Summer Temps, Refrigerator and RV Park Voltages

[FreeByrd]

Been in Omaha, NE for the last 2 weeks and have had some smokin' high temperatures. Was having trouble this past weekend with the Norcold 1200 & our Amish Cooling Unit cooling the fridge down below 41*.

Freed both freezers of all Ice; changed the thermistor and then, low & behold, I looked at the Progressive Industries A/C monitor and saw that the very full campground (with everyone's air conditioners running) had pulled our 30 Amp. voltage down to around 108 volts. (just wasn't getting enough heat from the two heater rods running at that low a voltage and every time I turned on the extra fans, the fridge temp would go up?!)
I switched over to LP, turned on the 4 fans and the fridge temp dropped like a stone over the next 12 hrs.

It was 109* here Sunday with the heat index and the fridge was running at 35*; freezers were down to 6* and was now making Ice. It's still on LP!

Hope this helps someone out there from going for "the walk through the woods" that I took.
Mike

[wa8yxm]

The fridge, on AC is basically a big resistor.. Yes, it can happen that if the voltage drops the unit won't generate enough heat, If that happens.. Your solution may be the only solution.

[Ray,IN]

Thanks for the reminder Mike! I think I once knew that, but had forgotten.

["007"]

Will happen all the time in summer months, with AC's on, in older campgrounds here in east.
Tests your Surge Protectors also, for low voltage.

[TXiceman]

Yes, when you are in a low voltage area, which we will see a lot of with full parks and high temps, get EVERYONE to put the frig on propane, the water heater on propane and maybe even unplug your 12 volt converter and inverter. This is usually good for an increase or 2 to 4 volts in the RV which may get you over the hump.

The frig and water heater will not use that much propane over a few days.

Ken

[SUMDALUS]

Here's a blog posting that may shed some light on what's happening to the voltage when the outside temps are very high.