Dometic refer question

[skihor]

Have an OLD Dometic refer. It seems the freezer gets cold but not the main box. Is that possible ?

Don & Sheila

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Don,

Yes, that is possible in an older refrig.

The amonia inside the system will gel due to lack of use causing a flow restriction in the amonia.

Some have cured this gel problem by heating the steel refrigerant tubes with a heat gun. Some

have had good luck with turning the whole box up-side-down for a couple of days. Either way,

it's a crap shot...

Hope this helps
Nick-

[TomC]

This is why I have a Norcold 6.3 compressor type (R-12) with zero problems in 15 years.  On my truck conversion bought a NovaKool 9cu/ft with Danfoss compressor.  They cost no more then the absorption type refers, but are very efficient pulling only about 5amps when running-so on average pull about 2-3 amp hours.  With both my refrigerator and chest freezer running, can easily go 24 hours before recharging my 2 8D's (but that's also running everything else on the bus too).  I wouldn't fool with an absorption refer-get either an apartment type refrigerator (like a Summit) or spend the extra money to buy a RV/marine type compressor refrigerator from Norcold or NovaKool.  Good Luck, TomC

[Oonrahnjay]

This is why I have a Norcold 6.3 compressor type (R-12) with zero problems in 15 years.  On my truck conversion bought a NovaKool 9cu/ft  (snip)

Tom, I'm guessing you're going to get a lot of disagreement "because of the cost".  I bought a NovaKool 8.2 for exactly the reasons you mentioned, so you sure won't get any complaining from me.  Good equipment, good performance at a reasonable cost - what could be better than that?

[luvrbus]

Maybe he dry camps a lot electric fridge are pretty much useless for that without generator time then they become less cost effective there some good propane units made by the Amish,Sun Frost would be my 1st choice in the electric fridge fwiw   

[Oonrahnjay]

Maybe he dry camps a lot electric fridge are pretty much useless for that without generator time then they become less cost effective there some good propane units made by the Amish,Sun Frost would be my 1st choice in the electric fridge fwiw   

     The customer support guy from NovaKool told me that the 4.8 amp (that's about 55 watt) units, with runtime/ offtime will typically run about 3 1/2 - 4 days before they draw two 8D batteries down to 50% charge.  Even dry camping, it seems that that would "get lost" in the other generator use.  We'll see.  And yes, Sun Frost appears to be a wonderful fridge (if I knew what I know now, I'd have probably done that).  Just different people's ways.

[luvrbus]

 Bruce,mine in the boat won't run that long and it always cool on the water,they are a little larger with a bottom freezer model RFU 9000 just had the compressor replaced in one for 700 bucks 

good luck

[Oonrahnjay]

Bruce,mine in the boat won't run that long and it always cool on the water,they are a little larger with a bottom freezer model RFU 9000 just had the compressor replaced in one for 700 bucks    good luck 

    Yeah, mine has the bottom freezer.  I wonder if that's a weight loss thing - if I get any older, I won't be able to get down there to get anything to eat.  700 bucks - that's steep.  Hope mine does better than that.I put a lot of foam bottom, top and sides (and rear where it won't affect the clearance and air circulation) - that might help on the current draw.

[papatony]

I have an older unit that does this I found that if you get it cold on gas first it will work fine on 110 . try the gas before you throw away.   

[JohnEd]

My RV book that I bought back when they made your unit said if it is a Dometic the cure is to take a run down a rough road.   Actually, my 1974 never quit but I junked it in 2008 due to damage to the door.  I would still have it were it not fore that.  Run yours.  Try heating the coils if Nick says that works.

If it ever makes that gurgling sound then it is junk.

Luvrbus knows a guy in Ark. that has the best prices in the world for rebuilt units.

John

[bsharpe]

We're still looking for a fridge solution, so I checked out the Sun Frost systems mentioned earlier.

  They say that on 110 they use 1.02kwh per day for the 19cf model (RF19).   A quick check at Lowes shows a Whirlpool 18.9cf model with an ice maker and filtered water dispenser and it uses 0.95kwh's per day.

  The sun frost is ~$3k, the whirlpool is ~$1k.   I must be missing some important component to my math.   Please educate me.

Sun Frost: http://www.thenaturalabode.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=12207
Whirlpool: http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/WRT779RWYM.html   note: this is AJMadison not Lowes, because Lowes didn't show the energy consumption on their site.

[luvrbus]

Why run a Sun Frost off a 110v defeats the purpose the Whirlpool won't run of 12 or 24 volts maybe that is the point you are missing here

good luck

[gus]

I've read about so many recalls and poor customer service for Dometic that I wouldn't have one at any price.

Just check any RV or motorhome magazine.

[skihor]

I've read about so many recalls and poor customer service for Dometic that I wouldn't have one at any price.

Just check any RV or motorhome magazine.

May be so... the one in our MC 5A has been going for 23 years now. We've been full time for 8.
The one I asked about is in another bus that we have for sale. It might even be from the 70's

Don & Sheila

[niles500]

bsharpe - the difference may be in the numbers (amp hrs @ 12 VDC / kwh @ 110 VAC)

Voltage: All models are available in 12 volt DC, 24 volt DC, 110AC, or 220AC. Listed energy consumptions are for 12 volt units and 110AC; 24 volt units use half the listed amp hours. KWHs are listed for AC units

*************** KWHs are listed for AC units ****************

HTH