Refrigerator Freezes - Fiberglass RV
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Old 04-27-2014, 04:55 AM   #1
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Name: Huck
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Refrigerator Freezes

I have a Dometic RM 2193 refrigerator in my Parkliner. Prior to 1st trip, I had it running on 120 v and I believe it cooled to about 40 degrees F. On the road and during days in campground, I had refrigerator on 12 v DC. Temperature got down to 32 F and everything partially froze.

According to the manual, there is no thermostat control when running on DC (for the 2193).

Is anyone else having this problem?

Any ideas on what I can do?

Thanks
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Old 04-27-2014, 07:21 AM   #2
Raz
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I have the same fridge. I never run it on DC. On the road it will draw enough current to cause your battery not to charge and in the campground it will drain your battery quickly. In the campground I use propane. This has a low setting but will still freeze if the outside temps are low. Raz
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Old 04-27-2014, 08:33 AM   #3
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I used to have that problem until I bought a Valterra A10-2604 FridgeCool fan to keep in the fridge. It's a small module that runs on two D Cells and circulates air. The batteries last for at least a season for me. Unfortunately, there seems to be a problem finding them right now but here's a source on e-Bay:

New Deluxe Fridgecool Fan for RV camper Trailer motorhome 5th Wheel | eBay
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Old 04-27-2014, 09:43 AM   #4
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I used to have that problem until I bought a Valterra A10-2604 FridgeCool fan to keep in the fridge. It's a small module that runs on two D Cells and circulates air. The batteries last for at least a season for me. Unfortunately, there seems to be a problem finding them right now but here's a source on e-Bay:

New Deluxe Fridgecool Fan for RV camper Trailer motorhome 5th Wheel | eBay
Terry, I did find it on amazon, but it has a lot of bad reviews. Several had a problem installing the batteries, but others said it got hot even when turned off. There is also a Camco fan, but it also has bad reviews. When a product doesn't have more 5's than 1's, I get concerned.

I had taken out 1 of the 2 shelves. I had diet cokes and hamburger meat on the bottom and milk, H & H, potato salad, etc on shelf. The refrigerator was packed full. Everything froze (except the beer). I put a thermometer in and it said 32 degrees. Since things on top and bottom both froze, I don't think it was a circulation problem.
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Old 04-27-2014, 10:49 AM   #5
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No, I still think it's a circulation problem. There's not enough distance and insulation between the freezer and regular food compartment of our little refrigerator units so it all becomes the same temperature. As for the battery problem, I found that D Cells are not all the same size. I bought some cheap ones at Harbor Freight and they were too big. Currently I'm using some Energizers and they fit perfectly. Another problem that might bother some people is that the fan makes a very soft hum when it's on. I don't know about the problem with the fan getting hot. There's not much more to it than a battery compartment and a switch.

All I can say is that I had the exact same problem and the little fan corrected it. It's up to you to decide what you want to do.
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Old 04-27-2014, 11:07 AM   #6
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No, I still think it's a circulation problem. There's not enough distance and insulation between the freezer and regular food compartment of our little refrigerator units so it all becomes the same temperature. As for the battery problem, I found that D Cells are not all the same size. I bought some cheap ones at Harbor Freight and they were too big. Currently I'm using some Energizers and they fit perfectly. Another problem that might bother some people is that the fan makes a very soft hum when it's on. I don't know about the problem with the fan getting hot. There's not much more to it than a battery compartment and a switch.

All I can say is that I had the exact same problem and the little fan corrected it. It's up to you to decide what you want to do.
Thanks. For $15 it's worth a try. My refrigerator doesn't have a freezer compartment. Well, the entrie refrigerator is acting like a freezer, but there is no freezer compartment.
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Old 04-27-2014, 12:03 PM   #7
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We found the Camco fan helpful with air stratification in the refrigerator , The problem we've encountered is that the end cap (Battery compartment door) is held on by small and rather brittle plastic clips that break off the first time you change the batteries. The principle behind the fan is sound, but the fan construction is lacking. IMHO
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Old 04-27-2014, 12:16 PM   #8
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You R the lucky one. Most posts on this forum complain that their fridge does not get cold enough.
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Old 04-27-2014, 12:22 PM   #9
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You R the lucky one. Most posts on this forum complain that their fridge does not get cold enough.
I kept moving the thermostat up and down trying to get the temperature right. It wasn't until I got home and read the manual that I realized the thermostat was only for AC.
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Old 04-27-2014, 01:56 PM   #10
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You didn't indicate when your first trip was. If it is time of year and still cool it may not be a problem when the warmer temps come. The simple solution is to just turn the fridge off for a while every now and then. It will still work as an ice box.
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Old 04-27-2014, 02:26 PM   #11
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You didn't indicate when your first trip was. If it is time of year and still cool it may not be a problem when the warmer temps come. The simple solution is to just turn the fridge off for a while every now and then. It will still work as an ice box.
Trip was last week. Day temperature was in 60's and nights upper 40's, low 50's.

I was running the refrigerator off my solar panel during the day and propane at night. I left it on DC one night and was awakened about 1 am by a low battery warning beep, so I had to go out in the dark and switch it to propane.
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Old 04-27-2014, 02:49 PM   #12
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You will find that running off propane does not use that much, it is essentially a pilot light. I use 120 when plugged in, propane when not and reserve the 12V only for travelling long distances.
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Old 04-27-2014, 08:42 PM   #13
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Seems worth a try... I just ordered a Fridgecool fan from Camping World, about $21 with tax and shipping. My 3 cu ft Norcold was a NorWarm last summer. I hope this helps!
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