Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Travel Trailers
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-01-2014, 07:17 PM   #1
mavagrand
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 46
Refrigerator humming

Brand new 299BH, have it plugged into the house using a heavy duty extension cord I picked up at CW. I know the camper would pull too many amps if I ran everything at once, so I'm only running the refrigerator and, occasionally, the A/C when we're in it. I noticed today that the refrigerator was humming loudly. There was not trouble light on and it was running off the electricity. It was cold and seemed to be working but just humming. It's a Dometic model. anyone have any suggestions?
mavagrand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2014, 07:27 PM   #2
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,237
Have you looked for a fan in the refer cabinet?
__________________

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.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2014, 03:26 AM   #3
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
The fridge wouldn't be installed in close proximity to the converter/power center would it?
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2014, 04:19 AM   #4
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,846
The refrigerator in the 299BH is located in the street side slide. There is a fan mounted between the two vents (on the refrigerator exterior coils) to push heat up and out of the top vent. It comes on about 95*F and will run until the temperature around the coils drops to about 85-90*F.

What you're hearing is that fan. If you want to verify that "nothing else is humming" you can remove the lower vent, from the black box on the lower left side of the refrigerator you'll see a red wire that leads right and up toward the middle of the refrigerator. There is an "inline" fuse holder on that red wire. Twist it open, remove the fuse and the fan will stop.

While you're there with the vent open, it's a great time to doublecheck the routing of your corrugated drain tube. It should come from the tube on the back of the drain pan (located inside the refrigerator box directly under the cooling fins in the top of the refrigerator section, and it should be securely routed out one of the vent squares on the vent cover. There is a small plug in the end of that hose with 3 holes in it. Do not lose that plug or "bugs 'n critters" can set up residence in the tube.

I wouldn't think the converter/power center is mounted in the slide, but stranger things have happened.....
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2014, 03:29 AM   #5
mavagrand
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 46
John, I'd wondered if it was the fan, it just seems so loud. It is July here in Florida, 95* in the shade so I think I'll unplug it, no sense having that fan continually run to cool down an empty refrigerator. The camper is brand new and we haven't had a chance to take it out so we spend an occasional night in it here at the house just to test the systems.
mavagrand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2014, 07:48 AM   #6
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,846
mavagrand,

If the refrigerator is turned off, the fan should NOT be running. If you are running your refrigerator, the outside temp is above 95*F (or around that) and you unplug the fan for a long period of time, you will decrease the air flow behind the coils (in the exhaust chimney) and you will not only decrease the refrigerator efficiency, you will make it work harder to maintain the freezer and refrigerator setting. That could hasten the failure of the unit by causing the electrical heating element to function longer, the ammonia (or helium) cooling system to function for longer periods of time at higher than normal temperatures and cause increased temperatures behind your refrigerator. Below about 95*F, the fan usually doesn't function because the ambient temperature around the coils is cool enough not to affect the refrigerator efficiency. Above that "magic temperature" you need to have the fan's help to keep the hot air moving.

Turning the refrigerator to OFF will (or should) stop all the functions of the refrigerator and cause the fan to stop "humming".

If your refrigerator has been functioning and you turn it off, don't forget to open the door so it can dry out. Otherwise, you'll have a "fungal mess" the next time you open the door.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2014, 08:41 AM   #7
CUFFS054
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Monticello, GA
Posts: 256
Maybe it just doesn't know the words...I crack me up.
CUFFS054 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2014, 03:35 PM   #8
mavagrand
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
mavagrand,

If the refrigerator is turned off, the fan should NOT be running. If you are running your refrigerator, the outside temp is above 95*F (or around that) and you unplug the fan for a long period of time, you will decrease the air flow behind the coils (in the exhaust chimney) and you will not only decrease the refrigerator efficiency, you will make it work harder to maintain the freezer and refrigerator setting. That could hasten the failure of the unit by causing the electrical heating element to function longer, the ammonia (or helium) cooling system to function for longer periods of time at higher than normal temperatures and cause increased temperatures behind your refrigerator. Below about 95*F, the fan usually doesn't function because the ambient temperature around the coils is cool enough not to affect the refrigerator efficiency. Above that "magic temperature" you need to have the fan's help to keep the hot air moving.

Turning the refrigerator to OFF will (or should) stop all the functions of the refrigerator and cause the fan to stop "humming".

If your refrigerator has been functioning and you turn it off, don't forget to open the door so it can dry out. Otherwise, you'll have a "fungal mess" the next time you open the door.
Once again, thanks for the info, I did not know I needed to prop the door open, I'll do that. By the way, I did notice the fan runs for a little while after the refer has been turned off. I assume it is for temperature management.
mavagrand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2014, 04:18 PM   #9
Festus2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
Quote:
Originally Posted by Javi View Post
The fridge wouldn't be installed in close proximity to the converter/power center would it?
I'm also beginning to think that the humming fan you hear is coming from your converter. Its fan can be heard at times when it is operating.
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
Festus2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.