Dometic fridge

[Paul from NWOnt]

I have an older dometic out of a scrap camper, and I'm wondering if I can use it as a stand alone in an outdoor screen porch?

Would I need to make some sort of shroud around the coils on the rear of the unit to simulate the outer walls of the camper? I'm thinking the breeze from the window would be enough airflow over the coils to maintain heat transfer.

Any opinions?

oops.... meant to say that I plan to run it on propane.

[Paul from NWOnt]

I'll give it a try, and let you all know the results.

[Bob Starr]

Whoa!!!!! Couple of things that I would worry about: Flame blow out and gas filling the room. I realize this is a screen porch, but if there is any sort of retaining wall you could have problems. Remember propane sinks low to the ground and doesn't dissipate that fast. Do put the bottle outside!!!!! Can't you hook it up to electricity? It would work fine that way
Bob

[Morgan]

I have an older dometic out of a scrap camper, and I'm wondering if I can use it as a stand alone in an outdoor screen porch?
Would I need to make some sort of shroud around the coils on the rear of the unit to simulate the outer walls of the camper? I'm thinking the breeze from the window would be enough airflow over the coils to maintain heat transfer.
Any opinions?
oops.... meant to say that I plan to run it on propane.

Paul,

The big concern would be carbon monoxide (CO) in the screened porch.

In the trailer, the gas burner is effectively outside because of the external venting. The rear compartment of the refrigerator is isolated from the trailer.

On your porch, this separation would not be there. At least part of the CO would remain in the porch. It doesn't take much to kill you or make you seriously ill.

Run it on electricity as Bob suggested.

[Paul from NWOnt]

Thank you both for your input.

Electricity is not an option, as there is none available at the cabin. I will be running this fridge as a temporary replacement for an existing propane fridge that has finally given up the ghost.

Flame-out shouldn't be a problem as it will be close to the only "corner" in the porch that has a wall instead of screen. It will get constant airflow, but no real wind.

As to the CO issue, there is enough screen in this screen room that when the BBQ starts to smoke, and there is a light breeze, you can't smell it on the far side, and again, we have been running a propane fridge in this area for over 15 years without issue.

My concern was whether or not a shroud was needed to encourage circulation past the coils on the rear of the unit to enhance the cooling effect...... I'll let you all know how it goes.

[Bigfoot Mike]

So is this an outside room that is screened in from bugs, but has constant outside fresh air movement?

[Brian B-P]

The propane burner is normally configured with a stack to create a draft. While the trailer wall does the same thing for the flow past the condensing coils, I doubt that is really required, since it isn't needed on a compressor-type refrigerator, which has the same sort of airflow requirement for its coils. But I'm only guessing!

[Paul from NWOnt]

So is this an outside room that is screened in from bugs, but has constant outside fresh air movement?

Yes, that is a fairly accurate description. More or less, it is a roof, floor, and one wall attached to the side of a cabin, with the remainder covered in screen to keep insects at bay.

Brian, I never considered the comparison with a regular electric fridge, but I suppose it does work in a somewhat similar fashion. This weekend will be the first run in place, I'll post the results.