Atwood Helium - Only Freezer getting Cold

[SkyPiGG]

I saw a couple of threads with this problem, but they end without any resolution. My Atwood Helium Refrigerator is brand new, and only the freezer is getting cold. The refrigerator portion is not getting cold. I have run it on both gas and electric, but still the same result.

Leaving tomorrow for a week long trip. Gonna suck not having a refrigerator. We have the one in the outdoor kitchen for backup I guess.

Any help would be appreciated.

[JRTJH]

You've had your RV for a while now. Did your refrigerator work previously? What might have happened about the same time as you noticed it stopped cooling? If the freezer is working, it sounds more like something blocking the evaporator in the refrigerator section rather than a control board issue. possibly a gasket issue on the refrigerator door ??? (That's a very wild guess)

[SkyPiGG]

Only had it out camping once, the fridge didn't seem very cold then, but I was focused on the water heater problem, and didn't really scrutinize it.

Running it on AC overnight to see if it improves. I am not very optimistic at this point.

[JRTJH]

It takes an empty refrigerator about 24 hours to cool down. The freezer has a big aluminum plate in it that chills rather fast and you can "tell it's working" in the freezer when you place your hand on the lower back and the floor of the freezer. The refrigerator is much different. There are "fins" along the top rear section that receive the "extra cool" from the freezer and that cold "drops" to the floor of the refrigerator as it absorbs the heat. That process is very slow and extremely sensitive to opening the reefer door. Possibly you can put several gallon jugs of cold water or ice in the refrigerator to "speed the process???

We always turn ours on at least 2 days before a planned departure and most often, once it's turned on in the spring, it's on until fall.

As indicated before, if the freezer is working, the control board is working. Depending on your useage (how often you open the door) you may need to set the thermostat to the coldest setting just to "keep up".... As efficient as the "cold production section is" with no fan to distribute cold air, all absorption refrigerators are "less efficient" than a household refrigerator. They simply don't work the same way and you can't treat them the same.....

[wolfee240]

The same thing is happening to my helium fridge. My works everywhere other than our house. The freezer stays cold but the fridge does not. I have talked to my dealer. They don't seem to know what the problem is. I called atwood about it and they were not much help. I called keystone and they think it is possible vent issue since cools down when towed down the or at campsite. They had me put a box fan over the top of the vent to see if that works. It has help the temperature drop a little bit but i am also only couple hours into the test.

[dwyleecoyote]

There is a sensor on the aluminum fins. If it isn't positioned right, it can cause this issue. It can be slid up and down to adjust fridge temperature.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[wolfee240]

If someone has a atwood helium fridge that works can you take a picture of the cooling fins in the fridge so i can see where the sensor needs to be position to work correctly

[gearhead]

As John said these refig's are not efficient. I usually put a few frozen water bottles in it to give it a head start. Turn it on a couple days early. It's like trying to keep an empty house cool....it needs some mass in it to maintain temp.

[Dave in Va]

If someone has a atwood helium fridge that works can you take a picture of the cooling fins in the fridge so i can see where the sensor needs to be position to work correctly

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_133166_0_2d7611909b267cc17e2a38d3964148c3.jpg

The fridge has worked flawlessly for 2 weeks, switching automatically between gas and ac. I had an outdoor temp sensor in it for awhile, and it got below 40*.

[GaryWT]

What does everyone keep their setting on? I started last year at 3 and moved to 4 in the hot weather. This year I have left it at 4 and everything stays nice and cold, some things on the top shelf start to freeze after awhile.

[koko]

Ours runs beautifully at 3.

[Rudeswoman]

If you move that sensor up will it make the fridge cooler?

[Rudeswoman]

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_136604_0_2d7611909b267cc17e2a38d3964148c3.jpg

The fridge has worked flawlessly for 2 weeks, switching automatically between gas and ac. I had an outdoor temp sensor in it for awhile, and it got below 40*.


Where should this sensor be positioned for the coldest temp?? Ours was towards the bottom & it was having trouble getting cold. It was cold, but not COLD!!!

[chuckster57]

The higher up, the colder.

[Rudeswoman]

THANK YOU CHUCKSTER57!!!!! You're speedy answer is wonderful! We have raised it and check it in the morning. Crossing our fingers it makes it good and cold!! "bouncey:

[chuckster57]

Your welcome. I also have a battery operated fan that sits in the drip tray. Blows air over the fins and circulates the fridge air. Stuff in the door is just as cold as stuff next to the coils. Got mine at camping world back in '08.

[tailpipe]

The battery powered fan works for me real well also . I also put a real small fan inside the outside access door. I use a 110 V fan so I don't run the battery down..I havn't did this on the Attwood helium yet unit yet but I am fixing to......to me the helium ref are real slow and need all the help they can get