Pathetic Dometic (fridge)

[Dray]

Does anybody's fridge work really well?  And I don't mean just when it's cold outside.  I have followed all the tips - precooling and putting in already cool food.  But my fridge still is just barely cold.  I'm gonna get a temp gauge so I can better monitor.  I expect the thing to get really cold.  Is that asking too much of these fridges?  If so, is there a better product I can look at to replace the Dometic?

I know a lot of people have trouble with these fridges.  Hard to light the burner when using the gas setting.  Here's a dumb question.  How does the burner light when using the 12V or 120 setting?

My fridge is the Dometic RM 2191 and/or RM 2193

Thanks

[wavery]

Does anybody's fridge work really well?  And I don't mean just when it's cold outside.  I have followed all the tips - precooling and putting in already cool food.  But my fridge still is just barely cold.  I'm gonna get a temp gauge so I can better monitor.  I expect the thing to get really cold.  Is that asking too much of these fridges?  If so, is there a better product I can look at to replace the Dometic?

I know a lot of people have trouble with these fridges.  Hard to light the burner when using the gas setting.  Here's a dumb question.  How does the burner light when using the 12V or 120 setting?

My fridge is the Dometic RM 2191 and/or RM 2193

Thanks

I've got the same fridge that you do. Mine works fine, even when it's hot out. I do have a baffle that directs the air through the coils.

[thefryingScotsman]

I've got the same fridge that you do. Mine works fine, even when it's hot out. I do have a baffle that directs the air through the coils.

I've a Dometic 3 way-and it works REALLY well!-even in extreme heat-it'll chill beer, pop and food with no problem!
I think you may have a problem with yours.

[Dray]

I've a Dometic 3 way-and it works REALLY well!-even in extreme heat-it'll chill beer, pop and food with no problem!
I think you may have a problem with yours.

You may be right.  I'm gonna check the troubleshooting section in the back of my manual.  It has some info abou cleaning some things.  

I wonder how cold they are supposed to get?  Does anyone who has temp gauges have some numbers you can share?  Do you get ice in there at all that you have to defrost?

[AustinBoston]

You may be right.  I'm gonna check the troubleshooting section in the back of my manual.  It has some info abou cleaning some things.  

I wonder how cold they are supposed to get?  Does anyone who has temp gauges have some numbers you can share?  Do you get ice in there at all that you have to defrost?

At the least, when turned all the way cold, it should freeze when outside temps are 80

[SPXTrader]

Stupid question, but why would you light the burner when hooked to 120VAC or 12VDC?  My instruction manual says to use only ONE source at a time...with the outside fan mod, brown pop or most anything else will freeze in the bottom if left overnight.  Gotta get a fan for the inside...Plus, we always hook up to 120VAC a day before leaving.  Gets it cold in there before we start our trip.

['tiredTeacher]

You may be right.  I'm gonna check the troubleshooting section in the back of my manual.  It has some info abou cleaning some things.  

I wonder how cold they are supposed to get?  Does anyone who has temp gauges have some numbers you can share?  Do you get ice in there at all that you have to defrost?

Check that manual and clean out the burner and gas orifice. That helped mine.
I have a thermometer in mine and the best I can do (with temps in the 90s) is 40-45 degrees. Twenty below ambient temp is, I believe, the industry standard for these under-ventilated fridges in our low-walled pups.
If I forget to cut the temp control back and the overnight temp gets low enough, stuff will freeze.
Get one of those fan "cubes" that run on 2 D-cell batteries and put it inside the fridge. They run forever and distribute the cold well.
I also put a computer muffin fan inside the outside, upper compartment to draw air across the coils. This has helped, too.
It ain't a home frigermarator and won't be as efficient at cooling. Also, ignore most things someone with a high wall or TT tells you about their fridge. Ours is a problem unique to low-walled pups.

[Dray]

Stupid question, but why would you light the burner when hooked to 120VAC or 12VDC?  My instruction manual says to use only ONE source at a time...with the outside fan mod, brown pop or most anything else will freeze in the bottom if left overnight.  Gotta get a fan for the inside...Plus, we always hook up to 120VAC a day before leaving.  Gets it cold in there before we start our trip.

I know.  I'm confused about it cause once someone told me it wasn't a pilot light and is a "burner" instead.  So I guess that little blue flame only is on when I use the gas setting?  I'll check today.  

I'm really showing my ignorance now!  Smile

[Hackker]

Also, ignore most things someone with a high wall or TT tells you about their fridge. Ours is a problem unique to low-walled pups.

I have a highwall - whats the difference between the fridge in mine vs. a normal PU?  I always thought they were almost the same setup, just a bit bigger.

['tiredTeacher]

I have a highwall - whats the difference between the fridge in mine vs. a normal PU?  I always thought they were almost the same setup, just a bit bigger.

The high wall I saw had more space above the condenser coils (outside), thus providing more air flow. On my Starcraft 2107, the coil is at the very top of the compartment, where hot air can be trapped. I don't pretend to be an expert on all trailer makes. I just figured most high walled ones were like the one I saw (don't remember the brand or model).
Wright

[cmack98]

Does anybody's fridge work really well?  And I don't mean just when it's cold outside.  I have followed all the tips - precooling and putting in already cool food.  But my fridge still is just barely cold.  I'm gonna get a temp gauge so I can better monitor.  I expect the thing to get really cold.  Is that asking too much of these fridges?  If so, is there a better product I can look at to replace the Dometic?

I know a lot of people have trouble with these fridges.  Hard to light the burner when using the gas setting.  Here's a dumb question.  How does the burner light when using the 12V or 120 setting?

My fridge is the Dometic RM 2191 and/or RM 2193

Thanks

I thought I read in Trailer Life (maybe 2 months ago?) that there was a recall by Dometic.

You might want to check their website to see if your model is/was affected (and to make sure that they even had a recall).  

Hope that helps!

[Dray]

I thought I read in Trailer Life (maybe 2 months ago?) that there was a recall by Dometic.

You might want to check their website to see if your model is/was affected (and to make sure that they even had a recall).  

Hope that helps!

Wow!  You're right.  But not mine.  Thanks anyway.  

I'm gonna do a test this weekend.  Gonna plug it in tonight and put some water bottles inside to see if it gets cold by Monday.  This is kind of difficult cause the thing is folded up.  Sometimes I send my 6 year old in there to do these kinds of things!  Smile

[fleagalbaum]

(Cut and Paste from my reply from another thread)
all temps are in celsius   0 celsius is 32 degrees F
All this talk about fridges..... after reading about all the bad experiences I was leary about using my fridge. My 19month old son is dependant on growth hormone, I needed to bring a supply for 2 weeks. so we decided to use the dometic 2010(?) not sure right now. fridge that came with my '94 jayco 1207

anyways I found a few things helpfull...

I cooled it down on 120vto 2 degrees.
I know it worked from before as i had tested it. I have never used the 12v and the propane

I did no know how long the propane would last, I calculated it would work for ~20 days on a 20 lb tank this is leaving lots of unknowns
.

anyways I cooled the fridge filled with food down to 3 degrees on our way for a 15 day camping trip.
before I left with the truck, I switched it to the 12v trailer power. When we got there 4 hours later, the fridge was 12 degrees. I turned it to propane and it cooled off more down to 4 degrees(celsius) then it was up and down for a week between freezing ,0 and 12 degrees so we were a bit worried. then we discovered after reading the instructions for the fridge that if you block the shelves with paper or something large, the flow of air is impeded. After that we were careful as to how we packed the fridge and it made a big difference. we were able to keep a decent temperature ~4 degrees with the knob on 9 (the outdoor temps were 35*c daily.)

After selectively packing the fridge we had no problem keeping it cool and was confident in it's operation.
So to make a long story short, pack your fridge with lots of airflow and there should be no problems as long as your system is working.

[Dray]

I think my fridge is working ok I just need to get smarter about using it.  That's why I'm talking with you all.  : )  

One thing is that my PU lives in my garage which is always HOT even at night it doesn't cool down much.  So I'm trying to precool my fridge in a HOT garage where there is no air moving around.  I'll bet this is a factor.  

Another thing is we jam the fridge full.  I'm gonna tell DW to just put what you need to in there and everything that can get wet into the ice chest.  

Also gonna go to Camping world today and buy one of those fans to put in the fridge as well as a thermometer.  

Another thing i'm gonna try is this.  I got a rain cover from one of old tents and am gonna use it to create a shade for the back side of my PU.   I think this will help keep the fridge and the PU cooler inside.

I'll let you know how it goes.  My next trip is in a week.  Going to Lake Tahoe CA!  (Emerald Bay)

[wavery]

Also gonna go to Camping world today and buy one of those fans to put in the fridge as well as a thermometer.  

Those fans make a big difference. Remember......refrigeration is NOT  about adding cold.....it is all about removing heat. Understanding that concept is paramount to understanding all refrigeration. A small amount of circulation inside the fridge will introduce more warm(er) air to the cooling fins, allowing the fins to remove more heat.

Also.....it is important to remember that cold air is much more dense (thus heavier) than warm air. Every time that you open a front opening fridge, the cold air (literally) falls out of the fridge onto the floor, That cold air is immediately replaced by warm air. That is why ice chests are designed to open from the top. When you open a top loading ice chest, the cold air stays put and there is a definite divide between the warm and cold air. It actually makes little difference if the top of the ice chest is open or closed (however it does make some difference).