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wepinegar · 06-04-2013, 02:36 PM

We have a Dometic side-by-side in our Bounder and on our recent trip our refrigerator was operating at too high a temperature, but here ere the details:
1. Freezer maintaining everything fine - all food and ice frozen and making ICE
2. Setting on #5
3. Outside temp 75
4. Inside temp - 78
5. Refrigerator temp 50.
6. Frig 1/2 full and not packed at all - this was also 3-4 days into the trip and running on electric.

It is under warranty yet so I am taking it in - but what should I expect to hear?

**CLIFFTALL** · 06-04-2013, 02:41 PM

The Norcold in my Bounder has two fans mounted on the rear of the unit. They both went for some reason ( probably an electrical spike )and I experienced the same conditions as you posted.

wepinegar · 06-04-2013, 03:12 PM

I thought I heard a fan problem - I caled the dealer & they claimed it didn't have a fan. But we'll see.

bdickson · 06-04-2013, 04:59 PM

We have a Dometic double door fridge freezer in our 2013 Thor Challenger. With a setting of 4, the LCD reads 34 degrees fridge temp and ice cream in the freezer is rock hard. We have a double fan stack high up in the vent column. In warm weather we can hear the fans kick in - kind of a high pitched slightly annoying hum/whine. Do you have 2 fridge access panels on the outside? The fans on our coach are behind the upper panel.

wepinegar · 06-04-2013, 05:18 PM

Yes there is an upper panel which I opened and inspected - but I didn't see any fans. Probably should have said the fridge is in the slide.

bdickson · 06-04-2013, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wepinegar

Yes there is an upper panel which I opened and inspected - but I didn't see any fans. Probably should have said the fridge is in the slide.

The fans could be up closer to the roof. You might need to remove the roof vent and look down the opening. Our fridge is also in the slide.

jlfbatonrg · 06-04-2013, 06:32 PM

I believe if your refrigerator is on a slide, it will have fans to move the hot air out of the compartment. If they are not running, you will experience similar problems that you describe. When you remove the upper vent cover, You should be able to see a temperature sensor on the right hand side of the cooling unit. If you clip a jumper across the sensor and the refrigerator is turned on, the fans should come on.

**CLIFFTALL** · 06-05-2013, 04:25 AM

His refer is in the slide. FW installed a piece of sheet metal in my compartment to assist the air flow as per Norcold ( I think ). The fans are behind that and cannot be serviced without pulling the unit into the MH.
This is what it looks like.

Click image for larger version

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jlfbatonrg · 06-05-2013, 08:33 AM

Clifftail,

That sheet metal mod is interesting. Looks like it also blocks the temperature sensor for the fans. On servicing the fans, we were able to replace the fans on a friend's 04 Discovery 39L by sliding the refrigerator into the coach about 10 inches, then reaching up to the old fans, removing the attaching screws and pulling the fans down to replace them. It was a bit tight but doable. We only had to remove the LP line which made the job a bit easier..

wepinegar · 06-05-2013, 10:54 AM

Yes Cliff, that looks like what I saw when i opened that vent - it actually didn't look like it would facilitate air flow to me.

wepinegar · 06-05-2013, 05:38 PM

So what temperature should the refrigerator be able to maintain in normal summer weather?

bdickson · 06-05-2013, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wepinegar

So what temperature should the refrigerator be able to maintain in normal summer weather?

Ambient temp here in Oregon is 68 today and the fridge is showing 34 degrees on setting 4.

jlfbatonrg · 06-05-2013, 06:49 PM

Before our norcold cooling unit failed, we ran the unit on a temperature setting of 7. Refrigerator temps were ~38 degrees, freezer temps were ~14 degrees. Ice cream was not rock hard. Those temps were collected here ib Louisiana in the summer time, air temps in the mid 90s. We replaced the cooling unit with an Amish cooling unit. With the Amish cooling unit we run the temp setting at 3, refrigerator temp ~33 degrees, freezer temp 0 degrees. Ice cream is rock hard. Note, the only change is the cooling unit. All the rest of the refrigerator is the original Norcold components. Hope this helps.

wepinegar · 06-05-2013, 07:12 PM

Those temps are what I would have thought - mine ran 50 degrees 3 straight days with the temps no higher than mid 70's. It is at the dealer now - of course the temp has gone down to 34 with the frig empty and highs in the 50's. But at least you've confirmed something is wrong!