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Fridge/Freezer temps

I have a Dometic RM7130 side-by-side unit. When I hooked it up to shore power for the first time last month it took about a day before it started making ice cubes. Then -- I started noticing frost forming within a day after, and I had the setting on 4 of 5. A couple days later the frost was building up fairly heavy on the aluminum fins in the fridge section, and so I backed it off to setting 3. Frost continued to build so went to 2.

Then I went and bought a thermometer for fridge/freezers, and with it in there over a day, swapping it side to side I was at 32 on the fridge and -10 on the freezer (again, at setting 2).

So now with the setting at its lowest of 1, the frost is gone from the fridge side (still some light frost on the freezer side), and my temps are 42 in the fridge, and -2 in the freezer.

Having never actually measured temps in a brix and sticks appliance, are these numbers good ones? I'm mostly wondering about the 42 degrees in the fridge.

The ambient temps here in Southern California have ranged from the high of about 90-92 and evening lows dropping to about 58-60  -- lately.

It would appear -- I have a lot of reserve cooling capability if I needed it in a hotter climate.

Be careful out there,

Michael
Michael
1995 U300SE CAT 3176B Build # 4612 ("Marvin")

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #1 –
Quote from: geomm –

Having never actually measured temps in a brix and sticks appliance, are these numbers good ones? I'm mostly wondering about the 42 degrees in the fridge.

The "Danger Zone" for fresh food is 40-140 F (that's the temp at which bacteria will grow and thrive, and perishable food should be in this temp range for no more than 4 hours total or you should not eat it). 

FDA recommends fridge below 40F and freezer below 0F.  The default setting on our home fridge is 37F and -1 in the freezer.  We keep our coach fridge in the 35-38F range; I don't think we've ever measured the freezer.

Hope that helps!

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #2 –
Michael,

Where is your thermistor-- how high/low and on which refrigerator fin.

Moving the thermistor down (colder location) raises refrigerator temperature which might give you more control by using a higher setting.

Also moving it inboard on the fins does the same thing, as inboard fins are colder, so it turns off the cooling unit sooner.

Brett
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
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Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #3 –
my residential was set at 40' for the fridge and 0' on the freezer when it came from the factory - works for me just fine as is
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
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1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #4 –
My new residential fridge is set at 38 and -2
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #5 –
 ;D  Ain't em home refrigs wonderful ?  I am the happiest guy around refrig 36 & 2 Freezer, keeps my ice cream just right,  question, why did I put it off so long ?  ???

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #6 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Michael,

Where is your thermistor-- how high/low and on which refrigerator fin.

Moving the thermistor down (colder location) raises refrigerator temperature which might give you more control by using a higher setting.

Also moving it inboard on the fins does the same thing, as inboard fins are colder, so it turns off the cooling unit sooner.

Brett

Good info.  Move the thermistor to adjust temps.  Thanks
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #7 –
Brett,

The thermistor was in the upper right corner -- right to the top. So I moved it down about 8 inches (can't move it inboard because of the width of the slide-on bracket) and I bumped the setting to 2 -- we shall see tomorrow if that lowers the temp to a more ideal 36-37 degrees.

Thanks. I never would have even looked for the sensor unless you brought it up.
Michael
1995 U300SE CAT 3176B Build # 4612 ("Marvin")

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #8 –
On my propane fridge i used a setting of three.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #9 –
I found mine laying in the drip tray. Putting it on a fin helped immensely.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #10 –
So just to understand; the thermister can be raised or lowered on the 2nd fin (from the right) so for more cooling place the thermistor higher on the fin. Would the last fin be even warmer and if you put the thermistor on that one you could have more cooling?
I replaced the thermisor on my Norcold side by side and the freezer went to 11 and the fridge only went to 44. I want more cooling in the fridge.
I also added a fan set up in the middle of the fins which helped with frost but not much for cooling.
thanks
OH
Rick & Deborah Webster
2002 3610 U320 #5964
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU- 'Copperhead'
Richland Chambers Lake, East Texas

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #11 –
Refrigerators don't have adjustable cooling. They cool at a constant temp, but the inside of the box will get colder over time by running longer. If thermostat setting is changed or the temperature sensor (thermistor) is relocated, cooling will run shorter or longer based on the change. When heat is being applied, a portion of the cold gas absorbs heat from freezer box, on the way to the refrigerator box, before it is recycled for reheating.

Some have put many (4-6 muffin) fans that blow against or away from fridge fins to keep moist cold air moving, which can reduce frost build-up and helps to better even out temps inside fridge. At any one moment, fridge temps can vary 20 degrees between fins and bottom area.
 

Re: Fridge/Freezer temps

Reply #13 –
Our Dometic 1492 side by side typically runs 34-38 on the refrigerator side and -1 to 4 on the freezer side.  Typically we run on setting 3 out of 5.  We too had frost problems until I put in the internal fans shown below, which we got from an eBay supplier.  I ganged three together.  I also have roof fans, which I have posted on previously.  We normally only run them in hot weather (>85).  They seem to help a bit, but not dramatically.

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George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!