We are at home unfortunately and the temp has been climbing since last week around here.
So I thought I would keep an eye on the fridge temp in the van and see how it went. The temp inside the van reached 42 deg C and when I opened the fridge to check the inside temp it was 3 deg C. I closed the door and left and went back and checked again in an hour and the inside temp was 4 deg C.
This morning at 9am the temp was 31 deg C and the fridge temp was 1 deg.
I never changed the setting on the fridge from 3 lights out of 5.
I concede that the van was not in use and the fridge was not being opened but I think it was doing alright when you consider how many people post on here with complaints about 3 way fridges not getting cold.
frank
Nomad246 said
04:52 AM Dec 4, 2012
G'day KFT,
sounds like you have the same fridge as we do,,, a RM4601 being a 186L, although you commented on "lights" ,,, we have none.
Good to hear you found it efficient in the heat ,,, I was just learning how to make it more efficient in another post.
Cheers
steve1945 said
05:06 PM Dec 4, 2012
Very interesting. I have never had a problem with the van fridge, even in extreme temperatures. I wonder why it is that so much discussion (on all forums) goes into remedying a problem I haven't seen. I have had to replace elements, but that's it.
We have just changed Rvs - had the 145 litre that most have and now have the RM4601 which is untested yet. Glad to hear I can expect good performance.
KFT said
06:51 PM Dec 4, 2012
G'day everyone and thanks for your comments.
Steve 1945 I expect that the performance is directly related to the fridge being installed in accordance with dometic instructions in the first place. When we ordered the van I was quite specific with the dealer that the fridge MUST be installed correctly or I would be back to see him(nicely of course).
Nomad 246 does yours have a graduated dial so you can set the temp? Ours is what is referred to as an "AES" and has a few lights on the panel.
stay safe AND cool
frank
Nomad246 said
02:45 AM Dec 5, 2012
G'day KFT,
ours is not the AES model, so no indicator lights for us.
Well done for your informative post.
Cheers
leevin said
10:22 PM Dec 8, 2012
Nomad246, We had a "mushroom" vent fitted on roof above our RM4601. Have not had a problem with inside temp, setting on 2.5 permanently. 42 degrees yesterday and didn't have to alter thermostat setting.
-- Edited by leevin on Saturday 8th of December 2012 10:28:25 PM
Why is that top side vent there for? Yours is the first installation I have seen like that. None of the Winebago installations with the roof vent have that top side one. My bet is that it would impede the draft that would normally be drawn by the top vent on its own rather than assist it. Have a look in your fridge handbook and see what the minimum height the top vent has to be above the fridge. If any of that side vent is lower then it certainly would be messing up the draft the warm cavity would be producing. Check with Dometic to verify my observations.
Winebago has been using those top vents for a few years now. The only time they don't seem to use them is when there is a window above the fridge. It's about time the van manufacturers started fitting them. They are much more effective than the side venting. When the flue cavity above the fridge heats up they draw like a mustard poultice.
-- Edited by PeterD on Saturday 8th of December 2012 11:45:07 PM
Nomad246 said
06:38 PM Dec 9, 2012
leevin wrote:
Nomad246, We had a "mushroom" vent fitted on roof above our RM4601. Have not had a problem with inside temp, setting on 2.5 permanently. 42 degrees yesterday and didn't have to alter thermostat setting.
-- Edited by leevin on Saturday 8th of December 2012 10:28:25 PM
Thanks for that Leevin,
I believe I've seen those on other units, but never taken the time to understand what they were for.
Our van doesn't allow for the roof vent to be added like you have, and our top side vent is lower on the wall. Haven't had a problem yet with the fridge but it will happen when you least want it to.
Cheers and happy trails
leevin said
05:28 AM Dec 12, 2012
PeterD,
Fitted in agreement/consultation with Dometic, caravan manufacturer and refrigeration engineers.
The "mushroom vent" speeds the flow of air, apparently much more efficiently than an extra fan!
External upper vent, no problem, the more the merrier.
No need for running 12/240v fans. The less moving parts, the better I say.
I have not moved the thermostat setting from 2.5 since leaving Brisneyland.
We are now in Streaky Bay, and it is warm.
I still have two trays of ice cubes in a full freezer.
I recommend the fitting of a mushroom vent above the fridge.
My personal thoughts.
Nomad246 said
07:17 AM Dec 13, 2012
Leevin,,, I agree, the least moving parts the better.
It's all about how you can get the best performance out of your fridge in it's environs.
As we couldn't fit a mushroom hood we fitted a fan for when the conditions were more than the fridge install could handle.
Continually we see it within 5C of kicking in ,,,, so it sits ready for that extreme situation.
Cheers
leevin said
03:52 AM Dec 17, 2012
Ceduna to Norseman, some hot days & evenings includung two nights at Fraser Range Station, fridge still working well. We extended our stay at Fraser RS because it was so quiet & peaceful. The Nullabor is an easy drive. We enjoyed it. The Barkley in Qld/NT has less trees, none in places, where the Mitchell grass grows horizon to horizen. We stopped o/night at Eucla then Fraser RS. Norseman 2 nights so we can visit Kalgoorlie & Coolgardie tomorrow (sans 'van).
Nomad246 said
07:18 AM Dec 17, 2012
Leevin, aren't you just having the best fun ,,,, well done ,,, enjoy the time
Steve 1945 I expect that the performance is directly related to the fridge being installed in accordance with dometic instructions in the first place. When we ordered the van I was quite specific with the dealer that the fridge MUST be installed correctly or I would be back to see him(nicely of course).
Nomad 246 does yours have a graduated dial so you can set the temp? Ours is what is referred to as an "AES" and has a few lights on the panel.
stay safe AND cool
frank
My apologies for not responding to your reply, Frank. Didn't access the forum for a few days and then forgot that I was involved in this thread. Mine is the AES and has the "5 lights" for setting the temperature. Sounds like yours. Mine is in a Jayco Optimum Motorhome, the previous 145 litre was in a Jayco Sterling.
KFT said
05:11 AM Dec 23, 2012
G'day Steve, no worries mate we all have "other " stuff to do to stay out of trouble hey?
It would seem from reading many threads on many forums(fora?) that the installation method is critical to good performance, particularly venting of waste heat from the condensor at the rear of the unit.
G'day everyone,
We are at home unfortunately and the temp has been climbing since last week around here.
So I thought I would keep an eye on the fridge temp in the van and see how it went. The temp inside the van reached 42 deg C and when I opened the fridge to check the inside temp it was 3 deg C. I closed the door and left and went back and checked again in an hour and the inside temp was 4 deg C.
This morning at 9am the temp was 31 deg C and the fridge temp was 1 deg.
I never changed the setting on the fridge from 3 lights out of 5.
I concede that the van was not in use and the fridge was not being opened but I think it was doing alright when you consider how many people post on here with complaints about 3 way fridges not getting cold.
frank
G'day KFT,
sounds like you have the same fridge as we do,,, a RM4601 being a 186L, although you commented on "lights" ,,, we have none.
Good to hear you found it efficient in the heat ,,, I was just learning how to make it more efficient in another post.
Cheers
We have just changed Rvs - had the 145 litre that most have and now have the RM4601 which is untested yet. Glad to hear I can expect good performance.
Steve 1945
I expect that the performance is directly related to the fridge being installed in accordance with dometic instructions in the first place. When we ordered the van I was quite specific with the dealer that the fridge MUST be installed correctly or I would be back to see him(nicely of course).
Nomad 246
does yours have a graduated dial so you can set the temp? Ours is what is referred to as an "AES" and has a few lights on the panel.
stay safe AND cool
frank
G'day KFT,
ours is not the AES model, so no indicator lights for us.
Well done for your informative post.
Cheers
Nomad246,
We had a "mushroom" vent fitted on roof above our RM4601.
Have not had a problem with inside temp, setting on 2.5 permanently.
42 degrees yesterday and didn't have to alter thermostat setting.
-- Edited by leevin on Saturday 8th of December 2012 10:28:25 PM
Why is that top side vent there for? Yours is the first installation I have seen like that. None of the Winebago installations with the roof vent have that top side one. My bet is that it would impede the draft that would normally be drawn by the top vent on its own rather than assist it. Have a look in your fridge handbook and see what the minimum height the top vent has to be above the fridge. If any of that side vent is lower then it certainly would be messing up the draft the warm cavity would be producing. Check with Dometic to verify my observations.
Winebago has been using those top vents for a few years now. The only time they don't seem to use them is when there is a window above the fridge. It's about time the van manufacturers started fitting them. They are much more effective than the side venting. When the flue cavity above the fridge heats up they draw like a mustard poultice.
-- Edited by PeterD on Saturday 8th of December 2012 11:45:07 PM
Thanks for that Leevin,
I believe I've seen those on other units, but never taken the time to understand what they were for.
Our van doesn't allow for the roof vent to be added like you have, and our top side vent is lower on the wall. Haven't had a problem yet with the fridge but it will happen when you least want it to.
Cheers and happy trails
PeterD,
Fitted in agreement/consultation with Dometic, caravan manufacturer and refrigeration engineers.
The "mushroom vent" speeds the flow of air, apparently much more efficiently than an extra fan!
External upper vent, no problem, the more the merrier.
No need for running 12/240v fans. The less moving parts, the better I say.
I have not moved the thermostat setting from 2.5 since leaving Brisneyland.
We are now in Streaky Bay, and it is warm.
I still have two trays of ice cubes in a full freezer.
I recommend the fitting of a mushroom vent above the fridge.
My personal thoughts.
Leevin,,, I agree, the least moving parts the better.
It's all about how you can get the best performance out of your fridge in it's environs.
As we couldn't fit a mushroom hood we fitted a fan for when the conditions were more than the fridge install could handle.
Continually we see it within 5C of kicking in ,,,, so it sits ready for that extreme situation.
Cheers
We extended our stay at Fraser RS because it was so quiet & peaceful.
The Nullabor is an easy drive. We enjoyed it.
The Barkley in Qld/NT has less trees, none in places, where the Mitchell grass grows horizon to horizen.
We stopped o/night at Eucla then Fraser RS.
Norseman 2 nights so we can visit Kalgoorlie & Coolgardie tomorrow (sans 'van).
Leevin, aren't you just having the best fun ,,,, well done ,,, enjoy the time
Cheers
Thanks Nomad.
Off to Esperance tomorrow for Christmas.
Have a great time Leevin, and keep safe
Cheers
My apologies for not responding to your reply, Frank. Didn't access the forum for a few days and then forgot that I was involved in this thread. Mine is the AES and has the "5 lights" for setting the temperature. Sounds like yours. Mine is in a Jayco Optimum Motorhome, the previous 145 litre was in a Jayco Sterling.
It would seem from reading many threads on many forums(fora?) that the installation method is critical to good performance, particularly venting of waste heat from the condensor at the rear of the unit.
see how you go and let us know what you find.
avagreatchrissy
frank