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Topic: dometic rant (Read 1925 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: dometic rant

Reply #25 –
Don, that looks pretty darn good. I hope you will post a photo tutorial when you install it. Dick
Dick, '03 U320 40' Tag, 2 slides, Coach #6075
Full Timers
2009 Honda CR-V

Re: dometic rant

Reply #26 –
I once had a AC/DC Refrig, think it was from either Dometic or Norcold, I forgot, but it lasted an entire year, nearly, went to Sears and bought a nice Whirlpool with built in ice maker household style, it is still in use after 18 years, working great for the new owner, I say Amen.
Dave M

Re: dometic rant

Reply #27 –
Sure thing Dick! I am so looking forward to getting back into the interior remodeling upgrade project list... Rolling around under the coach and inside utility compartment is getting old! Starting to apply the Por-15 rustproofing/coating process today... Finally!
Don
Quote from: Dick S –
Don, that looks pretty darn good. I hope you will post a photo tutorial when you install it. Dick
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: dometic rant

Reply #28 –
Here's another possible alternative to the Norcold/Dometic options... pricy but attractive.
The bottom freezer is a drawer. There is another unit that has two of the drawers. The unit pictured here is only 8.1CF (5.5 refer, 2.6 Drawer Freezer). It uses two of the Danfoss compressors, and therefore uses more power but perhaps not twice as much since I would expect the run times to be shorter.
Here is a link to some info on the Vitrifrigo DW250BTXAC 8.1 CU FT AC/DC S/S Refrigerator;
http://www.suremarineservice.com/DW210-3-1-1-1-1.aspx
One downside of this unit for us may well be an upside for others... And that is that the front has stainless steel panels. The Novakool RFU9000 that I referenced in an above post, as the ability to add panels of your choosing. Our coach decoration committee likes the wood panels on the current refrigerator. As it happens, so do I, but I don't mind the stainless steel either. But then again, I've often been accused of not being color coordinated even in the way that I dress. Now, I figure that I can find a way to add some nice oak panels  and trim to anything that we put in the coach, as long as it has a flat front. The radiused front of many residential refrigerators would be a bit more of a challenge...
Don
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: dometic rant

Reply #29 –
Don, the answer to the refrigerator door question is clear.  You need to build tambour doors for it!  Talk about a match...
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: dometic rant

Reply #30 –
Quote from: Patricia –
our waffling and pondering the pros and cons continue - as in:

- the NDR1492 is working well with no problems... BUT, it is 9.5 years old
- IF it fails or starts having problems... in order to continue using the existing NDR1492, the cooling unit could be replaced (and a fire suppression unit could be installed to assure peace of mind)
- the NDR1492 has 14 cu ft of capacity

- the loss of the two cabinets below the refrigerator would be a deal-breaker; one cabinet holds our laser printer (which we use without having to lift it), and the other holds the central vac hose and accessories
- George is quite handy, and could certainly follow your lead, John, with this modification... however, he currently doesn't have the woodworking tools (saw, etc) that such a project necessitates (while Dave Flanagan's crew is certainly capable of replicating the "Haygarth modification," that would be a significant expense at FOT!)

So, there you have it... what to do... what to do... the waffling and pondering continue...  :))

Pat,

Have to looked at all at the RM1350/RME1350 4-door fridge from Dometic?  It's about 4 inches taller (so maybe only some of the lower storage would be lost), 3+ inches narrower (cookie sheet storage racks?), and the RME version appears to be all-electric.  I wonder how painful the mod would be to put that one in where the NDR1292/1492 models fit?

http://www.dometic.com/a4549403-00de-4ee0-a230-ecfd6b4dc512.fodoc

And from the brochure - you can apparently store an entire salmon in the freezer and a Superbowl-sized sub in the fridge :)

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: dometic rant

Reply #31 –
But its still a natural convection and not a compressor style refrigeration design. Even though electric only it still suffers from the same corrosion/off level issues. Plus its a Dometic.
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: dometic rant

Reply #32 –
Dave is correct - even though all-electric, it's still an absorption (ammonia/hydrogen) refrigerator - not compressor style.  Here's the owners manual (both LP/AC and all-electric models):  http://www.electrolux-ui.com:8080/2006%5C825%5C127000EN.pdf

According to the Dometic product catalogue, the NDR1492 specs are 59 1/16 H x 36 1/2 W x 24 D; and the RM(E)1350 is 63 11/64 H x 32 W x 26 1/16 D.  While the ice and/or water dispenser is optional in the 2-way (LP/AC) model, it is standard in the all-electric (RME1350).  Pricing online was only available for the 3 different 2-way power models (varied on whether there was no ice/water, ice only, or ice and water) - from $2950 to $3300 (don't know about shipping).  However, I could not find pricing for the all-electric model.

I really think our waffling/pondering is now between either (a) finding a reasonably priced, quality residential style that's no more than 60" high and 24-26" deep; OR (b) having the Amish-built cooling unit installed by the factory in Shipshewana, IN:  http://rvcoolingunit.com/Factory-Installed-NDR1492-Dometic-Brand-New-Cooling-Unit-PKG-P2210451.aspx
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: dometic rant

Reply #33 –
One of the biggest downsides for me is the fact that the Dometic has the true built in look and the residential reefers look....residential.  I've wondered if there might not be a compromise, pull out the absorption refrigeration, add cold plates and compressors.  These could be Danfoss or they could be standard refrigerator compressors.  The thickness and insulation of the retained Dometic box would guaranteee a pretty high efficiency unit along with oem looks. 

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: dometic rant

Reply #34 –
I like your thinking, Chuck....  when you will you be ready to take orders?  :P
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: dometic rant

Reply #35 –
By coincidence a friend who's a refrigeration contractor is stopping by tomorrow, I'm going to see what he thinks would be involved.  I know you can buy the Danfoss parts to do it for around $1000, I'd like to see if you can just yank the guts out of a standard refrigerator and do it. Particularly appealing would be the use of a variable speed inverter style compressor, ultra efficient. 

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: dometic rant

Reply #36 –
 Check with Sea Freeze of America. They have conversion kits that may be just what you need. On my boat I had one installed to make my fish box into a frig. Gam
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'

Re: dometic rant

Reply #37 –
For those interested, these guys seem to have good deals on Danfoss 12/120 volt cooling units and plate evaporators of various sizes. 

http://www.suremarineservice.com/cooling-units.aspx

http://www.suremarineservice.com/plate-evaporators.aspx

This would be a pretty straightforward way of converting your existing Dometic box to DC / AC only operation with new components. 

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: dometic rant

Reply #38 –
I was trying to talk the factory into building a custom reefer using a Danfoss kit. Got no traction there!
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: dometic rant

Reply #39 –
Dave, Tried Googling DANFOSS to see what I could learn about their compressors.  I did not learn much.
What makes DANFOSS any different from any other Compressor ( other than magnetic bearing thing ? Looks like if you wanted to build your own reefer you could use any compressor.
Gary B