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SGTJOE's avatar
SGTJOE
Explorer II
Sep 07, 2019

Dometic Temp Controller

If I was to disconnect the temperature control unit to check my Dometic fridge is there a time limit as to how long I should leave it disconnected? What is the name of that thing that controls the fridge temp?
  • Temp THERMISTER. 24 hours is all you need to run a test. There is no problem running 24/7 disconnected. Just a waste of money and energy use. Doug
  • With thermistor leads disconnected fridge cooling is continuous....in 12 hrs you will know if cooling unit is capable of cooling both freezer & food compartment
  • Interesting. I had a mobile RV guy come out and he disconnected it. My fridge and freezer were running cooler like they should, but the guy never came back or responded to my messages on the temps I sent him. Then a month and a half later my propane detector and carbondioxide detectors went off, when I opened the MH door the smell was horrible. Did the disconnect of the therm thing cause the ammonia to leak because it got too hot?
  • SGTJOE wrote:
    Interesting. I had a mobile RV guy come out and he disconnected it. My fridge and freezer were running cooler like they should, but the guy never came back or responded to my messages on the temps I sent him. Then a month and a half later my propane detector and carbondioxide detectors went off, when I opened the MH door the smell was horrible. Did the disconnect of the therm thing cause the ammonia to leak because it got too hot?


    Disconnecing thermistor leads is for TESTING capability of cooling unit

    Month and a half....45 days of continuous operation ----continuous as in the HEAT SOURCE NEVER SHUT OFF
    YES..that continuous heating caused the perk tube (boiler section) to fatigue/crack from overheating
    Coolant flow absorbing the heat generated is the ONLY thing that keeps the tubing from overheating.
  • Old-Biscuit wrote:
    SGTJOE wrote:
    Interesting. I had a mobile RV guy come out and he disconnected it. My fridge and freezer were running cooler like they should, but the guy never came back or responded to my messages on the temps I sent him. Then a month and a half later my propane detector and carbondioxide detectors went off, when I opened the MH door the smell was horrible. Did the disconnect of the therm thing cause the ammonia to leak because it got too hot?


    Disconnecing thermistor leads is for TESTING capability of cooling unit

    Month and a half....45 days of continuous operation ----continuous as in the HEAT SOURCE NEVER SHUT OFF
    YES..that continuous heating caused the perk tube (boiler section) to fatigue/crack from overheating
    Coolant flow absorbing the heat generated is the ONLY thing that keeps the tubing from overheating.


    Rethink what you posted. There are thousands of RV refers that run 24/7, especially in HOT climates with fulltimers that are opening and closing numerous times per day and the refer cannot satisfy its cold set temp. I have lots of customers at deer leases that have the refer wired direct to 120 with the tstat bypassed and never fail. I would bet the refer is a OLDER refer and the welds were weak/corroded over time. It may have had a minor leak or a weak spot and the 24/7 caused it to finally discharge the Ammonia. Doug
  • Doug, are you saying that the disconnect of the thermistor for all those days did not cause the leak?
  • If the fluid flow is inhibited the metal absorbs the heat..metal is fatigued and fails
    Simple thermal dynamics

    Continuous heat leads to failure.

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