Community Forums

MA4529 · 08-09-2008, 11:41 AM

This may be a dumb question, but what number to set the temp settings in order to get the coldest conditons 1 or 9 ?

MA4529 · 08-09-2008, 11:41 AM

This may be a dumb question, but what number to set the temp settings in order to get the coldest conditons 1 or 9 ?

RVDude · 08-09-2008, 02:20 PM

coldest=9

But a 5-6 should get the refer to 38ish and the freezer to 3ish. Provided you keep the doors shut and don't pack it with warm items.

Note that setting it colder does not cause the unit to get colder any quicker!

BigRigRVing · 08-09-2008, 05:28 PM

Question then... We have to keep our at 8 all the time to stay around 38, we have one of those lil fans inside and it helps. We are still at Newmar Factory (since 14 July) they checked it and said it was working fine. Do I need to have them test something else, while we are here? The 8 is what worries me. Do we have a problem ?

Spikester · 08-09-2008, 09:08 PM

MA4529, you didn't mention what model and brand of of refer you have installed, this will make a difference in your responses.

Our 10 Cuft Norcold will maintain a refer temp of 35, with freezer at 0, when the outside air is below 85 degrees on a setting of 3. If outside temp gets higher, must turn the control to higher setting proportionally. Highest I have ever had to turn it up to is 6 when the temp gets above 100 degrees with MH unprotected from sun.

Spike

RVDude · 08-10-2008, 06:23 AM

big - Make sure you take a temp reading after 12+hours of never opened and already cold stuff inside.

If you have an 8 setting at 38 and want it to say a 6 at 38 you might try sliding the thermistor on the fins in the back up/down about an inch on the fin. I don't recall the direction of cooling on those fins so someone will have to chime in on whether up or down will adjust your indicated setting the way you want.

John Hilley · 08-10-2008, 07:48 AM

You might also check that nothing is blocking the flue, such as wiring for a solar cell. A flue fan will also help considerably.

DAN L · 08-10-2008, 05:12 PM

i have a norcold 64xx (i think) upper and lower freezer and fridge. with it set on 6, i get 32 deg in the fridge but only 12 deg in the freezer. it is the same on 110 electric and propane. i would like the freezer to be closer to 0 deg and the fridge closer to 40 deg. i have purchased and plan to install a flue vent fan soon.
any other ideas like moving the thermister, but which way?

Gary RVRoamer · 08-10-2008, 05:20 PM

40 is the upper limit for safe food storage - 35-37 would be better. Freezer ought to be at/near zero, though. Under 10 for sure.

"007" · 08-10-2008, 06:16 PM

Can't believe how well my 4 door 1200 has been operating this summer parked in front of our new stick house while we are doing alot of fixing. On a warm day the two fans are cycling on and off and it has been working on electric element which decided to start working after I use on gas for about a month. Temps are 0 deg and fridge in mid 30's couldn't ask for better.

RV Wizard · 08-11-2008, 01:29 AM

Dan, you could add a battery powered fan to the inside of the fresh food section to make the temperatures more even and it may help to bring down the freezer temperature. Good luck and keep us posted.

ViperDriver · 08-15-2008, 07:31 AM

A great discussion, and very helpful to me. Our '03 KSDP has the Norcold 120X-IM fridge. I have a fridge fan sitting on the top shelf blowing on the fins. The thermistor is about 2" from the top of the second fin from the right. I keep the remote part of an indoor/outdoor thermometer in the fridge all the time, moving it occasionally between the top and bottom, so I have a pretty good idea of its performance.

I have to keep the temp set at 8-9 to keep things where they should be. If it's warm outside and the sun is on the passenger side, a 9 setting keeps the bottom in the high 30's or low 40's and the top in the vicinity of 10. This morning, sitting in the fog at Pacific Beach, WA, with an outside temp of 58, the 8 setting is keeping the bottom around 32-33 and the top at zero.

The bad part is that when we put more than a couple of new items (about room temp) in the bottom, the temp goes to 45 or higher, regardless of setting, and stays above 40 for several hours. I really think it should work better but a tech checked it out and didn't find a problem. Any ideas?

Also, can someone tell me what's under the cover on the motorhome roof? A fan? Nothing? Is that where I would install a flue fan? Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

GoneFishin · 08-15-2008, 09:03 AM

Our frig was way too cold (freezing) and I started a thread on the Monaco Forum Why is it too cold? and received a few good replies.

We moved the sensor on the fin DOWN to get the temperature a little warmer. It was all the way to the top of the fin.

RVDude · 08-15-2008, 09:26 AM

viper: By physics, an absorption type refer (like the LPG models we have) have extremely low heat "capacity" (I did not say "temperature"). That is, when something warm goes in (or even the door is opened) it takes a LONG time to cool back down. Yes, absorption can easily achieve temperatures of 0/35, they simply can NOT do it quickly. This is the price we pay for the efficiency of a refer that draws 5ampDC and a very tiny LPG flame heater.

As an example, the compressor model residential refers (like in sticks-n-bricks) will recover from an opened door (that is, cool the warm air that entered) in a few minutes - they have a high heat capacity. An absorption refer can easily take an hour to recover from EACH door opening. Let alone cool the warm stuff put in. Hence, the "appearance" and frequent complaint they are not working right when in fact they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do.