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Old 04-09-2005, 01:01 PM   #1
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Help please. I have a 2000 Alpine with the 14 cf New Dimensions refrigerator. I have always had a problem with ice build up on the cooling fins.

There is a probe coming in to the top of the refrigerator compartment and it is held against the cooling fins with a clip. I have always noticed that the ice level was below this probe. I moved the clip,and the probe lower and "voila!" no more ice. Found nothing in the manual! What have I done? Why did it get rid of the ice. Hope this might help if anyone has this problem.

Alpinerver, I shudder when I think of your problem, good luck getting it fixed up!
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Old 04-09-2005, 01:01 PM   #2
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Help please. I have a 2000 Alpine with the 14 cf New Dimensions refrigerator. I have always had a problem with ice build up on the cooling fins.

There is a probe coming in to the top of the refrigerator compartment and it is held against the cooling fins with a clip. I have always noticed that the ice level was below this probe. I moved the clip,and the probe lower and "voila!" no more ice. Found nothing in the manual! What have I done? Why did it get rid of the ice. Hope this might help if anyone has this problem.

Alpinerver, I shudder when I think of your problem, good luck getting it fixed up!
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Old 04-09-2005, 01:17 PM   #3
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The "probe" is a thermistor, a gizmo that changes resistance w/change in temp. Had one go bad in my fridge & had to replace it. One of the "adjustments" I learned about is to slide the thing up or down on the fins. The fins are thermally attached to the cooling aparatus in the back of the fridge (cooling unit). If the thermistor is higher or lower on the fins, you change the temp that it feeds back to the circuit board, & therefore the call for cooling. My guess is that you are now running slightly warmer in the fridge (freezer takes its cue off the thermistor too, sort of by "assumtion" as far as I can tell, by running the freezer at a differential from the fridge, so it too will likely be a bit warmer). You can figure out whether you have a good temp control by putting a thermometer in the fridge (you can get a good dial unit @ Home Depot for about $6) & checking it from time to time. I run mine at about 38F, which requires defrosting occasionally, but stuff doesn't spoil or freeze the lettuce. The thermometer gives you a genuine independent check.
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Old 04-09-2005, 03:17 PM   #4
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An RV refrigerator is not a "frost free" like the home units an does require defrosting. Normal operation of the unit it will have frost on the fins in the refrigerator section.

Truth is the home units have frost on their fins, they are just hidden behind a panel and a fan blows over them. A home unit that is frost-free will defrost periodically and the water will run to a drain pan under the frig. It is located in an air stream for the condenser (warm out side coil on a unit).

You can usually move the thermister over about 2 fins to the left and clip it in the center of the edge and the frig will do a better job of keeping things cold.

The biggest help in keeping a more even temp in the frig is to use one of the small battery powered fans...Frig-mate.

Engineer Ken, P.E. (36 years industrial refrigeration)
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Old 04-10-2005, 09:08 AM   #5
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Engineer Ken...

Where would one purchase a battery operated Frig-mate fan???

Thanks....Mike
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Old 04-10-2005, 09:38 AM   #6
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The little Frig-mate fans are available at any RV supply store. They are powered by two D cell batteries and will run for weeks. You can order them on line from camping world.

The are about 4" square and maybe 5" tall. We keep it on the next to the bottom shelf in the back corner. It does not move a lot of air, but just enough to keep the air moving and a more even temp in the frig.

Ken
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Old 04-29-2005, 07:31 AM   #7
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We mounted a small 12v PC fan above the fins and connected it into the frig light wiring with an on/off switch. Centered it over the fins where it blows over them. It helps with both the ice build up and the air circulation.
Also installed a remote temp gauge with the sensor in the frig.
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