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01-15-2016, 11:26 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Greenwood
Posts: 43
M.O.C. #17498
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Dometic fridge temp bounces
Hello, group. The temperature of our Dometic RV type (non-residential) fridge sometimes shoots up from the mid-30's to the upper 40's and mid 50's for no apparent reason. We've noticed this when it's running on AC current-- not sure about LP mode. Is this much variation normal? It doesn't seem to be related to the ambient temperature. I've checked the doors with an infrared thermometer and they seem to be fine. Our Montana rolled off the line just a few months ago. Thanks for any help you can provide.
Phil McGovern
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01-15-2016, 12:26 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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We had a similar problem, refrigerator replaced under warranty. After several ups and down in operating temperatures, it stayed in the high 40s at best. There is an upswing during the defrost cycle. Our new one will creep up from 36/37 to 40, but then drops back down. Our problem after 3 months ownership of our 2015 was a failed cooling unit.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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01-15-2016, 11:21 PM
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#3
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Greenwood
Posts: 43
M.O.C. #17498
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Many thanks, Mike and Lorraine. I was pretty sure that our high temps were not normal. Also, I was unaware that it would defrost itself. Margaret will be ecstatic. The fridge will be at the top of our list when we get back to the dealership in the spring. Thanks again.
Phil
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01-16-2016, 01:22 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by philiprmcgovern
Many thanks, Mike and Lorraine. I was pretty sure that our high temps were not normal. Also, I was unaware that it would defrost itself. Margaret will be ecstatic.
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Unless things have changed since ours was new the freezer DOES NOT DEFROST. The cooling fins in the REEFER only will slightly warm long enough to shed ice that has formed on them.
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2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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01-16-2016, 01:23 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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A quick cheap fix that might help is a 4 inch AC fan installed outside at the lower vent aimed straight up.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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01-16-2016, 02:05 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Livingston
Posts: 1,150
M.O.C. #12333
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Ours crapped out after a year and a half and we went residential but if we had been able to install that new ARP device that many are putting in it probably would have saved the frig. We spoke with the owners/designers of the device at the Q circle and we're impressed. Several folks that the circle had them installed and I am sure they can provide better feedback on how they are working.
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Les and Sue Young, 2009 Int 4400 LP, 2020 DRV Mobile Suites [/url] https://ramblingrvrat.blogspot.com/2019/11/freedom-from-grid-rambling-rv-rats.html[/url]
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01-16-2016, 02:11 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
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Ditto the fan. Noticed that with even a low volume fan blowing directly in brought the temps out the top vent from 130's down to near or below 100f. I still have to find the fan I like but it will go in before february when it starts getting rather warm here. John
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2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
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01-16-2016, 02:16 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by philiprmcgovern
Many thanks, Mike and Lorraine. I was pretty sure that our high temps were not normal. Also, I was unaware that it would defrost itself. Margaret will be ecstatic.
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Unless things have changed since ours was new the freezer DOES NOT DEFROST. The cooling fins in the REEFER only will slightly warm long enough to shed ice that has formed on them.
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Just quoting what the manual calls that 48 hour cycle, the defrost mode
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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01-16-2016, 03:16 AM
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#9
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Greenwood
Posts: 43
M.O.C. #17498
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Great stuff! Thanks, everyone. I'm left with two questions: What is an ARC device and where exactly should the fan be installed?
Phil
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01-16-2016, 04:03 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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See http://www.arprv.com/
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by philiprmcgovern
Great stuff! Thanks, everyone. I'm left with two questions: What is an ARC device and where exactly should the fan be installed?
Phil
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2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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01-16-2016, 04:07 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brandon
Posts: 3,944
M.O.C. #1034
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One thing about the 48 hour defrost cycle is that the VERY FIRST time it cycles after you turn it on is after 60 hours and then it does it every 48 hours after that.
So in order to eventually have your refer defrosting during the cooler night time periods one must do the initial fire up of the fridge somewhere around noon to maybe two or three o'clock(PM) in order to have the defrosting happening during the night time period.
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Darwin & Maureen DeBackere
Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada
2011/3500/Silverado/4x4/DRW/Duramax 
2017/3721RL/Legacy Pkg./Pressure-Pro 
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01-16-2016, 04:17 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brandon
Posts: 3,944
M.O.C. #1034
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After our first cooling unit crapped out our technician installed the thermo switch, which calls for exterior cooling fans to come on, to a warmer location on the coils so in effect the cooling down process now starts long before it was originally program to do. They also installed an additional fan up top help for air directly out the top of the unit as well and we will be installing a fan at the bottom forcing air in this spring.
Not enough air flow seems to be the demise of a lot of these units and the ARP device will accomplish that.
__________________
Darwin & Maureen DeBackere
Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada
2011/3500/Silverado/4x4/DRW/Duramax
2017/3721RL/Legacy Pkg./Pressure-Pro
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01-16-2016, 04:04 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by philiprmcgovern
Great stuff! Thanks, everyone. I'm left with two questions: What is an ARC device and where exactly should the fan be installed?
Phil
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Just remove the bottom vent and center at the bottom pointing up. Frig and fan plug into a short heavy duty extension cord which plugs into the original power receptacle the frig was plugged into. Not a lot of room, but enough.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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01-17-2016, 01:20 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by 1retired06
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by philiprmcgovern
Many thanks, Mike and Lorraine. I was pretty sure that our high temps were not normal. Also, I was unaware that it would defrost itself. Margaret will be ecstatic.
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Unless things have changed since ours was new the freezer DOES NOT DEFROST. The cooling fins in the REEFER only will slightly warm long enough to shed ice that has formed on them.
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Just quoting what the manual calls that 48 hour cycle, the defrost mode
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Totally agree but just didn't want "Margaret" to be too disappointed when the freezer DID NOT DEFROST and has to be done the old fashioned way.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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