ARP Refrigerator Protection

[RECVEH2005]

Have any of you installed an ARP Refrigerator Control? If so, are you satisfied with it? Is it effective?

Mike Scheer

[dougrainer]

This is the reason to install the ARP. It does NOT improve the actual cooling as long as all parameters are to spec. The main thing it does is STOP the cooling process when you park off level for those short periods of time that can start a cooling unit break down in a few years. Doug

Your RV Refrigerator boiler operates at about 350 degrees all the time, but even a brief time off-level, like driving up a hill , can send that temperature sky-rocketing. Events like this produced a lot of thermal stress in the fridge boiler, stress that causes the metal to fatigue and the anti-corrosion chemicals in the coolant to deteriorate leading to fridge failure and perhaps even causing an RV fire. This is the reason for Dometic and Norcold recalls leading to class action suits. The ARP Control can monitor the boiler temperature and automatically shut down the boiler if temperatures begin to climb out of normal range. Best of all, ARP continues to monitor and re-starts the fridge once it cools down again, so that your food doesn't spoil. And all without any effort by you!

[RECVEH2005]

To install an ARP unit along with the 2 fans, does one have to "pull" the fridge out or can it be done by removing the vents in the rear and/or roof? Does it have to be done by an RV service center?

Mike

[deprived]

I added the ARP controller along with a thermistor replacement ("Snip The Tip") and fans both interior and exterior.

I can't say which improvement specifically helped but overall I couldn't be happier with the result. In almost any weather the fridge is around 34 to 38 degrees and the freezer is anywhere between 6 and 11 degrees.

The thing I like the most is that it controls the fans so they're not running constantly, especially in cold weather. Also I had an unrelated fridge issue right after installing the ARP and my email inquiry to the owners was returned immediately.

I would like to have gotten the data logging version but we are an Apple-based house, so, no. That said, it would not surprise me if it did do a shutdown, as it is supposed to, during a long climb/decline in Colorado. I absentmindedly had left the fridge on in propane mode and it wasn't until I got to the campsite that I saw that the unit had been running all day. We were either way, way lucky or the ARP did it's job.

Further, our stock fridge routinely got too warm or too cold. Either way we were seeing ruined food. Since the upgrades, we've had no issues at all.

[pianotuna]

Gjac,

These were the only times that the unit shut down the fridge. I was not "out of level" any more than usual. It was not cold enough for my Thermocube controlled light bulb to come on.

[countrykids]

We installed one in Sept after doing a fair amount of research. Very little negative and lots of positive feedback. So far it seems to do it''s job.

Price is reasonable, about the same as 1000 miles of travel with our e450 v10. Fridge replacement is probably $2000-3000.

[BennieH]

Have it on ours. It was highly recommended by Pines Refrigeration (Makers of the Amish Cooling units).

[Gjac]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I have it installed in my Fridge. It has been great for my peace of mind.

It has gone into protection mode 3 times since installation. All the times were in cold weather.

Why in cold weather Don? Were you more out of level than normal?

[KJINTF]

Yes
and another Yes!

We installed the data logging version about two years ago (nerdy tech type folks that we are) was / is nice addition to the rig

Highly recommended

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I have it installed in my Fridge. It has been great for my peace of mind.

It has gone into protection mode 3 times since installation. All the times were in cold weather.

[SoundGuy]

RECVEH2005 wrote:
Have any of you installed an ARP Refrigerator Control? If so, are you satisfied with it? Is it effective?

Search the forums for "ARP" and you'll find several who have installed one.