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03-08-2020, 12:44 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 89
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Residential fridge - cold weather
We took the RV out this weekend and had some 30 degree night time temps. Temps inside the RV were maintained at about 65 degrees with space heaters. We have a Samsung residential fridge installed. In the morning the ice was melting in the freezer and fridge compartment was about 57 degrees. When ambient temps got to about 50, everything returned to normal. I think this is normal performance for a refrigerator compressor?? If so, what do RVers with residential refrigerators do to keep the compressor warm enough to work properly? (I guess I could have used the propane furnaces and cranked up indoor temps to 72+ degrees?)
Thanks for any insights
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2005 Monaco Diplomat 40 DST
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03-08-2020, 01:05 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Alberta
Posts: 1,976
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Good question.
Design operating temp for a residential refrigerator is 72f. It should work ok at 65f. However if the condenser is exposed to outside air (30f)then the refrigerant will tend to stay in the condenser and starve the evaporator. Thus the rise in temperature in the freezer.
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03-08-2020, 01:05 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,078
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The inside temperature has had little effect given the range you stated on my Whirlpool residential fridge
Something else is going on
My fridge will easily maintain frozen food and ice well over 8 hours without power
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03-08-2020, 01:30 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,848
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2002 vintage RV............so OEM fridge was replaced with residential one?
Does RV still have 'outside' vents which allow residential fridge to be exposed to outside temps?
Otherwise that residential fridge should continue working OK
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I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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03-08-2020, 01:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 3,165
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The fridge should act just like the your in your house  You have other issues. Power off during the night? door left open?
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323 BHS. Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale MA. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor homes.
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03-08-2020, 01:37 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit
2002 vintage RV............so OEM fridge was replaced with residential one?
Does RV still have 'outside' vents which allow residential fridge to be exposed to outside temps?
Otherwise that residential fridge should continue working OK
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Yes and yes...
__________________
2005 Monaco Diplomat 40 DST
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03-08-2020, 01:38 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie
The fridge should act just like the your in your house You have other issues. Power off during the night? door left open? |
Nope and nope. Inside lights on, doors closed. Side vent is still there and open to the cold air
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2005 Monaco Diplomat 40 DST
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03-08-2020, 01:41 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xmcdog
Good question.
Design operating temp for a residential refrigerator is 72f. It should work ok at 65f. However if the condenser is exposed to outside air (30f)then the refrigerant will tend to stay in the condenser and starve the evaporator. Thus the rise in temperature in the freezer.
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That was my interpretation. BUT I don't know how to "heat" the evaporator. The furnace vent is below the fridge so I guess if I burn propane the fridge "cabinet" may get substantially warmer than that generated by the space heaters.
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2005 Monaco Diplomat 40 DST
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03-08-2020, 01:43 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 19,417
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When I installed a residential in a 2002 vintage. Vents on bottom and top were sealed up. Never had any issues operating in extremely hot or freezing temps. I monitor temps behind refrigerator to confirm they stayed within Mfg. Specs.
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Steve
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire 4095
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03-08-2020, 02:20 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spk64
When I installed a residential in a 2002 vintage. Vents on bottom and top were sealed up. Never had any issues operating in extremely hot or freezing temps. I monitor temps behind refrigerator to confirm they stayed within Mfg. Specs.
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What temp ranges do you see in behind your "sealed"unit? What did you seal with?
Mr. Google tells me that if it's too cold for the compressor, the fluid gets too thick to circulate correctly. The compressor gets signals to keep compressing but it can't, and heat is generated. The heat is pumped into the fridge cabinet, the temperature rises inside (I got 57oF) and it continues to try to compress. In my case that happened at night, and when we got a bit of sun and rising temps on the fridge side of the unit, the fridge began to cool normally. Took me three days to convince myself my issues were environmental not mechanical.
Thanks to all for input.
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2005 Monaco Diplomat 40 DST
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03-08-2020, 02:23 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NorCal
Posts: 3,000
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Commercial outdoor refrigeration units in low ambient conditions install compressor heater and insulate their receivers. Compressor heater can locate under compressor body, they run 24/7, although a temp stat would also work to control heater.
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Outbound
2002 Monaco Executive 500 ISM
2004 GMC 2500HD 4X4
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03-08-2020, 02:42 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 19,417
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Residential fridge - cold weather
I used batt insulation to seal the top and bottom has the vents taped shut.
With that my compressor area has not dropped below 45 with 25-30 degree temps outside. When the compressor cycles on coils on exterior heat up the compartment slightly. This was with inside at around 60.
Specs say 50-110 so I have been slightly below for short periods but heats back up when cycling.
Also inside of refrigerator compartment is not sealed. Vents top and bottom with small gaps on side to allow some circulation of air around refrigerator.
This was last night. Not quite as cold but the effect and differential is shown.
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Steve
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire 4095
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03-08-2020, 02:57 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 3,165
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanEllis
Nope and nope. Inside lights on, doors closed. Side vent is still there and open to the cold air
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WHY
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323 BHS. Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale MA. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor homes.
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03-08-2020, 03:03 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 887
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I've never experienced any kind of problem using my residential refrigerator in cold outside temps even way below freezing. I had whirlpool in previous and Fisher Paykel in current coach with outside vent unsealed and zero problems.Could it be possible that op had some kind of temporary restriction that could have caused the problems?
__________________
Mark
2002 40 PWD Monaco Windsor
Flat Towing Honda CR-V
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