Only Half of Refrigerator Working

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Only Half of Refrigerator Working

June 08, 2019, 09:20:19 am

Howdy Everyone,

I have a Dometic Refrigerator - I think it is a Royale 3800 (but I will have to double check). I started it this week, and the freezer side works great - ice cold, but the refrigerator side is room temperature, no matter what I do. I don't detect any ammonia smell. I don't fully understand how these things work, but I don't run the propane function on it - only AC. I have a 50 amp NEMA 14-50R plug installed by an electrician at my home where the RV is stored. All other electrical systems seem to work fine including the AC.

I'm wondering if there is perhaps a fuse somewhere I need to check, but what confuses me is that I would expect one fuse for the entire unit, not two. I recently replaced 100% of all of my 15 amp fuses under the bed, simply because they were (very) old and I wanted to be sure everything was updated.

Anyone ever see this problem before, where only one side of the refrigerator works?

Thanks

Mark

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #1 – June 08, 2019, 09:32:17 am

How long has your refrigerator been on? The freezer cools much quicker than the lower half.

Bob

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #2 – June 08, 2019, 09:38:15 am

"Coolant" goes to freezer FIRST. Only then does it go to the refrigerator. If cooling capacity is reduced for any reason, refrigerator temperature is what goes up first.

Same symptoms on 120 VAC and propane?
Have you verified 12+ VDC to the refrigerator from coach wiring (outside access door)?

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #3 – June 08, 2019, 09:42:01 am

Brett - thanks for the reply.

I have not tried running on propane because the coach isn't perfectly level. I also haven't tried verifying 12+ VDC from the coach wiring, but I have to assume if the freezer is working, at least *some* power is getting there. I have a rocker switch on the bottom left of the freezer that lights up when pressed, as do the lights for "propane" or "AC", so clearly it is getting power. That said, I'll go check the voltage from outside today. I have voltmeter so that should not be a problem.

Thanks

Mark

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #4 – June 08, 2019, 09:43:17 am

Google is your friend. Search online for other campers having the same problem - lots of hits. Try this link for some ideas:

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/19901075/print/true.cfm

Or, you might find a helpful service manual here:

Service Documents and Manuals

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #5 – June 08, 2019, 09:59:57 am

Go to search at the top of the page. Type in my turn in the barrel. Go down to Rolands post. He had the same issue. I believe Kenhat had a solution that fixed his problem. Good luck

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #6 – June 08, 2019, 10:00:26 am

STOP.

Running out of level does permanent damage to the cooling unit. Doesn't make any difference what the heat source.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #7 – June 08, 2019, 10:03:18 am

Brett, what is the tolerance on level for these refrigerators?

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #8 – June 08, 2019, 10:07:47 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – June 08, 2019, 10:00:26 am

STOP.

Running out of level does permanent damage to the cooling unit. Doesn't make any difference what the heat source.

What Brett said. MANY cooling units have been ruined by operating them when out of level.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #9 – June 08, 2019, 10:13:15 am

Quote from: bbeane – June 08, 2019, 09:59:57 am

Go to search at the top of the page. Type in my turn in the barrel. Go down to Rolands post. He had the same issue. I believe Kenhat had a solution that fixed his problem. Good luck

refrigerator replacement (Reply #19 and #33)

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #10 – June 08, 2019, 10:49:57 am

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – June 08, 2019, 10:03:18 am

Brett, what is the tolerance on level for these refrigerators?

Depends on the model. Newer ones are a little less sensitive (have a wider range of out of level per Dometic).

Damage from out of level is cumulative-- overheated boiler causes the chromate (used to reduce rust in the tubes) to precipitate and block the cooling tubes. It is irreversible.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #11 – June 08, 2019, 10:59:26 am

In the July issue of Motorhome magazine is a relevant article on "How To Keep An RV Refrigerator Working Properly". In that article it mentions proper operation requires level within 3 degrees side to side and 6 degrees front to back. The article goes on to mention that if the bubble in the level is half in the center then the refrigerator will likely perform properly.

Hope this helps you.

Bob

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #12 – June 08, 2019, 11:16:36 am

I, and others, have installed this to hopefully prevent damage from out of level operation: Get the Fridge Defend - be COOL be SAFE!
What it does is monitor the temperatures in the flue pipe and temporarily shuts down the burner if it overheats then starts it again.
I don't think it is a replacement for having it level but it should help.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #13 – June 08, 2019, 11:22:02 am

Quote from: folivier – June 08, 2019, 11:16:36 am

I, and others, have installed this to hopefully prevent damage from out of level operation: Get the Fridge Defend - be COOL be SAFE!
What it does is monitor the temperatures in the flue pipe and temporarily shuts down the burner if it overheats then starts it again.
I don't think it is a replacement for having it level but it should help.

Agree-- a very good product for any absorption refrigerator. The OE refrigerator manufacturers SHOULD have included such a system (to automatically shut off the heat source if excessive boiler temperatures are measured and restart when temperatures return to normal range), but I suspect the bean counters nixed it.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #14 – June 08, 2019, 03:04:27 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – June 08, 2019, 10:00:26 am

STOP.

Running out of level does permanent damage to the cooling unit. Doesn't make any difference what the heat source.

Maybe too late.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #15 – June 08, 2019, 04:31:39 pm

At this point the OP should probably give serious consideration to replacement with a residential unit.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #16 – June 08, 2019, 04:47:06 pm

Howdy everyone,

Thanks for the good advice on this forum. Now, the conclusion.

Step 1) I leveled the RV. First, I purchased an electronic device that tells me very precisely how level I am. It turns out I can get the RV level in the driveway.

Step 2) Visual inspection of the unit - which turns out to be a Dometic RM7130 - from outside of the RV. From what I could see, it didn't look very good to me. Not just dirty, but rust. I'm wondering if perhaps this is the original 1994 unit because...

Step 3) Have a close look at my documentation. (Please remember I'm a relatively new owner to this RV). Turns out the documentation was in the RV package along with all of the other original documentation. This could, quite possibly, be the original unit as far as I know.

Step 4) Do some hardcore research. I've been reading intensely for the last four hours, and have essentially concluded this thing needs to go. Not because it couldn't be salvaged - it probably can be - but more importantly, I don't trust it. After reading as much as I could, I've concluded propane as a fuel for a refrigerator is not for me. Which, incidentally, kind of makes me sad. I like the idea of not having to use (much) electricity to power my refrigerator, but I just don't want the fire risk.

Step 5) Decide what to replace it with. So, I've looked at residential systems, thermoelectric systems, 12 volt systems (such as Nova Kool), and am currently leaning towards a 12 volt system, but haven't really decided. So, I'm going to close out this thread since I clearly am not going to hunt down and fix the problem, but rather just replace the unit.

Everyone who jumped in this morning - a very big THANK YOU! I learn so much from the people on this forum. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Mark

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #17 – June 08, 2019, 05:00:02 pm

You might check out JC Refrigeration they make a 12v compressor replacement unit.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #18 – June 08, 2019, 05:01:43 pm

Quote from: defendertx – June 08, 2019, 04:47:06 pm

Howdy everyone,

Thanks for the good advice on this forum. Now, the conclusion.

Step 1) I leveled the RV. First, I purchased an electronic device that tells me very precisely how level I am. It turns out I can get the RV level in the driveway.

Step 2) Visual inspection of the unit - which turns out to be a Dometic RM7130 - from outside of the RV. From what I could see, it didn't look very good to me. Not just dirty, but rust. I'm wondering if perhaps this is the original 1994 unit because...

Step 3) Have a close look at my documentation. (Please remember I'm a relatively new owner to this RV). Turns out the documentation was in the RV package along with all of the other original documentation. This could, quite possibly, be the original unit as far as I know.

Step 4) Do some hardcore research. I've been reading intensely for the last four hours, and have essentially concluded this thing needs to go. Not because it couldn't be salvaged - it probably can be - but more importantly, I don't trust it. After reading as much as I could, I've concluded propane as a fuel for a refrigerator is not for me. Which, incidentally, kind of makes me sad. I like the idea of not having to use (much) electricity to power my refrigerator, but I just don't want the fire risk.

Step 5) Decide what to replace it with. So, I've looked at residential systems, thermoelectric systems, 12 volt systems (such as Nova Kool), and am currently leaning towards a 12 volt system, but haven't really decided. So, I'm going to close out this thread since I clearly am not going to hunt down and fix the problem, but rather just replace the unit.

Everyone who jumped in this morning - a very big THANK YOU! I learn so much from the people on this forum. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Mark

Thermoelectric cooling
Unless they have made some big changes to Peltier device refrigerators recently, would stay away from them. Seems the best they can do is a 40 f degree difference below ambient. Have tried a couple of different types, and drinking 60 f. beer when it is 100 f. outside does not make it.
Thermoelectric cooling - Wikipedia

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #19 – June 08, 2019, 05:02:19 pm

Mark,

My observation on replacements:

If you plan to do a lot of dry camping, another absorption refrigerator would be a good choice unless you want to invest heavily in solar.

If you do not plan to do much dry camping, a residential refrigerator is a good choice.

We have had both and there are reasons for both choices.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #20 – June 08, 2019, 05:15:04 pm

Hi everyone!

I looked at JC Refrigeration. It looked interesting as a way to essentially keep the old refrigerator and just replace the cooling function. The price seems about right, but if you watch this video, you can see there is, in fact quite a bit of work involved in the replacement process. Plus, these people have more room than I do for the replacement. The upside is that the form factor and original look remain the same. The down side is this is an entire day of work for me if I do it (I'm just not that good at this kind of work).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yte1V3CkDrw

I like the efficiency it offers, I'm just not crazy about how much is involved in doing it. I'm wondering how much a professional RV service center would charge for the swap. On Monday, when I'm in NAC at FOT, I will ask them about it. Any other suggestions about where to take it would be welcomed. I'm based in Houston.

Thanks

Mark

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #21 – June 08, 2019, 07:19:40 pm

There are lots of JC replacement cooling units on the forum. I have one. Any decent RV repair person can do the job. JC ships. My last one was replaced in a campsite in Florida. It's all done inside the coach by putting the fridge face down on the floor.

My symptoms were the same as yours. Freezer was fine, fridge wouldn't cool. It took one guy about 4 hours.

Forum member Ted and Karen put JC 12v in and are pleased with it.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #22 – June 08, 2019, 07:36:54 pm

Mark- our cooling unit failed this past January. I talked with JC Refrigeration and he recommended his 12 volt cooling unit replacement since we like to boondock a fair amount of time. It was shipped to me in Yuma, AZ and I hired a tech to install it as this is not my thing. I was with him during the whole process and assisted some. He also took the old unit away and disposed of it for me which was great since we were in a campground.

We full time and have used the unit day and night since then. It cools fine, same box we had, no more concern about being level at all times since we are not using propane. It has a 3 year warranty and you can buy another 3 years for a reasonable cost, which I did. It does use more amp hours than the propane refrigerator so I have had to monitor and change my charging systems as 2 8G8D batteries which are 6 years old no longer will go 4 days without a generator charge while boon docking. I am going to upgrade my battery bank later this summer, then continue to use my 500 watts of solar and my generator for our 70-100 days ( or more) of boon docking per year.

Give then a call and see if this is a feasible replacement for you- I am glad I did.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #23 – June 08, 2019, 08:20:50 pm

The disadvantage of putting a new cooling unit in an old refrigerator it that you still have the old refrigerator. We had JC Refrigeration install a new absorption cooling unit in our 1995 Dometic in June 1913. The unit cooled well but we still had an old refrigerator with limited capacity and the freezer shape didn't lend itself to storing many items. In particular we weren't able to store a frozen pizza or other similarly shaped items. We also had frost issues on the cooling fins when in Florida. The JC Refrigeration cooling unit failed in March 2018.

We installed a new 18 cu ft Samsung refrigerator in the summer of 2018 and the improvements in every respect have been dramatic. Better cooling, much larger capacity and no more defrosting issues. The energy consumption reported by those who have the JC Refrigeration compressor-unit conversion are essentially identical to the energy consumption of our Samsung.

Based upon our experience and the energy consumption comparisons I can only recommend converting to a residential refrigerator.

Re: Only Half of Refrigerator Working

Reply #24 – June 08, 2019, 09:02:06 pm

Mark, since you live in Houston, you might want to check with PPL. I don't know if they will change out a refrigerator, but about 5 years ago I drove to Houston in a pickup truck to get a replacement absorption refrigerator as their price was worth the drive. I took out a window to get the old one out and the new one in, but it might have gone through the door. Definitely have to remove the refrigerator doors though.

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