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Old 02-13-2014, 03:28 PM   #1
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Fridge Settings on Propane?

Hello all, this is the warmest weather we have yet been in with our 2010 19.

We started with the fridge on 3, and gradually as the weather has gotten warmer I have been turning it up. Now it is at 6. Things seem cold to the touch (need to buy a thermometer for it).

In any case, my question is what settings are others running out there? Is 6 about normal, or is this thing needing some service?
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Old 02-13-2014, 03:41 PM   #2
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I've had to crank mine up all the way to the end in hot weather. Last year I closed off the open space above the reefer in the cabinet, and it helped somewhat. Am still planning on installing a fan before the August trip, also. Temps are pretty consistent whether it's propane, AC, or 12v.

We're heading to the Morro Bay region tomorrow, but I don't imagine I'll have any problems, since it's not supposed to be over 72.

I bought the wireless temperature sensors, so can monitor both freezer and refrigerator, works very well.
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Old 02-13-2014, 03:43 PM   #3
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Dan - the warmer the weather the higher the setting is what we always run into. A lot depends on if the side of the trailer with the fridge is getting direct sun -- or at least that is how ours is. We have had to go up to 6 in hot weather. And yes a thermometer inside is a great idea. I bought one of the inexpensive ones that are meant for auto use and used two sided tape to mount the digital reading on the front of the fridge and then the sensor inside with the cable routed out of the way.
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Old 02-13-2014, 03:55 PM   #4
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Oh you people who are dealing with warm weather. I can't wait for that challenge!
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Old 02-13-2014, 04:02 PM   #5
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We have the new, larger fridge. It takes setting 5 (coldest) to keep the freezer at 0 and the fridge below 40. (These are the FDA recommended maximums.)

In the Casita we ran our older fridge at 4 or 5 out of 5.

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Old 02-13-2014, 04:04 PM   #6
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Thanks guys!
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Old 02-13-2014, 05:04 PM   #7
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I haven't had to turn mine on yet, it hasn't gotten over 40 degrees since delivery………...
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Old 02-13-2014, 05:11 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
I haven't had to turn mine on yet, it hasn't gotten over 40 degrees since delivery………...
Come on down! We are at Organ Pipes Cactus National Preserve with a couple of Casita friends. Sunny and warm days and cool nights.

Here's what it looks like!

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Old 02-13-2014, 06:38 PM   #9
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Soon, but not today…….
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Old 02-13-2014, 07:06 PM   #10
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If it's much over 70-80 degrees outside, don't trust the fridge. We found a little thermometer at Walmart that hangs on the metal rungs of a shelf. We could usually keep the fridge in the upper 30's but once we got into the 90s + (F) in Nebraska, we had to resort to our Coleman cooler and a block of ice every 3-4 days. This is a known problem and Reece has tried some baffles in the back of the unit with equivocal benefit. He had us take ours out ... again without much change. The smaller fridge in our 19 just seems incapable of handling the higher outside temps. Didn't seem to matter if we used propane or 12 power enroute but 110 v was decidedly better when we stopped.
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Old 02-13-2014, 08:29 PM   #11
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Fridge settings

Two weeks ago in Palm Springs we had 80* days and our 21 with the larger fridge was barely doing the job as the sun was shinning down on us. On the way home, still 80* we had more problems keeping temps down using gas. Instead of pulling the fridge to install a fan I bought three computer fans. Each one .17 amps, 3 " diameter, and I've spent a couple of days installing two in the back at the top of the inlet air vent to blow up over the coils. The third is attached to the upper rack inside to circulate air inside. They are controlled by two small toggle switches below the fridge and powered off the 12 volt plug below the fridge through a fuse. The remote temp unit had problems reading high until I replaced the batteries, they don't like cold temps. New batteries are on order that handle lower temps. By the time we head for Texas in April we should know how well this works and I will pass the info on to the forum then.
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Old 02-13-2014, 10:47 PM   #12
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We're in El Centro, CA and the weather today was 32 degrees celcius. Fridge (6. something cubic whatsit) worked fine on the third setting. We're hooked up so maybe that helped? Awining down to shade fridge side.
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Old 02-13-2014, 11:19 PM   #13
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The fridge is supplied by Dometic and they supply fridges to multiples of trailer manufacturers. So, the question might be best directed at Dometic. I've not had a problem, but a lot of owners down south have had issues.
What is Dometic doing about it? Has anybody talked to Dometic?
They can't be unaware of problems. What is their response?
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Old 02-13-2014, 11:59 PM   #14
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Dead Eye, Park in the shade if possible. Move the trailer daily away from the sun. Factory said between 3 and 4 for best results. A 12volt fan might help push the hot air out. My last 93 Casita had 2 solar 12v fans for ventilation.
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Old 02-14-2014, 07:47 AM   #15
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We've ordered the Texas Fan option for our 21'. I hope it helps.
The option wasn't listed on the build sheet, but when I asked about it they said it was available, ($150).
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Old 02-14-2014, 10:15 AM   #16
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http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...ance-2633.html
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Old 02-14-2014, 10:46 AM   #17
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Get yourselves a good ice cooler if you are going to travel or camp in hot/warm weather. This is especially the case in the southern regions of the US where it does not cool off at night during the summer. I have contacted Dometic about this issue and they deny any wide spread problems or recalls. They had no explination as to why they discontinued the 5.0 model. I have tried every modification and recommendation to make mine work in my temperature zone with poor results.
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Old 02-15-2014, 11:36 AM   #18
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6.7 fridge

Installed fans (ref #11) showing promise. This morning temp of 52*, frig on all night at 5 bar setting (max) refrig. temp 33* freezer 0* at 7 a.m. I turned the fans on then and now refrig is 30* and the freezer is -5* and outside air temp is 70* When it gets up over 80* later today I'll check again.
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Old 02-15-2014, 12:09 PM   #19
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Hi Jack,
Let us know how it performs during your hot Arizona summer weather. That will be the real test. I hope to compare mod. results with you when you get over to Texas this spring.
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Old 02-18-2014, 05:04 PM   #20
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Mind of its own?

Our fridge has a mind of its own. We barely kept food cold and had some spoilage at 88-92 last week with the sun on the door side of the trailer, running on propane.

We have moved twice since then and also bought a fridge thermometer at walmart.

Today we are at Saguaro NP outside Tuscon and the fridge on AC is at 38F, set at 4, with an outside temp of 86.

At least we can now monitor it, but it seems like it is all over the map.
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