some items in bulk for longer trips. We have a Dometic. Those small plastic trays make plenty of ice for us. Easy to remove or install. Just plugs in and couple of screws holding it in place.

[Executive45]

An "upgrade" would have been a residential...:W....Dennis


Four hours is about normal but sometimes it depends on how often you open the fridge. Try buying a bag of ice to fill the hopper and see if it then keeps up. I think you'll find it will....D

[cgcis]

Thanks for all your information/suggestions so far. To clarify: the cubes are actually full-size, so no issue there; my only concern is with the length of the cycle. At this rate, I can't figure why anyone would bother with one of these. Seems my "upgrade" might be anything but. Live and learn!

[dons2346]

If you are getting puny cubes, possibly the amount of water put in the tray needs to be increased. I don't remember how long our Dometic took to make cubes but I don't think it was 4 hours.

[bullydogs1]

I'm going to say yes..we have a dometic though different than yours has an icemaker...we stopped using it and purchased a portable icemaker from target which makes ice in 7 minutes and keeps on going....it would take a good couple of hours a shot to get ice and we use a great deal of it with dog's water as well as my own drinks...best 99 bucks I've ever spent..

[2bzy2c]

Saw this post....Did you know hot water freezes faster than cold water? I didn't either.

Hot water vs Cold water freezing.

[dougrainer]

Yes, that is a normal rate for an RV ABSORBSION refer. It takes longer for a Ammonia based RV refer freezer to freeze the ice to below 10 degrees which is the start temp for ejection. As other mentioned, a stand alone Uline Icemaker can eject ice every 20 to 30 minutes. U lines used to be popular(optional on a lot of motorhomes) until about 10 years ago. Doug

[bluwtr49]

If you have the space look at a self standing ice maker. The U-line was standard equipment on our coach and makes ice at a phenomenal rate. Something like 22 minutes per cycle. This had fallen into the mandatory accessory item on the "next coach" list.

Tough to put a price tag on abundant ice cube supply.

[Kayteg1]

I wold call ice maker manufacturer if manual is not saying anything.
I think my household refrigerator drops the ice about every 4 hr, but with big tray that is not an issue unless I am making a party.