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Topic: Can the fridge be adjusted for high altitude (Read 190 times) previous topic - next topic
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Can the fridge be adjusted for high altitude
I'm currently at about 9700 ft. elevation and I noticed my fridge having some trouble staying lit.
It will eventually stay connected but sometimes it will throw an error and stop.
Then I just turn it off and back on again and it works OK.
Is there a way to adjust for higher altitude?

Thanks.

Jota
Jota
96 23.5 FL
Re: Can the fridge be adjusted for high altitude
Reply #1 –
Quote from: Jota  - 
I'm currently at about 9700 ft. elevation and I noticed my fridge having some trouble staying lit.
It will eventually stay connected but sometimes it will throw an error and stop.
Then I just turn it off and back on again and it works OK.
Is there a way to adjust for higher altitude?

Thanks.

Jota

Have you cleaned your burner tube lately?

Bill
2013 31' Silver Twin Bed
Semi-retired 6/21....
Re: Can the fridge be adjusted for high altitude
Reply #3 –
Refrigerator troubles at higher elevation was not something I was aware of. The manufacturer direction to run on AC above 5500’ is somewhat lame. I have not noticed a problem at 9200’.

Seems like another advantage to swapping to a compressor unit, if you do experience this problem, but it is not resolved by cleaning, gapping, or better fueling.

My Dometic is now 12 years old. Is there an age limit by which one should swap, like there is for tires?
2013 27’ Mid-Bath
2005 Honda CR-V
 
Re: Can the fridge be adjusted for high altitude
Reply #4 –
Hi Keith S;  With higher altitude, come lower vapor pressure and less Oxygen. Our normally aspirated engines are de-rated for horsepower at altitude. Turbo diesel engines compress air and suffer less from the effect of thinner air.
    The sleeve with slots where air is drawn to mix with propane for the water heater is to adjust the mixture richness.
    My Onan generator has an altitude adjustment for thin air (Emerald Plus).
    I've never heard of the space heater having an issue with thinner air.  And of course the burners on a stovetop can just grab more oxygen as needed.
    Dometic seems to have dropped the 'lame' ball by suggesting that one should use 110v AC to run the refrigerator at high altitudes.  Some recommendations are to change the setting on the main tank pressure regulator to lower pressure, to alter the fuel delivery and lean out the mixture to a more normal mix. Returning to sea level would require changing the regulator back.    RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB