Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

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Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

June 14, 2021, 11:15:29 pm

We have replaced cooling unit, ele board and added fan in our Dometic side by side in our 2002 u320. Frig has not been cooling with summer temps rising. Considering residential frig replacement. Would appreciate suggestion on what experience others have had with replacement. Brands and features, getting them in the coach. Thank you in advance.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #1 – June 14, 2021, 11:20:56 pm

Start here there will be a lot of opinions on this subject.

Question for those who have installed a residential refrigerator

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #2 – June 14, 2021, 11:53:24 pm

So last week I realized our fridge still won't work on gas but is fine on AC power. 36 and -10 degrees Will dig into soon. I figure if it will work on ac the gas should be easy, but no joy. Ordering a new gas valve and will recheck new regulator pressure and will adjust up to upper limits.
Scott

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #3 – June 15, 2021, 08:00:37 am

Scott,

Exactly how far in to the "runs on propane" do you get. Stand outside with the refrigerator access door open and have someone else turn it on to propane:

Hear ignitor clicking
Hear/feel gas valve open
See flame
Flame stays lit

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #4 – June 15, 2021, 08:15:29 am

Quote from: dsd – June 14, 2021, 11:53:24 pm

So last week I realized our fridge still won't work on gas but is fine on AC power. 36 and -10 degrees Will dig into soon. I figure if it will work on ac the gas should be easy, but no joy. Ordering a new gas valve and will recheck new regulator pressure and will adjust up to upper limits.
Scott

Like Brett said how much troubleshooting have you done? Also curious did you clean the burner assembly out really good and polish up your thermocoupler? That made made my previous fridge go from hit and miss on gas to runs flawless. I removed about a tablespoon of rust powder from the burner tube. Made the flame burn cleaner and hotter I'm sure.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #5 – June 15, 2021, 08:22:20 am

Yup, in many cases a "burner area tune-up" gets it working again. Zero parts needed in most cases.

But, the "how far into the process it goes will tell us alot.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #6 – June 15, 2021, 08:54:47 am

I will be removing our Dometic side by side that has been converted by J C Refrigeration . I don't know if ice maker is functional. I do know the unit cools and freezes. We are replacing it with a residential. We bought the coach in April- 2000
U-320

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #7 – June 15, 2021, 09:30:30 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – June 15, 2021, 08:00:37 am

Scott,

Exactly how far in to the "runs on propane" do you get. Stand outside with the refrigerator access door open and have someone else turn it on to propane:

Hear ignitor clicking
Hear/feel gas valve open
See flame
Flame stays lit

It appears to function normal. Starts runs has what I though was good flame. Coach leveled or traveling. Last night we used freezer was up to 28 deg. Turn on generator and it drops right down to -5
I had posted 8 months ago and will repost that post so as not to hijack this post.

Gas regulator

Scott

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #8 – June 15, 2021, 09:50:46 am

If function is "normal" in terms of getting all the way to flame, two things can affect the size of the flame and therefore the cooling ability:

Gas pressure-- if the house regulator is not giving you enough gas pressure, flame will be too small to cool effectively. Check with manometer or if the original 20 year old regulator, probably just replace it.

Dirt or rust in the BURNER TUBE. The more rust and dirt in the tube and/or the more eroded the vertical openings the poorer the flame. Remove, clean and evaluate the burner tube. Easily replaceable.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #9 – June 15, 2021, 09:59:10 am

Straying a bit (a lot) from the OP question.

Our original 2001 Dometic took a long time to get as cold as it was going to get (not very). We were at HWH in Iowas and saw a coach burn to the frame when his LP gas refrig caught fire. We has a fire suppression system in our coach and there are automatic gas shut of devices but we changed to a Samsung 18 cu ft French Door countertop depth 32" wide residential refrigerator that summer. One of the best upgrade we have made.

Another Samsung installed

Your power use goes up. For most it is OK with no changes if your batteries are in good shape but make a difference if you do a lot of dry camping.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #10 – June 15, 2021, 10:42:43 am

I too had the room for a Samsung 33" wide, counter depth 18 cf. Changed mine out in 2015, it fit thru a side window once the doors, hinges, feet and loose things were removed. My coach had nothing under the old 60" tall opening to be a problem to getting the almost 72" tall new unit installed.
I would do the upgrade again!

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #11 – June 16, 2021, 04:01:40 pm

Many on the forum have reported success with the Samsung refrigerators. This reputation matched my experience from outside the forum. We have no regrets, I only wish I'd done it sooner in previous rvs. Ours came easily thru the side window, with doors removed and easily reinstalled on Samsung.

Residential fridge

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #12 – June 17, 2021, 07:43:24 am

If you want this Dometic with the functioning J C Refrigeration upgrade- free to anyone that wishes to come get it in mineral wells, tx
We are replacing it with the Samsung.
This J C upgrade does everything but make ice

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #13 – June 17, 2021, 08:23:20 am

If you can, save the wooden panels in the refrigerator, they re the same wood as in your coach and have aged the same. Mine had some glue behind the panels but they came out with some effort. They are mice to have for trim stock.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #14 – June 17, 2021, 05:04:07 pm

Quote from: erniee – June 17, 2021, 07:43:24 am

If you want this Dometic with the functioning J C Refrigeration upgrade- free to anyone that wishes to come get it in mineral wells, tx
We are replacing it with the Samsung.
This J C upgrade does everything but make ice

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #15 – June 17, 2021, 05:29:02 pm

Upon removal- fridge was pretty bad. This is what's left

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #16 – June 27, 2021, 09:19:09 am

Is the JC upgrade the 120v compressor? My coach has that small compressor in the bottom corner and I was a bit surprised to see that. Does that mean the fridge will cool on 120v not using the gas loop system?

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #17 – June 27, 2021, 09:24:43 am

Quote from: nbluesky – June 27, 2021, 09:19:09 am

Is the JC upgrade the 120v compressor? My coach has that small compressor in the bottom corner and I was a bit surprised to see that. Does that mean the fridge will cool on 120v not using the gas loop system?

Please remind us what refrigerator you have.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #18 – June 27, 2021, 09:28:42 am

It's the Dometic side by side. I don't have the model number handy. I can take a pic later.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #19 – June 27, 2021, 09:32:56 am

Could that compressor be for the icemaker?

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #20 – June 27, 2021, 09:54:24 am

Quote from: folivier – June 27, 2021, 09:32:56 am

Could that compressor be for the icemaker?

Yes, very likely.

Re: Suggestions on replacing Dometic frig in 2002 U320

Reply #21 – June 27, 2021, 11:10:44 am

Ohh interesting, so it makes ice with a separate compressor. I was wondering what it was for. Thx!

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