refrigerator

JBauern · 05-16-2017, 08:55 PM

Domestic DM2652 What is the white thingy that my finger is pointing too. It is next to a decal going from warmer at the bottom to colder at the top. There is a bracket that this fits into which attaches to the cooling fins. There is nothing in the operating manual about this.

**chuckster57** · 05-17-2017, 03:17 AM

That is the thermistor. It is a temp sensor that should be in the plastic clip attached to the cooling fins. It's placement on the fins adjusts the fridge temp.

JBauern · 05-17-2017, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

That is the thermistor. It is a temp sensor that should be in the plastic clip attached to the cooling fins. It's placement on the fins adjusts the fridge temp.

Ty. We were cleaning the fridge. I reinstalled the thermistor. But I have now a question about it. If it is shielded in the plastic bracket, does that mean the fridge will get warmer, or will it get colder to compensate for it being covered.

**chuckster57** · 05-17-2017, 01:36 PM

Dometic has designed the fridge to operate with the thermistor in that plastic piece. It's placement on the cooling fin (height) will determine temp.

JBauern · 05-17-2017, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Dometic has designed the fridge to operate with the thermistor in that plastic piece. It's placement on the cooling fin (height) will determine temp.

so does the thermistor need to fully enclosed, then the piece be moved up and down on the fin,

**chuckster57** · 05-17-2017, 05:42 PM

I try to keep it within the confines of the plastic sliding piece.

NorskeBob · 05-18-2017, 04:00 AM

What I have found:

Research indicated the thermistor location set at the factory is usually the on the last fin on the right as you look at the reefer. Move it up for cooler and down for warmer. IF you move it, move it in small, small increments and allow 24 hrs. for the reefer to adjust temperature in relation to the move of the thermistor. Takes 24 hrs. for temp to stabilize.

msubobcats · 05-18-2017, 07:13 AM

And if we should ever upgrade our 5ver we WILL NOT get a unit that has one of these refrigerators...

**JRTJH** · 05-18-2017, 07:33 AM

Rick,

Do some reading on the problems and limitations owners of "residential refrigerators" are having with that "improved system".... Some love them, some are considering throwing them out, using them as a "beer box in the garage" and installing a Dometic/Norcold in their trailer to solve the problems they have with a residential reefer.....

So, not every improvement is really "improved".... Do some reading on the forum, you'll probably be surprised at just how many problems people are having.....

Javi · 05-18-2017, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Rick,

Do some reading on the problems and limitations owners of "residential refrigerators" are having with that "improved system".... Some love them, some are considering throwing them out, using them as a "beer box in the garage" and installing a Dometic/Norcold in their trailer to solve the problems they have with a residential reefer.....

So, not every improvement is really "improved".... Do some reading on the forum, you'll probably be surprised at just how many problems people are having.....

Double down... I will not have a residential fridge in a trailer that I tow on a regular basis... I don't boondock, but I do not want to fool with an inverter system in a trailer.. We were looking at a new trailer this week that we loved a lot.... but it had a residential... no deal...

**chuckster57** · 05-18-2017, 08:28 AM

x3. Give me a Dometic RV refer and I'm a happy camper.

canesfan · 05-18-2017, 10:12 AM

x4. No residential refer. I don't need any more headaches than I already have. Plus I dry camp at times, but even if I didn't it's a no sale.

PARAPTOR · 05-18-2017, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canesfan

x4. No residential refer. I don't need any more headaches than I already have. Plus I dry camp at times, but even if I didn't it's a no sale.

X5+ AND also PLEASE no remotes (television and audio only)

All for no headaches

**JRTJH** · 05-18-2017, 10:37 AM

Ammonia absorption refrigerators have been around in RV's for at least 50 years and have been used in cabins/remote homes for many more years than that. The concept is sound, has proven reliable and within it's limitations, is still the most suitable for RV use, even with almost all "camping" done with full hookups. As for residential refrigerators, the limitation of not being able to use the refrigerator when towing in hot areas unless you also can operate the air conditioning to keep the RV cabin at "reasonable temperatures" is something that all but excludes any towing in the southwest USA during much of the spring, summer and fall and excludes the southeast as well during the summer, early fall. There is no such limitation with absorption refrigerator systems. They may "get a little warmer" and the ice cream might get soft when towing through the desert in August, but at least you'll still have a working refrigerator at the end of the trip. That's not a certainty with a residential refrigerator onboard your RV, a "burned up compressor" has become a distinct possibility.....

My experience with absorption refrigerators, although limited to only the past 45 years or so, has been that most of the problems stem, not from the absorption system but from the "high technology" advancements such as "automatic operation", helium technology (instead of ammonia), attempts at frost free operation, increased size of the refrigerator, sometimes meaning two cooling systems from smaller refrigerator design "stuffed into a big box" and attempts at trying to make a "wonderfully designed system" work like it is a "pretend residential refrigerator". From the time "they" added battery power to make the system easier to use, things have been less reliable with absorption systems. I well remember the frustration of having to go outside to open a tiny door and stick a match held by needle nose pliers over a pilot light to start my old Instamatic 6 refrigerator. Sure it was frustrating, especially in a rainstorm, at night, but that refrigerator worked for me at least 10 years and was still "working like new" when we sold the trailer. As far as I know, it's still working.... It was a basic, no frills way to keep cold food cold, freeze fish during the weekend and have ice cream with our smores.

Within its design limitations, I don't think you can find a refrigerator operating system that's better suited for RV use than a "basic model ammonia absorption system"......

Outback 325BH · 05-18-2017, 11:23 AM

The biggest issue I see with absorption fridges is air circulation in the back across the condenser. Side exhaust vents in slide-outs are common culprits. Install a fan or two the force air circulation and temps drop in the fridge.

A correctly operating absorption refrigerator works pretty darn well.

I too agree with the "in transit" benefits as well.

If-and-when the cooling unit goes tits-up, there are several aftermarket cooling unit manufacturers that have improved the design. If you're a little handy, you can replace yourself. A quick video shows how simple the process is.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

NorskeBob · 05-18-2017, 12:22 PM

Checked our frig. (Norcold 2118SST) out yesterday - first warm day we have had in a while. Was about 85 degrees out and I wanted to see how the unit cooled down. I started out in gas mode and then switched over to AC mode. Got the freezer section down to 5 degrees. Fresh food section was about 38 degrees. Freezer and fridge were empty.

I was going to add additional fan to this frig but I don't think I will need to. It has one smaller fan at the very bottom (lower vent area) and 2 larger ones about 2/3's of the way up the back.

Out last RV had only one fan so I added a computer fan and on-off switch. SilenX Effizio Silent 120mm Thermistor Edition Fan

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