How well do RV refrigerators work on the playa?

[mooserider]

As I'm dealing with getting a malfunctioning fridge fixed in my RV (starting the prep work early), I'm wondering how well the propane refrigerators actually work on the playa. Do they cool well enough to stay ahead of the desert heat? Do their burner flames blow out in wind storms or clog from dust blowing in through the exterior vents?

[Captain Goddammit]

They work great. The flame is well shielded, there should be no issues with the wind. There's really nothing to clog up because it's a closed system.

[LowePro]

Agreed! You won't regret fixing it. It's so much better than using a cooler. Our propane fridge from the early 80s gets cold enough to freeze ice and 1 tank lasts all week.

[Elliot]

You might try a little experiment: If you can expose the back of the unit to the sun all day, it may get cold enough on the energy from the sun. I once opened one that was sitting on a junk pile, and it was cold inside. Propane refrigerator work on an entirely different principle from electric household units.

Do check with the manufacturer about recalls. RV refrigerators are notorious for catching on fire, and "billions and billions" of them have been recalled over the years.

[ygmir]

mine will freeze things if not opened from time to time.
IIRC, a well functioning propane fridge will get colder than an electric, it absolute terms. Recovery time is slower, though.

[mooserider]

You might try a little experiment: If you can expose the back of the unit to the sun all day, it may get cold enough on the energy from the sun. I once opened one that was sitting on a junk pile, and it was cold inside. Propane refrigerator work on an entirely different principle from electric household units.

Do check with the manufacturer about recalls. RV refrigerators are notorious for catching on fire, and "billions and billions" of them have been recalled over the years.

Alas, too much of the back is covered by the RV hull, so not much would be exposed if I took the cover off.

And I think the last recall is what caused the problem; the add-on board for more safety circuity seems to have screwed up the main circuit board.

[mooserider]

Incidentally, when it runs, my RV freezer is great. But the refrigerator compartment doesn't get very cold (measured at 46F when it was only 90F outside).

[Elliot]

Give it a few days, Andrew. Like Ygmir says, they take a long time to cool down -- up to several days.

I wonder if the main fire hazard is the ammonium leaking out and being lit by the propane flame? Seems I read that once. I don't even know if ammonium burns, but I think the problem is of that nature, rather than electrical. Heat-stress-crack in tubing or heat-exchanger sort of thing.

[LowePro]

It can take a long time for the propane fridge to cool down, sometimes a day or more. It will be very slow to cool down if it's empty. It will be more efficient if it's full so restock it with plenty of beer. It's slow to recover, as mentioned, so get in the habit if only opening it minimally.

[Just_Joe]

Incidentally, when it runs, my RV freezer is great. But the refrigerator compartment doesn't get very cold (measured at 46F when it was only 90F outside).

Zero to 5 degrees in the freezer is optimal. It's THAT air that cools the fridge compartment.
If the freezer is 30, it will keep ice frozen, but the fridge will be warm.

[Popeye]

Give it a few days, Andrew. Like Ygmir says, they take a long time to cool down -- up to several days.

I wonder if the main fire hazard is the ammonium leaking out and being lit by the propane flame? Seems I read that once. I don't even know if ammonium burns, but I think the problem is of that nature, rather than electrical. Heat-stress-crack in tubing or heat-exchanger sort of thing.

Ammonia burns but will not support combustion and there is a very narrow fuel/air ration where it will burn at all. The danger from ammonia is, if you have a great enough concentration, it will cause chemical burns. However there is such a small amount of ammonia in your RV refrigerator and much of it already absorbed that you would almost have to deliberately break the tubing and inhale to hurt yourself.

[mooserider]

It can take a long time for the propane fridge to cool down, sometimes a day or more. It will be very slow to cool down if it's empty. It will be more efficient if it's full so restock it with plenty of beer. It's slow to recover, as mentioned, so get in the habit if only opening it minimally.

I started the fridge a week (!) early when getting ready for the last trip, and it never got very cold. On this model, the freezer is two separate compartments from the main refrigerator compartment with no cross-ventilation and separate doors, and the refrigerator compartment has its own finned radiator (?) connected to the cooling coils, and even that itself didn't get very cool. So I'm wondering if it is clogged and needs to be replaced.

[Captain Goddammit]

It sounds crude, but try this: take a piece of wood or a rubber mallet and beat on the tubes on the back of the fridge. A lot of times that will unclog an ammonia fridge and make it start cooling again.
Try to beat it hard enough to shake it up but not hard enough to break it.

[mdmf007]

It sounds crude, but try this: take a piece of wood or a rubber mallet and beat on the tubes on the back of the fridge. A lot of times that will unclog an ammonia fridge and make it start cooling again.
Try to beat it hard enough to shake it up but not hard enough to break it.

Said beating is a fine line since it is old enough to be clogged up and probably on the pretty delicate side already.

[ygmir]

It sounds crude, but try this: take a piece of wood or a rubber mallet and beat on the tubes on the back of the fridge. A lot of times that will unclog an ammonia fridge and make it start cooling again.
Try to beat it hard enough to shake it up but not hard enough to break it.

Said beating is a fine line since it is old enough to be clogged up and probably on the pretty delicate side already.

I've also heard of rolling them, a certain direction, to work our air bubbles and or scale that may be plugging an orifice. soft tapping included.

[caffeineslinger]

Don't forget to have everything already chilled when stocking your fridge. If you put something in warm it takes a long time to chill.

[maladroit]

The ammonia is not a problem..it can be burned by another flame, but doesn't burn hot enough to ignite itself. So it can't do much. The refrigerators do, however, also contain hydrogen gas.

[Elliot]

... The refrigerators do, however, also contain hydrogen gas.

Well, that would certainly do it. "Oh, the humanity!"

[ygmir]

... The refrigerators do, however, also contain hydrogen gas.

Well, that would certainly do it. "Oh, the humanity!"

1362599_02bcdea730.jpg

[Ratty]

Wow. Made me giggle.

[dragonpilot]

I've got a great RV frig...fire it off in the morning before a trip and it's cold enough to keep ice frozen by noon. And don't forget, RVs should be fairly level for the frig to work properly.

[LowePro]

Just a thought from an amateur, but if your fridge and freezer are 2 separate compartments, could it be that you have 2 pilot lights (and one of them is out?). Or the radiator fins are bent or jammed w/ dust?

[Captain Goddammit]

No.

[Tiahaar]

I started the fridge a week (!) early when getting ready for the last trip, and it never got very cold.

Has been mentioned before, check that the fridge is going from a low flame (holding temp, pilot), to a high flame (thermostat calling for cooling). The gas orifice could need cleaning or the controls repaired. If the fridge is level, flame is good, and still no cooling, it has lost the ammonia charge or needs the wood block whack treatment...possibly replacement fridge time (though I have seen replacement cooling units advertised)

[Zubeneschamali]

What do people think about running propane appliances while in motion? Do most motorhome manufacturers advise against having your propane valves open while driving? I know three that say not to do it.

[Agaton]

Be careful not to leave an RV fridge on the vehciles 12 volt system after you shut off the engine. I once did a "test", where I ran a fridge on a deep cycle battery overnight. By morning the battery was not only utterly discharged, but scrap.

[mooserider]

Be careful not to leave an RV fridge on the vehciles 12 volt system after you shut off the engine. I once did a "test", where I ran a fridge on a deep cycle battery overnight. By morning the battery was not only utterly discharged, but scrap.

The main reason why most modern RV's have separate "coach" batteries to power the camping equipment, separate from the engine starting battery. Then if you scrap your coach batteries, you can still start the RV and drive it someplace to buy new coach batteries.

[Popeye]

http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/reso ... -manual.pd

Old but fairly decent primer on how absorbtion refrigerators work. Focus is on Dometic /Electrolux. Last half is more interesting than the first half.

[mooserider]

It sounds crude, but try this: take a piece of wood or a rubber mallet and beat on the tubes on the back of the fridge. A lot of times that will unclog an ammonia fridge and make it start cooling again.
Try to beat it hard enough to shake it up but not hard enough to break it.

I took my moose to the factory service center in hopes they would have time to fix the fridge. They didn't. But, while I was waiting, I tried a wood block and hammer, and the thing worked better than it had in years. I banged every inch of cooling pipe I could reach (inside and outside), and now it works fine.

My only concern is that I sort of "jump-started" it by putting bags of ice in the refrigerator (not freezer) compartment in an attempt to use it as a cooler if I couldn't get it fixed, so did that cool it down enough that the safety interlock didn't kick in? The safety circuit apparently requires that the refrigerator interior temperature must drop below 50 degrees F in under 2 hours after turn-on.

[Meat Hunter]

The refrigerator in my little trailer works off: 110v, 12v and propane.

The trailer/RV sale, service and repair dealer in my area has been taking care of the trailers on my farm for over 35 years. Over this time, I have learned to trust what the old and seasoned mechanic back in the shop tells me what to do.

When I returned home with my new trailer last month, I went by to see John the mechanic and ask his how best to utilize the mechanical systems in my trailer. One of the questions that I posed to him was how can I make a; 4-1/2 day, 2,300 mile cross country trip and arrive with cold beverages in my refrigerator and how can I keep them cold for a day or so until I am connected to a grid.

His advice was:
(1) Pre-chill my refrigerator for a day or so at home before departing on 110v.
(2) While on the road, switch on the 12v while I am driving during the day and switch if off at night. Do this every day until I arrive. And, don't be opening my refrigerator while I am on the road.
(3) Once I arrive on the playa, switch off the 12v and turn on the propane until I am ready to connect to the 110v grid. This way, my refrigerator will already be down to the desired temperature, all my beverages will be cold and the refrigerator will use only a small amount of propane maintaining the desired temperature.

Makes good sense to me.










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