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Topic: Fridge not cooling sufficiently

Tim and Cary

04/9/2010 at 5:48pm
Location: Criccieth Gwynedd
Outfit: Buccaneer Commodore

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Hi

Whilst we were away in Croatia this summer we were fortunate to have temperatures of c32C+. However the caravan fridge, a Dometic RM7401L struggled to keep within the temperature range safe refrigeration of food - we were running it on mains electricity but the voltage may have been slightly lower than that in the UK. The awning was up on the fridge side of the 'van so the vents were shaded from direct sunlight.

I did try pointing a desk fan, which we had with us, at the outside fridge vents and that did seem to help the fridge work more effectively. I did the latter because I vaguely remember someone saying that they had fitted computer fans inside their fridge housing - or am I imagining that!!!??

Is there anything that I can do to improve the fridge's performance in hotter climes? It is fine in the UK where it is not so warm. Would getting the fridge serviced be likely to help? The fridge has never had a full service in the 3 years we have owned the 'van. Is fitting small fans inside the fridge cavity likely to help? I, also, vaguely remember reading somewhere that taking out the fridge and inverting it to re-mix the refrigerant might help - I would obviously need someone gas-qualified to do that.

Interesting our, 10 year old, Coleman 3-way chest fridge coped fine in the same temperatures - even producing ice cubes on the refrigeration "bar". I know that uses a different type of refrigeration process.

I remember that we had similar problems in Summer 09 at Lake Annecy and I meant to look into the problem further but then forgot!!??

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Tim

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Tim and Cary

Rune Caster

04/9/2010 at 7:13pm
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I've seen posts where people have fitted computer fans or the Dometic fans - general consensus is though "it's a waste of time and money"

Re: the awning - it might offer shade but it will tend to contain a lot of hot air, we found ours to be hotter than the caravan this year and that was only in the New Forest - fortunately our fridge is on the other side

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Tim and Cary

04/9/2010 at 7:35pm
Location: Criccieth Gwynedd
Outfit: Buccaneer Commodore

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Thanks for those thoughts RC

Although the awning was up we had the sides and front out so it was really just a sun shade and cooler than the caravan itself.

I think the desktop fan which I set up to play air on the outside fridge vents did help the fridge cooling but I did not make a scientific comparison.

Regards
Tim

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Tim and Cary

Viggo

04/9/2010 at 8:09pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Nissan X-Trail & Bailey Ranger

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Caravan fridges rely on the circulation of air through the vents, so the fan will have helped. However, the fridge will only be able to cool by a certain number of degrees below the ambient temperature, so even the fan will only help so far. Caravan fridges are not as efficient as domestic appliances.

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* You never know where you're going 'til you get there...

Le Grand Fraigneau

05/9/2010 at 12:21am
Location: Menomblet Vendée France
Outfit: campsite

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Hi Tim,

you can purchase from most good caravan shops a kit for the assistance in cooling the back of the fridge.
It comes with a fan like the ones in computers with mounting block, and a little thermo switch which you mount to the cooling fins at the top to turn the fan on when it becomes to hot.
Because the fridge needs a certain amount of heat to work, so blowing cold air in the back of the fridge all the time can have the same effect as being too hot.

john2010

05/9/2010 at 10:27am
Location: wolverhampton west midlands
Outfit: conway contiki

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always make sure your caravan is level. a lot of caravan fridges dont like it if they are not level!

Tim and Cary

06/9/2010 at 6:35pm
Location: Criccieth Gwynedd
Outfit: Buccaneer Commodore

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Thanks for all those suggestions.

We do always level the 'van as we use the onboard shower and like a level bed too!

I'll probably fit or get fitted one of Vento Twin fan kits I've now discovered on the internet.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Tim

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Tim and Cary

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