|
|
07-24-2019, 03:22 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Picton
Posts: 242
|
Fridge ventilation on new Dometic
Trying to improve performance on my Dometic RM1350, in my Cougar 315RLS. I installed these 3 computer fans at the top vent, pushing air out. Ran the power wire down to the 12V block connector. Also installed a thermistor, so that the fans power up only when it reaches 110F.
Having a hard time in having it show less than 40F... Hovers around 42 to 46, not pleased with that. I've also installed thermometers inside both fridge and freezer to see how acurate those numbers are...
I'll also check all my door seals. Next step air flow inside the fridge. One kinda wonders why Dometic puts out a fridge like that... Many have similar issues.
On my older 5th wheel, with a 2 door Dometic, was always between 35 to 38F... Miss it.
|
|
|
07-24-2019, 05:09 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 503
|
The refrigerator is probably fine. From the picture it is obvious that it is not installed as best as can be. Refrigerators in slides can be a problem. Your upper vent is too low for proper convection flow.
Blame the RV designer, builder, not the refrigerator.
__________________
2018 Cougar 26RBS
2016 Chevrolet 3500DRW D/A
|
|
|
07-24-2019, 05:42 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,910
|
The baffle in the photo is exactly where it should be, so air fully passes the fins. If that baffle was not there or lower, you would not get adequate heat removal at the upper fins. There are a number of issues that can cause insufficient cooling in the fridge, and your manual should have diagnostics that you can follow, or maybe it is better to just get a qualified tech to check it out.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
|
|
|
07-24-2019, 06:39 PM
|
#4
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,351
|
Fridge ventilation on new Dometic
Fans should be installed UNDER the coil assembly. There should already be fans installed if the refer is on a slide, are they not working?
As stated that baffle is right where it needs to be. And the upper vent is installed in the correct position.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
|
|
|
07-25-2019, 04:21 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Picton
Posts: 242
|
Yes, there are fans installed at the factory and they do work, as you can hear them kick in & out.
I added the top ones to help exhaust the warm air after the top coil.
__________________
****
2019 Cougar 315RLS
2011 Ford F250
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
|
|
|
07-25-2019, 06:50 AM
|
#6
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,351
|
Fridge ventilation on new Dometic
I don’t think your issue is the air circulation. Have you looked real close at the center flap on the door, and the door seals.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
|
|
|
07-25-2019, 07:26 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
|
Adding the $10 2-D cell battery operated fridge fan to the back of the bottom shelf helps as much as anything else from my experience.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
|
|
|
07-25-2019, 10:27 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Picton
Posts: 242
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
I don’t think your issue is the air circulation. Have you looked real close at the center flap on the door, and the door seals.
|
Yep, but I'm not sure what to make of it... Not sure hiw to check it's leak proof or not... I'll look again, with a dollar bill, well a $5 bill, as it's the smallest paper currency we have... 😁
|
|
|
07-25-2019, 12:20 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Newport News, VA
Posts: 221
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeekSquadOfUn
Yep, but I'm not sure what to make of it... Not sure hiw to check it's leak proof or not... I'll look again, with a dollar bill, well a $5 bill, as it's the smallest paper currency we have... 😁
|
You probably should use two $5 bills because I don't think that slick plastic currency you guys have is as thick as our $1 bills.
__________________
Merlin B.
U.S. Army Aviator, Retired
2016 Cougar XLite 28SGS
2007.5 Ram 3500 DRW
|
|
|
08-29-2019, 01:28 PM
|
#10
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Mobile
Posts: 91
|
GeekSquadofUn,
I also have the 315RLS with the same refrig condition and our previous TT refrig worked great.....39 is the coldest mine has ever gotten...and I would be ok with that, but in the hot south 46-54 is the norm and that dog don't hunt.
I am going out tomorrow to look for fans, and if they are there then I think that is my problem they are not running....
Make sure the make up strip between your doors closes....we have to manually close it and several other 315RLS ers have had the same issue, I don't recall who fixed theirs by adding a few washers on the bottom hinge to lift the door so that the make strip rides in the opening and closure bracket mounted between the top of doors .
I just order exhaust fans, do I need to canx the order or are yours helping? I am also adding a interior recirculating fan.
__________________
DG [Data Guy] & Ms Khani
2018 F350 6.7 CB, LB, SRW
2109 Cougar 315RLS
|
|
|
08-29-2019, 01:49 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: South US
Posts: 712
|
I had cooling issues with my Norcold fridge on a recent trip. The fridge side of the trailer was in the hot afternoon sun every day but the prevailing winds (daily) blew on that side of the trailer as well.
I removed the small plastic tabs that hold the the fridge covers on and replaced them with zip ties creating a hinge effect and the propped the covers out away from the trailer with short sticks (as I was parked for 3 weeks). They were able to deflect any rain that might have occurred.
Dramatic difference in cooling. I actually had to turn the fridge to a setting that did not freeze items in the fridge area.
It's almost worth a look at having powered louvers for fridge vents available on future campers,at least I think so.
RMc
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 SRW Aisin Trans. HO CTD
Air Lift Bags -Curt 16K Slider Hitch
2017 Laredo 350 FB
|
|
|
08-29-2019, 02:13 PM
|
#12
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Mobile
Posts: 91
|
Dometic Application Guide 3308666
Here are 3 slides from a briefing by ? when ? to whom ?
In the Diagnostic Service Manual it refers to an Application guide 3308666, and this is what I found that briefing
Refer to your manual for the dimensions for A thru F
The "wide open" condition is during a test and notice that too much space can cause not cooling.....don't remove any wood, unless a Dometic engineer recommends it.
__________________
DG [Data Guy] & Ms Khani
2018 F350 6.7 CB, LB, SRW
2109 Cougar 315RLS
|
|
|
08-29-2019, 02:35 PM
|
#13
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Mobile
Posts: 91
|
Basic requirements for proper cooling
I should have started at the beginning.....We owners must ensure:
a. that we are level
b. that we have not altered the as built/as designed ventilation...dirty,wasps nest etc. (assuming that the as built matches the as designed...there is a youtube video showing the upper vent being totally closed...they never cut out the opening)....If the unit some times cools and sometimes doesn't then the as built venting is probably as designed....the design may suck ??
c. and that we are providing energy to allow for the heater to work...elec, or propane.
d. Ambient temp is below 100 (I haven't figured out how to control this one) and I wonder if they really mean the "ambient" temp of the air channel not the ambient temp of the location ??? and if they are really meaning the air temp of the air channel , then shading will work....I have not yet experience ambient temps of 100.....we are generally 85-90 with 99% humidity.
But I am sure that the air channel has exceeded 100...your thoughts
__________________
DG [Data Guy] & Ms Khani
2018 F350 6.7 CB, LB, SRW
2109 Cougar 315RLS
|
|
|
09-02-2019, 07:45 PM
|
#14
|
Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: PellCity,Alabama
Posts: 52
|
Frig
I also filled the big heat holding void over the whole top of the frig with insulation and placed a baffle made with aluminum sheet as close to shape and dimensions shown in installation instructions as I could to move air out of top vent. Mine came from factory with 4 fans but no baffle or top insulation. Fans should blow from below fins. Mine stays at 34 and freezer freezes everything but ice cream is not very hard.
|
|
|
09-05-2019, 03:59 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Picton
Posts: 242
|
Very happy to report that adding my 3 computer fans at the top did work.
Warm air exits the top more easily.
I do need to close the left door flap manually, as the weight seems to tilt the door just enough that the flap misses the channel at the top and will not fold as it should. Ah well, I can live with that.
It stays in the 33 to 38 range , depending on the settings.
Happy camper ⛺
|
|
|
09-05-2019, 05:48 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,399
|
This is a very common issue with the larger double wide fridges in slides. The OEM fans do kick on but when the slide is in direct sunlight with 80 degree temps and higher the fridge just can't keep up. The small space around the fridge gets quite warm and the OEM fans just don't move enough air up and out.
I also installed a couple larger fans with a programmable thermostat (similar location as the OP). So far it seems to have done the job. The application seems to pull more air up through the cooling fins and out the vent. Fridge normally runs at 34/35 degrees and peaks out at about 39. Before it would get to high 40's in the afternoon sun.
I've wondered if a slide topper would help by keeping sun from cooking the roof above the fridge...
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
|
|
|
09-05-2019, 06:17 AM
|
#17
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,351
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeekSquadOfUn
Very happy to report that adding my 3 computer fans at the top did work.
Warm air exits the top more easily.
I do need to close the left door flap manually, as the weight seems to tilt the door just enough that the flap misses the channel at the top and will not fold as it should. Ah well, I can live with that.
It stays in the 33 to 38 range , depending on the settings.
Happy camper [emoji554]
|
Easy fix: remove the freezer door to access the fridge door upper hinge. Lift off the door and put a washer on the hinge pin, Re assemble. I do it a lot to brand new fridges.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
|
|
|
09-05-2019, 08:28 AM
|
#18
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Mobile
Posts: 91
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeekSquadOfUn
Very happy to report that adding my 3 computer fans at the top did work.
Warm air exits the top more easily.
I do need to close the left door flap manually, as the weight seems to tilt the door just enough that the flap misses the channel at the top and will not fold as it should. Ah well, I can live with that.
It stays in the 33 to 38 range , depending on the settings.
Happy camper ⛺
|
Geek,
Did the 4 factory installed fans work? and I think that I recall that you did not have the eighth inch aluminum foil baffle at the top ??
in our pics you can see a gap between the bottom of the condenser vanes and the top of the "box baffle" the protruding luan and it appears to me that (some or most??) of the air from the 4 factory fans would go through that gap (least resistance)
All of the dimensions on my 315RLS conform to the requirements except "C" I only have 4 inches (+- 1/4)
__________________
DG [Data Guy] & Ms Khani
2018 F350 6.7 CB, LB, SRW
2109 Cougar 315RLS
|
|
|
09-05-2019, 09:02 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Picton
Posts: 242
|
The 4 factory fans do work, as I can hear them when they start. My 3 additional fans at the top help in moving the hot air over the fins.
I'm happy, it lives up to the name Refrigerator.
I'm done.
__________________
****
2019 Cougar 315RLS
2011 Ford F250
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
|
|
|
09-05-2019, 09:29 AM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,399
|
^^^ Yep, same here. Bottom line is that the OEM setup is inadequate. I don't know if the baffles are too far away from the fins or there's too much space at the top of the fridge. The design isn't working and all I know is that there's just too much heat build up in the box and not enough air flow to get it out. The extra fans seem to solve the problem.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|