Kat's heater for cold weather fridge use?

[hdxbonez]

Has anyone tried a Kat's heater on their fridge reservoir to prevent freezing? The small 25 watt 1x5 pad looks like it would work great. Not sure how hot it gets or if there is an automated thermostat. Thoughts?

[chuckster57]

I would think if the refer was on then you wouldn't need to heat the reservoir.

[hdxbonez]

It's my understanding that the colder it gets, the less the unit runs. At some point in extreme cold, the ammonia/water solution would freeze, requiring a thaw before using it again. Some Dometic units have a low ambient temperature setiing, but mine does not. It seems these units keep the interior light on to generate heat, requiring more frequent cycling. I looked at doing this, but it appears it would require refrigerator removal to access the wiring.

[chuckster57]

Looking at a dometic owners manual, it says refer may not work as efficiently when ambient temps are sub zero. Seems like I remember a thread a while ago about this but can't find it.

We don't have extreme temps out here where I live, work and camp. Freezing temps come with snow/ice, and I won't tow my trailer in those conditions. Maybe someone that has dealt with this will respond.

[hdxbonez]

I wouldn't tow mine in questionable conditions either, but I'm currently full timing in New Hampshire until I sell my home in CT, and build a new home here.

[chuckster57]

Since the heating pad is 110V, if you do use it you will need an outlet for it. Your fridge plugs in but that receptacle is only a single outlet. It only operates the heating element so you could run the refer on LP plug the pad into the outlet. Otherwise you'll have to either change the plug, or run an extension cord.

[hdxbonez]

The small heater only draws about .25 amp, my thought was to use a heavy duty grounded 3 way adapter and run both off the single outlet

[chuckster57]

That should work. I just wanted to be sure you knew the plug in the refer compartment was a single outlet.

[hdxbonez]

A little more research says that the Kat's heater may get to 300 or more degrees. Sounds like more than I want to just keep the small reservoir warm. So I've switched gears and put a clamp light with reflector under the reservoir with a 40 watt heavy duty appliance bulb in it. So far so good, the reservoir feels warmer to the touch without any excessive heat anywhere else

[chuckster57]

Glad to hear you did more research. 300 degrees would not be good.

[JRTJH]

The electric heater and/or the gas flame "should be" enough heat to keep the refrigerator "perking" the ammonia/sulphur solution as long as the temperature around the back coils isn't too extremely cold. Putting additional heat in the form of a light bulb or a "tape heater" would probably work, but another concept is to block a portion of the lower vent grill which would reduce the air flowing through the coils and warm up the area in the back of the refrigerator.

Have you considered just placing an appropriately shaped/sized sheet of 1/2" rigid foam board inside the lower vent? That would block the wind, stop most of the circulation of cold air through the "chimney" and allow the refrigerator heating unit to warm up the area behind the refrigerator. If you consider experimenting with this, you'll need to leave a small opening in the foam sheet so you still get some circulation of air through the area. I'd suspect that leaving a 3"x3" (9 sq inches) of open space along the lower corner of the foam sheet will give you adequate air flow on the coldest days. Just don't forget to remove the foam once the temperatures are above freezing for the majority of the day.

[hdxbonez]

That's a good idea as well John, I may rig something up to work along with the clamp light