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09-30-2014, 05:09 PM
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#239
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 608
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do not fear the reefer if installed correctly they live nearly forever. I cannot think of a single RV manufacture that installs them correctly. I have seen OK installations and terrible ones but never one in tight and right. The trick is in getting the rear baffle and air flow correct You have to move the air thru the coils on the rear of the reefer so it needs a solid baffle to prevent air from going around them. Proper airflow increases efficiency and lowers the internal pressure which increases life of the unit. The 1200 series Norcold is a large unit and therefore is tough to get a good tight baffle on this means it runs much hotter in the boiler and rear coils which means more pressure, So they added fans in the rear which help but still had high pressure and poor heat transfer. This meant the boiler had to run hotter and harder than normal causing failures and yes a few fires. Instead of pointing out the RV manufactures were not getting the rear baffle correct everyone jumped on Norcold to fix the issue which lead to several recall efforts none of which made any manufacture fix the rear air flow and as the result the problem continues. SO rather than fix the air flow they have gone to adding temp sensors to shut the unit down under high heat loads.
If you have a good working absorption reefer and install it correctly it will still be keeping your food cold 50 years from now with reasonable maintenance.
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09-30-2014, 05:11 PM
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#240
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 471
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If you are going to use the dometic watch this vid.
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09-30-2014, 05:46 PM
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#241
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 471
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Is the Dometic large enough capacity to make Eleanor happy?
I would service it (there are youtube vids on how to do it) & then give it a good test before installing. I would also install a 12VDC exhaust fan with a manual on/off switch. Even a small fan out of a computer might help.
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10-01-2014, 04:18 AM
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#242
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 5,802
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rebuild
Thanks so much for the info, this is why I decided to post here, nobody can know everything about all these systems, when starting basically from scratch, there's a posibility I could make alot of mistakes, everyone out there is keeping me on the straight and narrow. It looks like I am going with my first decision on the Dometic refrig. I will service it, new gaskets ect. I didn't realize installation was so touchy, thanks 1mainiac, for that I will be careful. HH, Eleanor says its big enough, I don't know the size its about 5ft tall with two doors if that tells. Where do you install the fan? in the exhaust, or blowing on the coils? sounds like those solar panels would work, thanks for the link.
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Terry and Eleanor
79 32' AMF Skamper 5th Wheel Toy Hauler
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10-01-2014, 06:49 AM
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#243
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 471
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I would set it up to exhaust. It will suck the heat from the coils & out the exhaust as intended to operate. If the fan blows on the coils where is the heat going? You can purchase 12VDC squirrel cage fans & they aren't very expensive. Amazon for $10-15 & they are brushless so should last.
And remember you need to level the 5er real good every time you set up.
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10-01-2014, 10:02 AM
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#244
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 5,802
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rebuild
Gotcha HH, thanks the video on leveling, was inlightening, never thought to level using the reefer before! what you don't learn I have most of the trim on the front section, I need to install the vinyl strip.Very hard to see with everything white.
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Terry and Eleanor
79 32' AMF Skamper 5th Wheel Toy Hauler
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10-01-2014, 11:45 AM
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#245
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 471
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Takes an hour to level the refrigerator fine. If it takes eight hours so be it but it needs to be right. And that is where the problem is with most manufacturers I believe. I bet you will find a specified amount of time they are allotted to install & level.
BTW, you might think about an electric mini frig in the garage for drinks.
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10-01-2014, 12:10 PM
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#246
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 5,802
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rebuild
HH, that mini frig. sounds like a good idea, I have one that I used on my tool box set up in my shop. Yep it was incorporated in a 12ft tool storage, if I had the money that was in those boxes...........lets just say I could buy a new trailer and a real good hauler. The nice part about building this is that I'm not under any time constraints, sooo if it takes several hrs to get anything installed correctly so be it.
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Terry and Eleanor
79 32' AMF Skamper 5th Wheel Toy Hauler
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10-01-2014, 05:39 PM
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#247
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 471
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With some folding chairs the garage is a nice visit area. Eleanor would probably be happier if every time someone wanted a drink they didn't go into the living area to get it.
Option of mini frig would be to install an ice maker & I'm not familiar with them at all. The mini frig I have has a very mini freezer that holds two ice cube trays.
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10-01-2014, 06:09 PM
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#248
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 5,802
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rebuild
Eleanor enjoyed your suggestion HH, my mini also had a small freezer area. I have been thinking of making the ramp into a patio when its down, so that would be a plus. Speaking of ramps I will be picking up the steel (Friday) to manufacture the ramp door, I don't have the capability anymore to weld aluminum since I sold my shop, so it'll be a little bit heavier.
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Terry and Eleanor
79 32' AMF Skamper 5th Wheel Toy Hauler
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10-01-2014, 07:32 PM
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#249
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 471
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Angle iron steel is mighty strong. I've done some trailer ramps with all angle iron covered with expanded metal.
Glad the boss liked the mini frig idea & garage as a visit area. Now, about adding the half bath back there.
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10-01-2014, 08:42 PM
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#250
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 471
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10-01-2014, 08:56 PM
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#251
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Huntley,IL
Posts: 553
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Looking Great Terry!! Keep posting those pictures.....please! We are all enjoying the progress you are making!
I will be watching......
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2008 Fleetwood Discovery 40X "Hognest"
2013 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Limited
2004 American Ironhorse Texas Choppe
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10-02-2014, 03:54 AM
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#252
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 5,802
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rebuild
Now some ideas.........HuntingHawk, we have looked at a couple Toy Haulers that had a half bath in the garage area, but I don't think in this one, maybe the next one.......... Craig N Deb, last week has been a little slow, doing some things that don't really show, it will start getting going again with building the ramp, I also will be putting in a new door.
__________________
Terry and Eleanor
79 32' AMF Skamper 5th Wheel Toy Hauler
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