Looking for Dometic DMR702 service manual
I have been having a lot of trouble with my fridge. The pattern seems ambient temperature related. During the cool nights in the CO mountains off the grid, the unit would not run until about 10am. Thi...
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I'm not 100% sure I have solved my ambient temperature problem. But, I do feel I am gaining ground on it. Since I started this thread, I have learned\done this:
1. My electrode was bad. I replaced it.
2. Frost on my tank is two fold
A. If the ambient temperature is below ~35, propane can't vaporize quickly enough to provide gas for appliances to work correctly. In cold weather, never let your tank(s) get below 1/2.
B. Regulators on RVs (as with many things) are the cheapest the RV vendor could find. In other words, they go bad pretty quickly.
In my case, cold weather, bad\inefficient regulators - I replaced both tank regulators and the switch between the tanks with higher quality and increased flow rate rating.
3. In cold weather, the refrigerant can freeze. In summer, the refrigerant can't release the heat it removed from the fridge efficiently. The heat can't be released from the coils since the fridge is "inside of a low air circulation box" (aka built into the side of the camper)
A. For summer - increase air circulation by adding temperature controlled fans to get the hot air out. I added two low amperage fans: 1 to suck in the bottom vent; Another to blow air out at the top vent.
B. For winter - reduce air circulation (never remove all circulation). I added a shaped foam rubber "stopper" for the lowest louvre of the lower vent door. If the temp is going low, I push the stopper into the lourve to reduce air flow.
4. The inside-of-the-fridge temperature sensor (thermistor) can go bad. I replaced it with a aftermarket variable thermistor.
I hope this information helps you. As I mentioned, I am not 100% sure I've corrected the problem - time will tell. I sure know a lot more about RV fridges now :-)
1. My electrode was bad. I replaced it.
2. Frost on my tank is two fold
A. If the ambient temperature is below ~35, propane can't vaporize quickly enough to provide gas for appliances to work correctly. In cold weather, never let your tank(s) get below 1/2.
B. Regulators on RVs (as with many things) are the cheapest the RV vendor could find. In other words, they go bad pretty quickly.
In my case, cold weather, bad\inefficient regulators - I replaced both tank regulators and the switch between the tanks with higher quality and increased flow rate rating.
3. In cold weather, the refrigerant can freeze. In summer, the refrigerant can't release the heat it removed from the fridge efficiently. The heat can't be released from the coils since the fridge is "inside of a low air circulation box" (aka built into the side of the camper)
A. For summer - increase air circulation by adding temperature controlled fans to get the hot air out. I added two low amperage fans: 1 to suck in the bottom vent; Another to blow air out at the top vent.
B. For winter - reduce air circulation (never remove all circulation). I added a shaped foam rubber "stopper" for the lowest louvre of the lower vent door. If the temp is going low, I push the stopper into the lourve to reduce air flow.
4. The inside-of-the-fridge temperature sensor (thermistor) can go bad. I replaced it with a aftermarket variable thermistor.
I hope this information helps you. As I mentioned, I am not 100% sure I've corrected the problem - time will tell. I sure know a lot more about RV fridges now :-)
