Camper fridge question

[countryboy9799]

I just purchaced a camper and the freezer part gets below zero, not sure how much because my thermometer only went down to zero so I know its below that. The problem is the fridge part is around 45 degrees. It has been running on gas for a day and a half and I just switched it to AC tonight to see what it would do overnight.

Any input would be apprieciated.

Scott

[King Canada]

It doesn't use freon. I don't know why this happens but the coolent stratifies. Bouncing it down the road may take care of it. When this happens at my island cabin I have to disconnect it and leave it standing on it's top for a short time. I don't know how long because I simply remove it when I'm leaving and re-install upon my return.

[snowman678]

I agree w/ King Canada. Try removing it and tipping it upside down. I did this for a couple of hours or so on an old camper fridge I had and it has worked fine for 5 years now. Don't ask me why or what it does (I just got the tip from a guy at an RV dealer).

[countryboy9799]

Well after last night when I plugged it into AC the temp this morning was around 32 so the cooling system must be working right. It would appear to be a problem with the burner assembly for the LP.

I had talked to dealers last year and a few said they should be ran every month for a little bit because that stuff in their will gell up.

Which should it cool better on, AC or LP?

I think on DC it doesnt cool as good because the book said the DC wattage was 125 watts where as the AC was 175. I only have a 2 way fridge though.

Thanks for the help.

[IFallsRon]

Mine cools fastest with LP but we'll switch to electric if it's available. DC will suck the life out of your battery and you'll have a warm fridge.

[Dave]

No thermostat setting? Make sure your frig is level, too. Never heard of anyone asking why their frig/freezer is too cold

[Big Roy]

L.P. usually makes them the coldest. A few of things you might want to check are:

1) Cleaning the burner, you can buy a special brush and most of the time this takes care of it. If not, some R.V. dealers will do it.

2) Shut off the refrigerator and shut off the propane tank, wait 5 minutes then turn on the tank, wait 5 more minutes to build up pressure in the line then restart. You can also fill up a tank and do the same as above. Sometimes if you get below 5lbs in a 20lb tank the pressure gets reduced.

3) Are you level? The refrigerator must be level to work properly (use a plumbers level inside of the refrigerator)

4) A.C. Are you using a extension cord? Most campers have a 30 amp cord and then we plug into it. Always use the shortest cord and use a good heavy duty one. A 30 amp if you can afford it or a 12/3 works best.

[cold one sd]

Sometimes it just takes a little time for them to start working right if they haven't been used for a while or if they are new.

[countryboy9799]

Dave,

I didnt ask the question because my fridge was to cold, if you look at my top post I was running it on propane and had a temp of 45 in the fridge and below zero in the freezer. The freezer I wasn't concerned about but 45 is to warm for the fridge.

When I first posted it I had just plugged it into AC and left it overnight and had an acceptable temp with AC so I think my propane system might need a little tuning up.

It look's like I will have to tear into that and clean the burner, check the pressure and clean the flue.

The fridge is level and the thermostat has been on high.

It hasnt been run since last year at least so maybe it just needs to run awhile.

Thanks for the help.

[snowman678]

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that it also helped to "clean-up" the propane system. I disconnected everthing and used an air compressor with a rubber tip to blast some of the crud out. I then used a rifle cleaning kit to clean out the fuel tubes and, then hit it with the air again.

[countryboy9799]

Snowman,

Are you talking about the flue tube that go up and down? I think I am going to have to take the propane system apart and give it a good cleaning the way it look's, I dont think the propane system has been used much.

I guess on the bright side at least it cools on electric so that part is working.

[Big Roy]

“The fridge is level and the thermostat has been on high.”

I assume that the thermostat settings are 0 = warmest and 9 = coldest. It is usually best if you do not run it at the coldest setting, you might want to turn it down to 5 when starting up, also, make sure you do not have an empty fridg when starting up. I put lots of beer in mine and ice packs in the freezer. Overall your fridg is running normal, like one poster said let it run for a few days. If you are using it this weekend it should be a good challenge since it is going to get in the upper 80s. Let us know how it goes.

[snowman678]

I'm not really sure what it's called. It was kind of a rail that ran horizontally with holes for the flames. It's been a few years & I'm no expert, but this seemed to help on mine.

[countryboy9799]

I think that would be called the burner and I will clean that. I know the nozzle is the thing before the burner where the gas comes out before its burned and you are not suppose to try to clean that out with wire because it can mess it up. My furnace man also said to leave them alone on a furnace. Thanks for the help

[bbqhead]

if the burner has a nice even blue flame, dont mess

with it. it sounds like it work ok on 110. if so and the

flame is good take a hose and put it up the chimney where

the flame goes up and give it a blast of air.

randy

rv tech

[Dave]

Just for kicks, I took a thermometer and put it in my house frig, 47-degrees I compared that thermometer to the temp on my depthfinder in the boat and it was within one-degree.

And, my freezer and frig in my camper acts the same as yours but, I never compared LP temp to AC temp. Interesting topic.