Hi, has anyone had a dometic fridge 2011 model 186 litre rm4601 . freezer on either gas or 240 setting on 7 will go down to minus 23 at night but soon as the sun hits side of van will rise up to zero or even warmer . fridge over night minus 9 but will get up to 17. freezer on minus 15 fridge plus 12.Thats now , from Jan to March (in Hervey Bay) hardly worked at all.Some days freezer mius 17 ,fridge plus 15. Setting on 3 freezer only cools to minus 4 fridge plus 5 sometimes. Have had it at a dometic - caravan repairer for 3 weeks , could not find anything wrong with it had it parked between other vans no sun on side of van. Drove home ,fridge side of van facing west, in morning cold and cool by 2.00 freezer minus 3 fridge plus 12, soon as sun goes down temp drops. Van is now at another repairer with all the photos I took of temp gauges which( we bought as all the dometic fridge repairers were saying the freezer if cold fridge must work), been there a few days, not holding my breath. It has excellent ventilation. I have heard everything from freezer to fridge fins broken ? faulty thermostat , faulty cooling unit, all of the above , rust flakes in cooling unit, van not level, to much hot food.Back to my first question has anyone had this problem and if so what was the problem ? We are on the Sunshine Coast so temps not that hot or cold .
You have insufficient ventilation at the back of your fridge and/or insufficient insulation on top and beside your fridge..
KFT said
08:42 PM Apr 25, 2014
agree with Bob
there is a problem with how the fridge was installed in the first place.
I have noticed with my fridge which has been correctly installed that as the ambient temp goes up a lower setting on the fridge works better.
basically from my observations when there is more heat in the atmosphere you should not be putting as much heat into the fridge boiler by way of a higher setting.
my fridge at the moment is on setting 2 of 5 (RM4605?) and is maintaining 2.5 deg in fridge-ambient is around 22-28 deg. if I push it up to 5 of 5 it will get hotter inside the fridge.
try a lower setting during the day and see how it goes.
frank
Phil C said
09:34 AM Apr 26, 2014
We have overcome this with a shade cloth along the side of the van. I bit the bullet and purchased a 4 meter length of sailtrack, a large 90% shade cloth, had a friend sew it up and have never had a fridge issue (it gets hot here in summer too). It also provides some privacy to the dinette and bedroom windows. I suggest you may have a problem with the fridge install (I agree with the other comments)
We have a dometic set on 2 out of 5 and everything is cool.
Good luck.
Stl said
05:58 PM Apr 26, 2014
Hi, thanks for all your input, had taken roof and side vent covers off and installation seems to be good as plenty of air flow, At hervey bay we were on the beach at Torquay for nearly 3 months with 15- 20 knt winds most days and temps in mid to high 30s with shade in the afternoon. Freezer would work 1 day out of 3 .Then nothing for a couple of days, lived out of a waeco and fridge mate as working up there so couldn't drop van in any where and no mobile fridge mech would come on site so left it till came back to Sunshine coast , freezer -17 fridge plus 15 and all temps in between above and below. Tried switching off ,defrost tried on settings from 3 up to 7, gas, 240 didn't make any difference. Some mornings Freezer minus 5 fridge plus 3 then nothing again.
I agree a shade cover would help but we were in shade in the arvos with plenty of wind and fault not the same day to day or week to week. besides having me stumped like I said had at caravan - dometic agent and worked fine. It is now at another fridge mech ?? because after towing home plugged into 240 fridge went up to 14 and freezer up to minus 7 by 6.00 oclock that night
Dometic Australia gold coast said same as you air flow other wise cooling unit
Dometic Austalia I forget where now said no it will be your thermostat.
PHOTOS
The minus 23 freezer and minus 9 fridge were at the caravan repair place before I left
the minus 7 freezer and plus 14 fridge were after about 8 hours at home on 240
the minus 14 fridge and plus 11 fridge were the following day
Just hoping that some one had a fridge that had the same problems (no not really wouldn't wish this on any one) and had the solution.
If this new place can't fix it or find a fault I'm thinking wallet..:(
KFT said
07:13 PM Apr 26, 2014
Stl, can I ask if you at all these times had the fridge level-front to back and side to side?
for these fridges to work correctly they must be very close to level
frank
Stl said
09:32 PM Apr 26, 2014
Hi Frank
Yes dead level. I use a small builders level as I find the bubble level is only close to level where the builders level is spot on, but you have me thinking now maybe the fridge is not level in van ?
-- Edited by Stl on Saturday 26th of April 2014 09:42:28 PM
KFT said
09:38 PM Apr 26, 2014
Have a look at these installation instructions and see if yours has been installed that way.
correct ventilation is critical and the spacing from the rear of the fridge to the outside wall is very critical
frank
-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 26th of April 2014 09:38:56 PM
-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 26th of April 2014 10:24:55 PM
Stl said
09:45 PM Apr 26, 2014
yes dead level I use a small builders level as i find the bubble level is only close to level where the builders level is spot on
Stl said
10:10 PM Apr 26, 2014
Hi Guru, I couldn't get on that site, but visual inspection from the side of van and down from the roof vent with covers off plenty of spacing between wall of van and warm air comes out the top when it worked a lot more than what came out of my Windsor with a top vent in the side wall. I don't think its ventilation but I don't know for sure ? This is my 6th van that I've owned The first 40 years ago was a Rovan , 2 x Millards, a viscount, windsor now this concept 2011 model that I only bought last year. I agree fridges work best when level in the shade and with a breeze or well ventilated. In the windsor I even put in a computer fan to help as I was working in Rockhamton when it was in the low 40s and some days no breeze but at Hervey Bay on the beach with a strong wind blowing a lot harder than a small fan ??? And now at Coolum Beach only high 20s
Skys The Limit
KFT said
10:31 PM Apr 26, 2014
try opening this pdf
it shows the correct installation which is critical to performance
check on the label inside the fridge to see if it is Climate class "T" which you need for effective operation over about 32 deg.
Two small computer fans have been fitted to our motorhome 3 way fridge..
Yes it seems to have more consistent temps set between 2 and 5..
Stl said
06:25 AM Apr 27, 2014
Yes it is a T and the installation guide for fridges is what I have been going off. It is top roof vented . When it works it works really well then sometimes freezer minus 17 to minus 23 but fridge anywhere from minus 9 to plus 17 ? with the freezer still minus 17 ? then freezer would heat up to plus 3 and fridge plus 20.. THe back seems to be as required but unless I pull the fridge out have no way off checking sides and top insullation. As far as I can tell all the measurements and gaps are OK. The more I find out the more I'm thinking it could be Cooling unit, rust flakes that lodge and then move and re-jam ?, the thermostat and installation = new fridge
Skys The LImit
oldbobsbus said
06:36 AM Apr 27, 2014
From the sounds of what you are saying and the fact that you are no newcomer to absorption fridges I am starting to think you fridge is faulty..
Many times we used to get fridges in that worked great on the workshop floor under ideal conditions only to get them back after they failed in the field ..
The problem usually turned out to be a floating blockage in the system..
If it was me I would be getting it out and having the system cleaned out and regassed...
OR
Looking at fitting a compressor fridge instead..
If you want to give me a call I am happy to talk to you about it.
my number is on the website below..
-- Edited by oldbobsbus on Sunday 27th of April 2014 06:37:17 AM
WAssa41 said
09:45 AM Apr 27, 2014
If the fridge works at night or on a cool windy day the problem may be air flow over the cooling fins. The gap between the wall of the van and the cooling fins of the fridge should only be about 5mm. If the gap is to large the air will take the path of least resistance which is between the wall and the fins. If you close the gap the air has no choice but to pass over the fins which lowers the gas temp and cools the fridge. Reduce the thermostat to 2 or 3. Did this mod on my van and a mates and we have never had a problem since even up north in the summer. ( You may need the help of a fan or shade over the vents if parked with the vents facing the sun).
Wassa
KFT said
11:13 AM Apr 27, 2014
WAssa41 wrote:
If the fridge works at night or on a cool windy day the problem may be air flow over the cooling fins. The gap between the wall of the van and the cooling fins of the fridge should only be about 5mm. If the gap is to large the air will take the path of least resistance which is between the wall and the fins. If you close the gap the air has no choice but to pass over the fins which lowers the gas temp and cools the fridge. Reduce the thermostat to 2 or 3. Did this mod on my van and a mates and we have never had a problem since even up north in the summer. ( You may need the help of a fan or shade over the vents if parked with the vents facing the sun).
Wassa
I am thinking along the same lines as Wassa. If the fridge is working very well when the ambient temp drops at night then there is nothing wrong with the cooling unit. The problem is most likely to do with air flow and heat dissipation during the day when ambient temp is higher.
I would be looking closely at air pathways from bottom to top.
My roof top vent was installed with a 50mm hole through the roof and when I opened this up to 100mm(same size as vent pipe) the fridge worked so much better during the day.
frank
TAJ said
03:18 PM Apr 27, 2014
some caravans have had their fridge installed next to hot
water systems could be the problem
suenray
Stl said
04:02 PM Apr 27, 2014
Hi , thanks again for all the input,firstly no where near hot water system, the vent in roof about 400ml by 200ml ml. the gap past the fins is about 5-7 ml. The problem is it works now at night as temps in low 20s By mid afternoon temps rise . While in Hervey Bay though freezer - fridge would only work 1 day out of the best 3 or sometimes not for a week freezer at about 3 degrees fridge plus 17- 20 that was overnight or any time. Then for no reason for 24 hrs work perfect.??
A floating blockage I'm leaning towards and while I have it out new thermostat, thermostatic computer controlled fan and I'll check prices as somebody else has mentioned it's nearly the same price to check, clean and re-gas cooling unit as install a new unit.. next weeks problem now as back to work again :(
Thanks again for all the input and safe travels
CHEERS STL
KFT said
04:28 PM Apr 27, 2014
Stl
please let us know what out find out and if and how you solved your problem.
I think an exhaust fan in your top vent will certainly help
Yes, as soon as I find out what was needed will post it . Thank you all for your input, :) got my grey matter turning over !
Stl said
05:48 PM May 12, 2014
Hi for anyone whos interested..and thanks again for all your input. It had me beat, and a caravan repairer for three weeks but finally Caboolture caravan repairs finally diagnosed the problem
Faulty cooling system AND thermostat..
Cheers stl :)
oldbobsbus said
06:16 PM May 12, 2014
Thanks for letting us know what the problem was and that it is now fixed..
Hope it gives you many more years of good service..
KFT said
07:23 PM May 12, 2014
Thanks stl
good to know you have it fixed and working
many thanks for getting back in here and letting us know
Hi, has anyone had a dometic fridge 2011 model 186 litre rm4601 . freezer on either gas or 240 setting on 7 will go down to minus 23 at night but soon as the sun hits side of van will rise up to zero or even warmer . fridge over night minus 9 but will get up to 17. f
ree
zer on minus 15 fridge plus 12.Thats now , from Jan to March (in Hervey Bay) hardly worked at all.Some days freezer mius 17 ,fridge plus 15. Setting on 3 freezer only cools to minus 4 fridge plus 5 sometimes. Have had it at a dometic - caravan repairer for 3 weeks , could not find anything wrong with it 
had it parked between other vans no sun on side of van. Drove home ,fridge side of van facing west, in morning cold and cool by 2.00 freezer minus 3 fridge plus 12, soon as sun goes down temp drops. Van is now at another repairer with all the photos I took of temp gauges which( we bought as all the dometic fridge repairers were saying the freezer if cold fridge must work), been there a few days, not holding my breath. It has excellent ventilation. I have heard everything from freezer to fridge fins broken ? faulty thermostat , faulty cooling unit, all of the above , rust flakes in cooling unit, van not level, to much hot food.Back to my first question has anyone had this problem and if so what was the problem ? We are on the Sunshine Coast so temps not that hot or cold .
Cheers stl
You have insufficient ventilation at the back of your fridge and/or insufficient insulation on top and beside your fridge..
there is a problem with how the fridge was installed in the first place.
I have noticed with my fridge which has been correctly installed that as the ambient temp goes up a lower setting on the fridge works better.
basically from my observations when there is more heat in the atmosphere you should not be putting as much heat into the fridge boiler by way of a higher setting.
my fridge at the moment is on setting 2 of 5 (RM4605?) and is maintaining 2.5 deg in fridge-ambient is around 22-28 deg. if I push it up to 5 of 5 it will get hotter inside the fridge.
try a lower setting during the day and see how it goes.
frank
We have a dometic set on 2 out of 5 and everything is cool.
Good luck.
I agree a shade cover would help but we were in shade in the arvos with plenty of wind and fault not the same day to day or week to week. besides having me stumped like I said had at caravan - dometic agent and worked fine. It is now at another fridge mech ?? because after towing home plugged into 240 fridge went up to 14 and freezer up to minus 7 by 6.00 oclock that night
Dometic Australia gold coast said same as you air flow other wise cooling unit
Dometic Austalia I forget where now said no it will be your thermostat.
PHOTOS
The minus 23 freezer and minus 9 fridge were at the caravan repair place before I left
the minus 7 freezer and plus 14 fridge were after about 8 hours at home on 240
the minus 14 fridge and plus 11 fridge were the following day
Just hoping that some one had a fridge that had the same problems (no not really wouldn't wish this on any one) and had the solution.
If this new place can't fix it or find a fault I'm thinking wallet..:(
for these fridges to work correctly they must be very close to level
frank
Hi Frank
Yes dead level. I use a small builders level as I find the bubble level is only close to level where the builders level is spot on, but you have me thinking now maybe the fridge is not level in van ?
-- Edited by Stl on Saturday 26th of April 2014 09:42:28 PM
Have a look at these installation instructions and see if yours has been installed that way.
correct ventilation is critical and the spacing from the rear of the fridge to the outside wall is very critical
frank
-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 26th of April 2014 09:38:56 PM
-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 26th of April 2014 10:24:55 PM
Skys The Limit
try opening this pdf
it shows the correct installation which is critical to performance
check on the label inside the fridge to see if it is Climate class "T" which you need for effective operation over about 32 deg.
frank
Yes it seems to have more consistent temps set between 2 and 5..
Skys The LImit
From the sounds of what you are saying and the fact that you are no newcomer to absorption fridges I am starting to think you fridge is faulty..
Many times we used to get fridges in that worked great on the workshop floor under ideal conditions only to get them back after they failed in the field ..
The problem usually turned out to be a floating blockage in the system..
If it was me I would be getting it out and having the system cleaned out and regassed...
OR
Looking at fitting a compressor fridge instead..
If you want to give me a call I am happy to talk to you about it.
my number is on the website below..
-- Edited by oldbobsbus on Sunday 27th of April 2014 06:37:17 AM
If the fridge works at night or on a cool windy day the problem may be air flow over the cooling fins. The gap between the wall of the van and the cooling fins of the fridge should only be about 5mm. If the gap is to large the air will take the path of least resistance which is between the wall and the fins. If you close the gap the air has no choice but to pass over the fins which lowers the gas temp and cools the fridge. Reduce the thermostat to 2 or 3. Did this mod on my van and a mates and we have never had a problem since even up north in the summer. ( You may need the help of a fan or shade over the vents if parked with the vents facing the sun).
Wassa
I am thinking along the same lines as Wassa. If the fridge is working very well when the ambient temp drops at night then there is nothing wrong with the cooling unit. The problem is most likely to do with air flow and heat dissipation during the day when ambient temp is higher.
I would be looking closely at air pathways from bottom to top.
My roof top vent was installed with a 50mm hole through the roof and when I opened this up to 100mm(same size as vent pipe) the fridge worked so much better during the day.
frank
some caravans have had their fridge installed next to hot
water systems could be the problem
suenray
A floating blockage I'm leaning towards and while I have it out new thermostat, thermostatic computer controlled fan and I'll check prices as somebody else has mentioned it's nearly the same price to check, clean and re-gas cooling unit as install a new unit.. next weeks problem now as back to work again :(
Thanks again for all the input and safe travels
CHEERS STL
please let us know what out find out and if and how you solved your problem.
I think an exhaust fan in your top vent will certainly help
good luck
frank
Yes, as soon as I find out what was needed will post it . Thank you all for your input, :) got my grey matter turning over !
Faulty cooling system AND thermostat..
Cheers stl :)
Thanks for letting us know what the problem was and that it is now fixed..
Hope it gives you many more years of good service..
Thanks stl
good to know you have it fixed and working
many thanks for getting back in here and letting us know
frank