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Old 06-06-2020, 06:26 PM   #1
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Dometic Fridge not cooling fast enough

Hey all,
We have had the fridge on for about 24 hrs..We bought a thermometer and it is at 60 degrees..no food in it and we have opened it a few times. Saw some video that it takes 12-44 hours to cool. We just bumped it to 5. We have a 2020 Escape 19. Comments or suggestions??
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Old 06-06-2020, 06:42 PM   #2
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Keep it on 5 and see what happens, it should cool down to 38-40. Also check to see what’s happening in the freezer portion. I usually put 3 trays of ice in the freezer, after it’s been on for a few hours. If it’s not melted at all after an hour or so, I know it’s working. Mine is usually plugged in for at least 12 hours before departure, which seems to be enough. I have the standard fridge in my 19, by the way.
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Old 06-06-2020, 07:10 PM   #3
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Are you on 120vac or propane?
Mine drops to temp overnight.
What was the temp in the fridge when you started?
The freezer gets cold first.
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Old 06-06-2020, 07:20 PM   #4
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Check from the outside access panel and be sure that the flue is heating up. Be careful it is hot if it is working.
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Old 06-06-2020, 07:42 PM   #5
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Thank you all!!
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Old 06-06-2020, 07:44 PM   #6
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A/C..propane when we leave tomorrow. You guys are awesome!!
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Old 06-06-2020, 08:33 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Chowdagirl View Post
A/C..propane when we leave tomorrow. You guys are awesome!!
I would try propane overnight. That way you are hopefully cool for the start of your trip tomorrow. If you are at 60 degrees in the fridge after 24 hours something is wrong when running on AC.
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Old 06-06-2020, 09:03 PM   #8
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Thank you!
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Old 06-07-2020, 05:44 AM   #9
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Update..Fridge is nice and cold now! Thank you Escape Forum folks. This is the best site!
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Old 06-07-2020, 06:26 AM   #10
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Good to know, thanks for the update....
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Old 06-07-2020, 10:18 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by Chowdagirl View Post
Hey all,
We have had the fridge on for about 24 hrs..We bought a thermometer and it is at 60 degrees..no food in it and we have opened it a few times. Saw some video that it takes 12-44 hours to cool. We just bumped it to 5. We have a 2020 Escape 19. Comments or suggestions??
You have an absorption fridge which by name absorbs heat from the inside compartment and does not cool by adding cold. So given when using, you want to help in removing heat where possible. Starting out you can add ice packs or even a pitcher with frozen water which can be used on the trip. This helps in the design of the absorption process. When underway or camping keep in mind adding warm or hot foods puts the process under more load. Adding clam shells with produce inside have voids with air which means that heat around the food needs to be removed as well as absorbing warmth from food to lower to set temperature. Recommend watching a basic youtube video on how the absorption fridge works then you get an idea how you can help it along.
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Old 06-07-2020, 10:25 AM   #12
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Forgot to mention that a great tool is the wireless fridge/freezer thermometer. This way you don't have to keep opening to check if cooling down or where it sits when camping. I have the Acurite digital wireless fridge/freezer thermometer. Works great!
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Old 06-07-2020, 03:02 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by ChuckBC View Post
You have an absorption fridge which by name absorbs heat from the inside compartment and does not cool by adding cold. So given when using, you want to help in removing heat where possible. Starting out you can add ice packs or even a pitcher with frozen water which can be used on the trip. This helps in the design of the absorption process. When underway or camping keep in mind adding warm or hot foods puts the process under more load. Adding clam shells with produce inside have voids with air which means that heat around the food needs to be removed as well as absorbing warmth from food to lower to set temperature. Recommend watching a basic youtube video on how the absorption fridge works then you get an idea how you can help it along.
The refrigerator in your house or your air conditioner works the same way. They don’t “make or add cold,” they move heat from the area that is being cooled and removal of heat results in a lower temperature. A compressor refrigeration unit simply accomplishes the task faster and more efficiently. The principle is the same.
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Old 06-07-2020, 06:58 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by C&G in FL View Post
The refrigerator in your house or your air conditioner works the same way. They don’t “make or add cold,” they move heat from the area that is being cooled and removal of heat results in a lower temperature. A compressor refrigeration unit simply accomplishes the task faster and more efficiently. The principle is the same.
Reminds me of my college days in thermodynamics and heat transfer. There is no such thing as cold. Only absence of heat.
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Old 06-07-2020, 07:01 PM   #15
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Update..Fridge is nice and cold now! Thank you Escape Forum folks. This is the best site!
Did you switch to propane or did you stay on AC power?
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Old 06-07-2020, 07:55 PM   #16
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Hmmmm

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Reminds me of my college days in thermodynamics and heat transfer. There is no such thing as cold. Only absence of heat.
One of my brothers always maintained there is no light, only a dark suck. Is that the same thing?

I never took Engineering ‘Mechanics 324 but I drank with some guys who did.
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Old 06-08-2020, 12:09 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by rubicon327 View Post
Reminds me of my college days in thermodynamics and heat transfer. There is no such thing as cold. Only absence of heat.


That is why there is an absolute zero, total absence of heat.

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Old 06-08-2020, 12:20 AM   #18
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Forgot to mention that a great tool is the wireless fridge/freezer thermometer. This way you don't have to keep opening to check if cooling down or where it sits when camping. I have the Acurite digital wireless fridge/freezer thermometer. Works great!
Agreed, having a wireless thermometer has been a good modification. We can recoment https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 06-08-2020, 10:24 AM   #19
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We typically turn on the fridge - on propane - and place some 1 gallon jugs of frozen water in the fridge a day or two before we plan to head out. It won't be cool enough otherwise. We do have the older Dometic 8 series european style fridge though, which doesnt work as well as the Dometic Americana line Escape now uses.
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Old 06-08-2020, 10:52 AM   #20
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Quote:
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Reminds me of my college days in thermodynamics and heat transfer. There is no such thing as cold. Only absence of heat.
"Boy is it absence of heat out today!"
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