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Fridge acting a little strange
We're at 7,850 ft in altitude at Convict Lake so maybe that's it but here's what happening.

I'm hearing the gas flame more than usual. I normally don't hear it. It cycled on and off a few times quickly also.

It running constant right now.  I can hear the flame from the dining area in my 27' MB.

Anyone know what's happening? It's staying cold.
2021 Mid Bath
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #1 –
That seems to be normal.
We retreated from Oh Ridge Camp (7700') June Lake, last Friday with the rapid increase in wildfire smoke and came home to a tropical storm.
While at Oh Ridge!, the refrigerator flame's noise was noticeable, louder than it is at home or the beach.

The refrigerator has no means of fine-tuning the flame mixture, as the water heater does. The water heater makes a similar noise when the mixture is set wrong.
As stated in the Dometic owner's manual, our propane refrigerators are less efficient at high altitudes and have difficulty cooling in the heat wave we have suffered through during the last few weeks. At Oh Ridge, our refrigerator ran much of the time while shooting for 35-38 degrees temps.
BTW, the 40qt compressor ice chest runs happily in the heat.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #2 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
That seems to be normal.
We retreated from Oh Ridge Camp (7700') June Lake, last Friday with the rapid increase in wildfire smoke and came home to a tropical storm.
While at Oh Ridge!, the refrigerator flame's noise was noticeable, louder than it is at home or the beach.

The refrigerator has no means of fine-tuning the flame mixture, as the water heater does. The water heater makes a similar noise when the mixture is set wrong.
As stated in the Dometic owner's manual, our propane refrigerators are less efficient at high altitudes and have difficulty cooling in the heat wave we have suffered through during the last few weeks. At Oh Ridge, our refrigerator ran much of the time while shooting for 35-38 degrees temps.
BTW, the 40qt compressor ice chest runs happily in the heat.

Larry

That makes good sense.
Thanks as always Larry.
2021 Mid Bath
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #3 –
"The refrigerator has no means of fine-tuning the flame mixture, as the water heater does."

I've always wondered why. RVers don't all camp in Kansas, after all. It's obvious that a mixture adjustment is needed at higher altitudes. Water heater manufacturers know this. Generator manufacturers know this. Why don't refrigerator manufacturers provide it? It's not as if it's costly or complicated--witness the water heater's simple slotted sleeve.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #4 –
Last night we woke up to the refrigerator alarm. 

I turned it off and on again plus took it out of AUTO mode and it's ran fine since.

I suspect it tried to switch to AC mode due to the flame having issues in the altitude and since we aren't hooked up it went into alarm mode.

At least that's what I hope it was.
Fingers crossed.
2021 Mid Bath
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #5 –
Quote from: tedeboy  - 
Last night we woke up to the refrigerator alarm. 
I turned it off and on again plus took it out of AUTO mode and it's run fine since.
I suspect it tried to switch to AC mode due to the flame having issues in the altitude and since we aren't hooked up it went into alarm mode.

When you are at home, try cleaning the refrigerator's jet and having the propane pressure checked and set to 11" H20, with two propane appliances running simultaneously.
Soak the jet in solvent and use an old toothbrush to scrub it, do not try to push any metal object through the jet, it may destroy its precise shape.  Make sure the chimmey and burner clean and use compressed air to blow dirt and dust off the cooling fins at the rear..

Two things that helped us are squirrel cage fans from ARP, one or two for the ceiling of the refrigerator, and a temperature-controlled fan mounted in the access area at the rear of the fridge. The exterior fan produces serious airflow upward, while the small interior fan almost disappears when glued to the ceiling. These are the best fans I have tried so far...and that's quite a few of them.
https://www.arprv.com/purchase.phphttps://www.arprv.com/purchase.php

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #6 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
Two things that helped us are squirrel cage fans from ARP, one or two for the ceiling of the refrigerator, and a temperature-controlled fan mounted in the access area at the rear of the fridge. The exterior fan produces serious airflow upward, while the small interior fan almost disappears when glued to the ceiling. These are the best fans I have tried so far...and that's quite a few of them.
Larry
Why do you prefer the squirrel cage fans to the small axial fans that mount on the fins, like these: Amazon.com: 13" Triple Fan Deluxe Frost Guard RV Refrigerator Evaporator Fan...
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2005 Jayco 24SS
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #7 –
I think the bigger fan like the one pictured may have a tendency to move a little to much air. We have used a very small battery powered squirrel cage fan and it moves just enough air to aide the natural convection. The evaporator only has so much cooling available.

Jon
1994 MB
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #8 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
When you are at home, try cleaning the refrigerator's jet and having the propane pressure checked and set to 11" H20, with two propane appliances running simultaneously.
Soak the jet in solvent and use an old toothbrush to scrub it, do not try to push any metal object through the jet, it may destroy its precise shape.  Make sure the chimmey and burner clean and use compressed air to blow dirt and dust off the cooling fins at the rear..

Two things that helped us are squirrel cage fans from ARP, one or two for the ceiling of the refrigerator, and a temperature-controlled fan mounted in the access area at the rear of the fridge. The exterior fan produces serious airflow upward, while the small interior fan almost disappears when glued to the ceiling. These are the best fans I have tried so far...and that's quite a few of them.
https://www.arprv.com/purchase.phphttps://www.arprv.com/purchase.php

Larry
I found that website impossible to navigate on my S21 android phone.  Video links are broken also.
I never did see what this product was.
2021 Mid Bath
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #9 –
"I found that website impossible to navigate on my S21 android phone. Video links are broken also."

I looked at it using the latest version of Safari on my MacBook, and I have to agree--the site is a mess.Text is a giant hodgepodge, video links are broken, graphics aren't loading...  I have rarely seen a worse website. That's too bad, because from what I've read, the ARPC products are good ones.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #10 –
Quote from: Andy Baird  - 
"I found that website impossible to navigate on my S21 android phone. Video links are broken also."

I looked at it using the latest version of Safari on my MacBook, and I have to agree--the site is a mess.Text is a giant hodgepodge, video links are broken, graphics aren't loading...  I have rarely seen a worse website. That's too bad, because from what I've read, the ARPC products are good ones.
I can't even get to see what the product looks like.
2021 Mid Bath
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #11 –
Quote from: tedeboy  - 
I can't even get to see what the product looks like.

You can find more about ARP products on a properly formatted website here:
https://www.rvtravel.com/fridge-defend-951/

These look like very similar fans to me:

Amazon.com: Wathai Brushless Cooling Blower Fan 120mm x 32mm 12V High...

My solution was to wire 2 traditional 80mm computer cooling fans at the top of the vent stack with a manual (vs thermal) switch behind the rear fridge access door.  I think it helps keep the air moving up the vent stack, and helps with the MB problem of low cooling on long driving days where air flow over the top vent hinders the expected up and out air flow. 

Just about every rv fridge fan I've seen is a repurposed computer fan. 

Rich

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
2003 MB
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #12 –
I agree the website is "busy" and not formatted for small screens but it is navigable if you go to the ARP Home Page.

Charles
Harvest Hosts + Boondockers Welcome #23975
Escapees SKP #138195
2007 23.5' Twin King
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #13 –
Quote from: Eric Greenwell  - 
Why do you prefer the squirrel cage fans to the small axial fans that mount on the fins, like these:

Over the last 20+ years, I have tried to increase the performance of the absorption refrigerators that come in LDs.
I have tried all sorts of fans, including the type you listed, located inside and outside.
The squirrel cage fans, especially the small interior fans, work as well or better than others I have tried. The small squirrel cage fans lay flat against the refrigerator’s ceiling and use almost no space and their airflow is directly aimed at the evaporator.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #15 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
Over the last 20+ years, I have tried to increase the performance of the absorption refrigerators that come in LDs.
I have tried all sorts of fans, including the type you listed, located inside and outside.
The squirrel cage fans, especially the small interior fans, work as well or better than others I have tried. The small squirrel cage fans lay flat against the refrigerator’s ceiling and use almost no space and their airflow is directly aimed at the evaporator.

Larry
Do you use just the fans (manual? thermal switch?) or with the control unit also?
2021 Mid Bath
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #16 –
Having reviewed the ARP website, I’m curious about the risk of refrigerator fire in newer coaches with regular maintenance and rig leveling. I’m also curious whether others have installed the ARP “Fridge Defend” +/- Fan product?

Thanks

Warren
Warren
2019 MB “Dream Catcher”
Jeep Wrangler JL
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #17 –
Don‘t know about the risk of fire. It is real and there was a rash of them years ago. All recent fridges have a thermal switch on the boiler shield to turn it off if it gets too hot.

I’ve run the ARP for quite a few years and find that on a healthy fridge it does not activate if you keep it reasonably level. It didn’t even activate on steep mountain roads. It did activate quite a few times on a failing fridge and it does give a bit of peace of mind if you park off level as it will shut the fridge off, if necessary.

I did have a fridge fire (my fault, loose propane fitting). I found that the plastic of the Dometic control box softened but did not burn. However, the plastic of the ARP box melted, dripped, and burned like gasoline. I informed ARP but got no reaction.

I was able to extinguish the flames with a Halon extinguisher and damage was limited to burnt wiring, destroyed ARP unit, and a damaged Dometic control box cover. I run the ARP unit but am not hard over about whether you should. The fridge will overheat if run off level. The Dometic thermal switch turns the fridge off at a much higher temperature than the ARP unit.

I do use it to control an exterior vent fan.
Harry 2006RB
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #18 –

The original Dometic recall that I was exposed to was concerning 1997 to 2003 refrigerators.  Recall # 06E076000) and was caused by the electric heater element rated wattage at 110VAC.  When a higher voltage was involved at 125VAC,  (these are both RMS measured), the extra heat cycling on/off fatigued the weld at the fitting. After prolonged exposure a crack would develop and vent hydrogen and ammonia gasses. If there was a flame present, such as when switching to propane, a fire would start.  Dometic's cure was disheartening,  all they did was put in another heat shield to contain the fire. Yeah sure, that'll really work.  I have yet to get the recall performed.
     I checked my rarely used heater element and it is rated for 125 VAC, so I think I may not be affected by this recall.  I have a spare type J thermocouple (iron Constantan))  and the refrigerator is old enough that I may want to watch it while it is running.  I could put in a disc temperature cutout on the boiler tube also to shut it off. I haven't been able to find a specified temperature on the ARP website.(yet).   Amazon.com: uxcell KSD301 Thermostat 110°C/230°F 10A Normally Closed N.C...    This one might work at 230 degrees F.     I would just disconnect the 12 volt power to the logic board.  RonB
    

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #19 –
When I have to park off level outside of the parameters of safe operation of the refrigerator I just turn it off until until I can move on. This has worked well for many years.
2026 Coach House 27' "Casa Azul"
2010 RB "Monty"  &  2021 RB "Villa Verde"
2004 Born Free 26'
1998 Beaver Patriot 33'
1992 Barth Breakaway 28'
1982 Fleetwood Jamboree 23
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #20 –
Quote from: hbn7hj  - 
Don‘t know about the risk of fire. It is real and there was a rash of them years ago. All recent fridges have a thermal switch on the boiler shield to turn it off if it gets too hot.

I discovered the thermal switch after a long drive on a very hot day.  I had to call Todd at the Mothership to find out why my refrigerator stopped working.  You can read about it here along with pictures of where to find and reset the switch.

- John
John & Cathy enjoying life with our 2021 Mid-Bath, 1996 Cherokee and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #21 –
Quote from: JohnR  - 
I discovered the thermal switch after a long drive on a very hot day.  I had to call Todd at the Mothership to find out why my refrigerator stopped working.  You can read about it here along with pictures of where to find and reset the switch.

Thanks for the reminder, I’ve put a NTE Electronics NTE8213 Thermal Cutoff Fuse on my list of spare parts to carry.
Dave

2017 TK
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #22 –
Quote from: tedeboy  - 
Do you use just the fans (manual? thermal switch?) or with the control unit also?
Quote from: WhiteElk  - 
Having reviewed the ARP website, I’m curious about the risk of refrigerator fire in newer coaches with regular maintenance and rig leveling. I’m also curious whether others have installed the ARP “Fridge Defend” +/- Fan product?

Your 2017 LD refrigerator has the same "band-aid" fix as the older Dometics, a sheet metal cover around the burner to prevent burning the rig to the ground in case of a leak from the tubing. Dometic never made any major improvements to the leak-prone tubing or boiler.

After having the second refrigerator die, I install the ARP as an experiment to see if it would prolong the replacement's life.
The ARP monitors the boiler's temperature and shuts the heat off if it gets too high, off-level operation can cause overheating.
So far, so good.
The ARP controls a fan at the rear of the refrigerator exterior, the fan turns on when the boiler hits a set temperature. The ARP also provides switched power to fans mounted inside the refrigerator.
Both the exterior and interior fans are as good as any I have tried so far. The interior fan is thin and mounts against the ceiling and uses very little space.

Larry



Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #23 –
I installed the device about 5 years ago, primarily to improve cooling performance. The fans run most of the time that the burner runs. I don’t have any objective measurements as to how much it helps, but we do seem to have fewer occurrences of insufficient cooling.
2013 27’ Mid-Bath
2005 Honda CR-V
Re: Fridge acting a little strange
Reply #24 –
Hi Ted,; I was looking through the 'use and care' manual pdf on line to see if they mention anything about melting the crisper compartments in their manual with a dishwasher. (they don't)  but I did find this: 
   " OPERATING REFRIGERATOR AT HIGH ALTITUDE
All gas appliances experience lowered efficiency (or
rating) at high altitude This is a direct result of lower
atmospheric pressure and oxygen levels, and is not a
defect of the refrigerator.
Reduced cooling performance and burner outage may
occur at altitudes higher than 5500 feet above sea level
(while operating on LP gas). Always operate refrigerator
on electric power at altitudes higher than 5500 feet.         "
     As Larry stated previously, I knew that they would have issues at high altitude. To me high altitude would be higher than about 9000', but I had no idea that Dometic would consider just a 'mile high' to be adequate for a product sold in the U.S.  As Andy stated, it wouldn't take all that much to have a mixture adjustment.
      In addition to the water heater having an adjustment for altitude, so does the Onan generator. I recently had trouble running the generator and had forgotten I had left it set for high altitude. The Emerald Plus also has a Winter/Summer choke switch.  My stove top and oven seem ok at altitude.   RonB
 
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB