Refrigerator not cooling as good as it should

instymp · 09-16-2014, 03:21 PM

My refer is at 47 degrees, outside temp was 80 degrees. Heard that a bad battery can attribute to that, correct? Also, when charging my bad battery that I am replacing this weekend, do I have to disconnect the cables before charging with a battery charger so I don't hurt the inverter?
TIA!

**JRTJH** · 09-16-2014, 03:37 PM

No, you don't have to disconnect, but if you're unsure if the battery is good or bad, I'd isolate it from everything so you know there's not a problem elsewhere that's causing the issue.

When you reconnect it, remember BLACK is POSITIVE and WHITE is NEGATIVE.....

instymp · 09-17-2014, 02:49 PM

Thanks, I had to charge it twice in two weeks, bought a new one, hope it helps the refer problem. Also had intermittant elec. awning problems, sometimes it works & sometimes it doesn't. Hopefully related. Thanks again.

**JRTJH** · 09-17-2014, 03:57 PM

Did you have the battery checked/load tested? It sounds like you "MAY" (not for sure) have a converter problem. If the battery held a charge after you charged it "out of the RV", and it worked for a week or so, then it may well be the converter that's not charging the battery when installed in the RV. I'd do a little more troubleshooting before spending money for a battery replacement that may not be needed...

terrya10 · 09-18-2014, 02:16 PM

I had the same problem as you with my Dometic frig. I ended up sliding the thermocouple downwards, away from the freezer, where the temperature is a little warmer. Dropped the frig temp around 8-10 deg.

instymp · 09-18-2014, 02:26 PM

Thanks, will try it. Concerter was replaced/upgraded last year. Appreciate comments.

Richard6959 · 09-18-2014, 04:06 PM

I purchased a fridge fan off ebay. It grounds to your fins, but gets power from the light. Quick easy install. With the fan circulating the air it had huge improvements. Everything stay equally cold as along as their is a small gap between items for the air to flow. Some items even freeze up if your not careful.

Here's the link to the fan:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOMETIC-NORC...8c8887&vxp=mtr

Carrnutt · 10-07-2014, 05:51 PM

I did the same as above, except I used

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181208057633...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

It has made a tremendous improvement in my 90 degree plus area of Florida.

Pulln · 10-29-2014, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrnutt

I did the same as above, except I used

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181208057633...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

It has made a tremendous improvement in my 90 degree plus area of Florida.

just placed an order for this fan kit. Curious what you tapped in to for the 12vdc power. Did you have to drill through the fridge wall to run the wire?

**chuckster57** · 10-29-2014, 05:29 PM

You can tie into the "hot" side of the interior light switch.

Pulln · 10-29-2014, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

You can tie into the "hot" side of the interior light switch.

Excellent. Thank you sir. Can't wait to get this in the fridge. Cooling seems to be an all time low according to my wife.

We have an extended warranty on the camper but not sure there is anything wrong with fridge. Since this is our first camper we have just chalked it up to being an inefficient appliance.

**JRTJH** · 10-29-2014, 06:27 PM

Absorption refrigerators are not "second rate appliances" When properly working, they can easily keep ice cream frozen in the freezer and keep ice in the beer on the bottom shelf in the refrigerator. To do this, they must be installed properly, ventilated properly and used properly. Any of those can cause it to function inadequately.

It's as much a matter of "how you use it" and "how you load it" and "how often you open the door" as it is "low voltage" or "inadequate ventilation" or "lack of air flow in the compartment". If functioning properly and loaded properly, there's really no reason to require an aftermarket fan just to keep the milk from spoiling.

I guess what I'm saying is that installing a fan may help counter a problem, but it won't solve the problem you're having. If your refrigerator is truly working properly, there's no need for a fan.

**chuckster57** · 10-29-2014, 06:50 PM

John, your right as far as properly loading and opening the door. I use a fan powered by 2 D cell batteries to help counter the bad habits of DW and grandkids "shopping" with the door open.

Pulln · 10-30-2014, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Absorption refrigerators are not "second rate appliances" When properly working, they can easily keep ice cream frozen in the freezer and keep ice in the beer on the bottom shelf in the refrigerator. To do this, they must be installed properly, ventilated properly and used properly. Any of those can cause it to function inadequately.

It's as much a matter of "how you use it" and "how you load it" and "how often you open the door" as it is "low voltage" or "inadequate ventilation" or "lack of air flow in the compartment". If functioning properly and loaded properly, there's really no reason to require an aftermarket fan just to keep the milk from spoiling.

I guess what I'm saying is that installing a fan may help counter a problem, but it won't solve the problem you're having. If your refrigerator is truly working properly, there's no need for a fan.

Totally tracking. It not a system I have been able to dig in to yet in terms of how it works. We typically run it off of the genset or shore power and we take great care to not be opening it on a regular basis. We keep a cooler with ice for cold drinks and typically use the fridge for meats, cheese and the likes. I will say this about the freezer it does do a great job of keeping things in a frozen state.

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