Travel with fridge on

Hi,

The heat source does not matter. Permanent irreversible damage can happen in 15 minutes.

ford-willy wrote:
Please correct me if I'm wrong here. I thought the out of level refrig damage issue only applied when on propane. The flame when burning "off center" can do damage to the unit. So if that is correct, and if you have generator capabilities, just run the refrig on 120v while stopped and significantly off level. The electric coil heater does not need level. Is that correct? ------ Of course many people dont have generator capabilities.

3oaks wrote:
We leave ours ON when stopping for pit stops and lunch breaks along the way even if out of level. Going on 10 years without a problem.

This.

we leave ours on also. we have never been 'that out of level' and in over 20 plus years no problems.

No need to worry unless you a parked on a steep incline. Relatively level is good enough. If it is level enough to walk normally throughout the RV you are fine.

You mean there's a off switch?

ford-willy wrote:
Please correct me if I'm wrong here. I thought the out of level refrig damage issue only applied when on propane. The flame when burning "off center" can do damage to the unit. So if that is correct, and if you have generator capabilities, just run the refrig on 120v while stopped and significantly off level. The electric coil heater does not need level. Is that correct? ------ Of course many people dont have generator capabilities.

I believe you're wrong. Damage to a frig from being off level has nothing to do with the source of power. There is a rust inhibitor in the lines and being significantly off level can cause that inhibitor to solidify and block the lines. The motion from driving doesn't allow the inhibitor to solidify.

ford-willy wrote:
Please correct me if I'm wrong here. I thought the out of level refrig damage issue only applied when on propane.

Incorrect - has nothing to do with the source of heat energy but rather liquid ammonia accumulating in the evaporator tubing. From my Dometic DM2652 User Manual ...

"LEVELING THE REFRIGERATOR

Leveling is one of the requirements for proper operation with absorption refrigerators. To ensure proper leveling the vehicle needs to be leveled only so it is comfortable to live in (no
noticeable sloping of floor or walls). Any time the vehicle is parked for several hours with the refrigerator operating, the vehicle should be leveled to prevent loss of cooling. If the refrigerator is operated when it is not level and the vehicle is not moving, liquid ammonia will accumulate in sections of the evaporator tubing. This will slow the circulation of hydrogen and ammonia gas, or in severe cases, completely block it, resulting in a loss of cooling. When the vehicle is moving, the leveling is not critical, as the rolling and pitching movement of the vehicle will pass to either side of level, keeping the liquid ammonia from accumulating in the evaporator tubing."

Less than 20 minutes of operating an absorption fidge out of level can cause overheating which causes sodium chromate to crystallize which then plates out on inside of cooling unit tubing which results in blockage which causes overheating, more crystallizing, more plating etc .............damage is PERMANENT and ACCUMULATIVE

Off-level operation disrupts the 'gravity flow' of coolant regardless of heat source.

Please correct me if I'm wrong here. I thought the out of level refrig damage issue only applied when on propane. The flame when burning "off center" can do damage to the unit. So if that is correct, and if you have generator capabilities, just run the refrig on 120v while stopped and significantly off level. The electric coil heater does not need level. Is that correct? ------ Of course many people dont have generator capabilities.

Simple solution: if in doubt, just shut the fridge off. Takes only a moment to restart it.

stop worrying about it. we never turn ours off, only for fueling up the rv.