How does an RV fridge work?
I am not asking about the Physics of how the fridge cools, but rather how the thermostat works to control cooling in both the freezer and refrigerator sections.
We have a 3 way fridge with separate doors and compartments for the freezer and refrigerator, but only one thermostat setting, so how does that work? Does it cool the freezer first and then the refrigerator? Does it cool both at the same time? Will it cool the refrigerator if the freezer does not need cooling?
The reason I ask is that we set out on a trip today. It is now (finally) cool here in southern Arizona and I set the temperature control to max cooling last night. This morning the freezer was rock solid cold, at about -5 F, but the refrigerator was only down to about 45 F. I thought that on our trip the refrigerator would cool down more, but it has not and is currently at 47 F. The freezer, on the other hand, has cooled down to almost -6 F, so why is the refrigerator not also dropping in temperature? Clearly it is cooling, but not by enough to drop the temperature, or even maintain it.
I am pretty sure there is nothing wrong with the propane supply as I had that fixed about 3 months ago and typically the refrigerator has operated at about 38 F, but then the freezer was at about 5 F, not -5 F. Does one have anything to do with the other? How does the temperature control (I am not sure thermostat is the right word) determine how much to cool the refrigerator?
I just don't understand the basic workings of the way it handles temperature settings between the two compartments.
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2020 Regency Ultra Brougham, Island Bed Model
2022 Jeep Wranger 2 door Sport S toad
Roadmaster baseplate and tow bar
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