Refridgerator When Traveling.

[Max1]

Our Refer I am going to say at least about 95% of the time warms up when traveling highway speeds say 55mph and we get no code lights on the Norcold display indicating a gas problem.
The refer is mounted sideways right in front of the entry door on the curb side in about the middle of our 2007 30'RSO.
We monitor it with a wireless remote thermometer and almost inevitaibly once we start traveling the temp goes up stop and the temp goes back down. We have had it checked out and the refer evidently is fine and it is as long as were parked. What should we do???
Most Side mounted refers Ive seen are on the back of coach ours is on the side and the RSO is a fairly new model any thoughts???
We tried enclosing top vent just leaving the back side open and did have promising results last fall when it was around 28 degrees outside and it worked real good though now again this summer we are seeing temp climb when under way and drop and work great when parked.
PI puts a deflector in front of roof vent when building coach and someone said I should try taking it off? Any suggestions??? This is trully maddening please help

[Max1]

Our Refer I am going to say at least about 95% of the time warms up when traveling highway speeds say 55mph and we get no code lights on the Norcold display indicating a gas problem.
The refer is mounted sideways right in front of the entry door on the curb side in about the middle of our 2007 30'RSO.
We monitor it with a wireless remote thermometer and almost inevitaibly once we start traveling the temp goes up stop and the temp goes back down. We have had it checked out and the refer evidently is fine and it is as long as were parked. What should we do???
Most Side mounted refers Ive seen are on the back of coach ours is on the side and the RSO is a fairly new model any thoughts???
We tried enclosing top vent just leaving the back side open and did have promising results last fall when it was around 28 degrees outside and it worked real good though now again this summer we are seeing temp climb when under way and drop and work great when parked.
PI puts a deflector in front of roof vent when building coach and someone said I should try taking it off? Any suggestions??? This is trully maddening please help

[Dave O]

Hi Max1

A couple of questions. You do have it set to Auto and it does go to LP when the AC is removed?

Have you tried running the LP when parked as a test to make sure your gas operation is up to speed? It may just need some cleaning.

I have no idea why a deflector in front of the vent cover. I have never seen anything linke that. Others comments?

Dave O

[Max1]

Dave,
Yes we have it on auto and it works great on propane when parked just not when traveling.
The deflector is on because the roof vent sits cross ways on the roof and the roof vents are not desighned to be mounted that way though because the refer is mounted sideways the vent must be that way also so it goes across the roof.

[RustyJC]

Where does your refrigerator draw its cooling supply air from? The deflector in front of the vent should create a low pressure area at the vent that would help the stack effect - unless the supply is at a lower pressure than the outlet.

Rusty

[Highgturn]

Max1,

Does your refrigerator have a cooling fan behind it? If so, I am wondering if it is getting battery power when you are off of shore power. Our quad door unit has two fans and I have added a third for those 100 degree days. Just a thought you might explore.

[RustyJC]

The latter 2 posts both address the same potential problem. It sounds like the fridge may be losing its draft through the cooling section when traveling down the road.

Rusty

[Dutch_man39]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Max1:
Dave,
Yes we have it on auto and it works great on propane when parked just not when traveling.
The deflector is on because the roof vent sits cross ways on the roof and the roof vents are not desighned to be mounted that way though because the refer is mounted sideways the vent must be that way also so it goes across the roof. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm confused by your statement that the refrigerator is mounted sideways. Do you mean it's a side-by-side style or what?

Bill

[Max1]

Rusty, As far as I know it draws from the louverd vent on the side of coach wich actually faces the side of refer as refer is sideways.
What is stack effect and what do you mean by lower pressure than outlet? Can it be tested? Also what do you mean by losing its draft through the cooling section.
Highturn,
It has one fan in back though I am not sure if its running on 12volt I will check. I have also thought of adding a fan as a tech to thought it maybe ventilation but its strange as it does fine parked even on 100 degree days.
Bill,
Instead of the refer facing either side of coach when inside it the doors face the back of coach wich also means my outside side vent faces the side of refer instead of the more common back side of refer. Also the top roof vent then goes across roof instead of parallel to roof thus the deflector.
Here is a link to floor planClick 30'RSO on it.

[TXiceman]

When you pass air over an opening, you can get a negative pressure in the area. It is called a pilot (pronounced pea-loot) tube effect. You do have a fan there to move the air, but the pilot tube effect could be canceling the fan forced draft. Depending on the amount of vacuum or negative pressure being exerted, MAY be able tocput in a large and more powerful fan to over come the pressure loss and force a draft to keep the condenser cool.

If you want to see the pilot tube effect, take a clear straw and place it in a glass of water. Blow across the top of the straw and you should see the water column in the straw rise due to the negative pressure created by the air velocity over the straw..

Ken

[Max1]

TXiceman,
Is there a way to test this on coach? though the problem is just in travel.
Also I had felt the cooling coils behind fridge when we got home from trip when fridge was not cooling and they were quite warm to hot that was on propane and now this evening parked on AC they dont feel warm at all,does that sound normal?
Do you have any ideas on a bigger fan where to get one?
Thanks

[Max1]

TXiceman,
Would this pressure most likely be from air passing over the louverd side wall vent or the roof? As previously stated right now I have the roof vent enlosed in a sheet metal box bassically with only the back side open for the air to escape so would that eliminate the pressure isue from up top? Factory had just a 6" high deflector across the front of it and I built the box to try eliminate the origin of problem from the top vent?

[Max1]

HighTurn,
Do your fans come on automatically? Are they 12volt and AC? I was told there is a fan but there is no switch and I cant see the fan with out removing roof vent or hear it running at present.
Do your cooling coils the black ones behind the fridge get hot when on propane as mine where when I felt them after we got home yesterday and now tonite on AC i felt them and they are cool?

[RV Wizard]

I would try adding a scoop to help push air into the side vent to dissipate the heat in the condenser. Enough negative pressure will cause it to overheat the condenser so forcing more air in might do the trick. Good luck and keep us posted.