Dometic fridge studling in uk

[black dog]

Out with new van second trip in UK arved at 14.00 yesterday domestic fridge was ok last time but this morning I have ice cubes but thermometer In main part still warm running on gas and electric is anyone else struggling in this heat please
No food in only milk no awning

 

[Dustydog]

What temp?

 

[Mr Plodd]

If you have ice in the top part then it's clearly working as it should. If youbave very little in the main part then it's simply full of air, as soonas yiu open the door that cool air will drop out of tge bottom to be replaced by air at the ambient femperature. So try and keep opening yiur fridgea minimum amount for as short a time as possible.
A fan to draw out tge warm air from the back of the fridge can have a pretty dramatic effect when the ambient temperature is mid 20's and above. A quick search for fridge fan will give yiu plenty of reading material.

 

[black dog]

Hello I've got a fridge thermostat it's very slow coming up last van was done couple of hours it say 17 outside at moment phone app inside fridge??

 

[Buckman]

Does the fridge vent into the awning? Previously when in France we used a small fan on the bottom vent and it seemed to resolve the issue.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Caravan fridges normally use the Absorption process to cool the fridge. The fact you mention using Gas and Electricity tells me your fridge is one of these. They have a limited ability to cool so when ambient temperatures are high, these fridges can struggle. Check the specification of your fridge for its maximum ambient temperature.

When you tell us "main part still warm running on gas and electric " Do you mean you are using both gas & electricity do you mean your using both power sources at the same time? If you are, you may be adding extra heat to the back of the fridge, and that might be compromising its performance. Try with just one fuel source at a time... Sometimes more (heat) isn't always going to mean better cooling.

As has been mentioned in other answers, some people who regularly caravan in high temperatures fit fans to the fridges exterior vents to increase air flow through the condenser panel at the back of the fridge.

 

[Buckman]

I meant to add, that in hot weather we found the fridge to be more efficient when using gas? Not sure why.

 

[Mr Plodd]

It's not possible to run off gas AND electricity at the same time, is either or, not both.
I have always fitted extractor fans to the top external fridge vent on motorhomes and caravans as I have found them to be seriously beneficial when the ambient temperature is mid 20's or higher.
Strangely enough I have only just picked up my tablet having come into the house after jury rigging a fan onto my PVC as we are planning on having a "day be the seaside" with it tomorrow, so I want a cold fridge in the morning. The ambient temperature here in Weymouth is currently 25⁰ C at 17:45 so tge fridge will struggle without a bit of help.

When I have a bit of time next week I will add another fan and wire both in via an illuminated switch, currently the one is being fed from a permanent 12v supply so no ability to switch it off (other than disconnecting a wire of course)

Over tge years I have also found running the fridge on gas seems to be more efficient, maybe it's because using gas imparts more heat which bizarrely creates more cooling effect? I have always struggled to get my head around how heat in a fridge makes it cool down 🤔

 

[Hutch]

My fridge must be them only one that runs alright at high temperatures. Over 30 ⁰c, in France.
I don't have fans fitted to it, I cool it for about 1/2 hour then put it onto mains, just so I know that it runs ok. Mrs H fills the ice box area with frozen food but not so much that there isn't a bit of room in there.
I did read somewhere a few years ago where their ice box was stuffed full and the fridge didn't cool, after their first BBQ where they used up some of the meat from the Ice box area, the fridge worked as it should.
Food for thought.

 

[RogerL]

It's not possible to run off gas AND electricity at the same time, is either or, not both.

Is that a modern thing? The Electrolux/Dometic fridge in our 2001 Bailey Pageant could be run on any or all sources - I used to leave the switches set for 12v and mains electric because they were never both plugged in together - but I don't recall anything stopping the gas being used as well.

 

[Hutch]

Most fridges only work, from one power source at a time, mine is automatically changed to 1, mains, 2 gas, 3 , 12 volts , when hooked up to car and voltage is above a certain level

 

[Dustydog]

Decades ago my Electrolux RM 212 was one or other not both as have all the successors to date.
Like Hutch I never got round to fitting the fans, still on board!
But we always remove the external vent covers when in use

 

[black dog]

If you have ice in the top part then it's clearly working as it should. If youbave very little in the main part then it's simply full of air, as soonas yiu open the door that cool air will drop out of tge bottom to be replaced by air at the ambient femperature. So try and keep opening yiur fridgea minimum amount for as short a time as possible.
A fan to draw out tge warm air from the back of the fridge can have a pretty dramatic effect when the ambient temperature is mid 20's and above. A quick search for fridge fan will give yiu plenty of reading material.

Thanks for the info been reading since 5 this morning

Does the fridge vent into the awning? Previously when in France we used a small fan on the bottom vent and it seemed to resolve the issue.

No awing up to much bother on me own no vent holes round fridge
Thanks

Caravan fridges normally use the Absorption process to cool the fridge. The fact you mention using Gas and Electricity tells me your fridge is one of these. They have a limited ability to cool so when ambient temperatures are high, these fridges can struggle. Check the specification of your fridge for its maximum ambient temperature.

When you tell us "main part still warm running on gas and electric " Do you mean you are using both gas & electricity do you mean your using both power sources at the same time? If you are, you may be adding extra heat to the back of the fridge, and that might be compromising its performance. Try with just one fuel source at a time... Sometimes more (heat) isn't always going to mean better cooling.

As has been mentioned in other answers, some people who regularly caravan in high temperatures fit fans to the fridges exterior vents to increase air flow through the condenser panel at the back of the fridge.

I tried 230 first hours then over to gas I'm freezing some ice blocks to put in main control I reckon the new van fridges aren't up to the job wasn't broken didn't need fixing a nother step back modern tec

 

[black dog]

Update on the domestic fridge for everyone it finally cold running on 230v
Not much in food wise yet
I've put ice blocks in the fridge
compartment this morning to help with cooling thanks for all the advice as it's a roasting hot all redy
Thanks

 

[Beachball]

Decades ago my Electrolux RM 212 was one or other not both as have all the successors to date.
Like Hutch I never got round to fitting the fans, still on board!
But we always remove the external vent covers when in use

+1 remove the vent covers on our caravan when in use 👍

 

[Hutch]

Gents, when you say you remove the vent covers, do you mean, Winter/ Travelling covers or do you mean the complete louvred vents.

 

[RogerL]

Gents, when you say you remove the vent covers, do you mean, Winter/ Travelling covers or do you mean the complete louvred vents.

You may know this but for the benefit of others the winter/travel covers should be removed if the ambient temperature is over 7-10 degrees Celcius - it may be beneficial to remove the complete vent in hot weather if the fridge isn't coping well.

 

[Gafferbill]

.....helps the caravan fridge in hot weather if you remove any gauze fly screens that are often fitted behind the louvre vents.
They effectively reduce the area of the aperture by more than you might think and slow down airflow.

 

[Mel]

.....helps the caravan fridge in hot weather if you remove any gauze fly screens that are often fitted behind the louvre vents.
They effectively reduce the area of the aperture by more than you might think and slow down airflow.

Do they just pull off easily? Or are tools/technique involved?
Mel

 

[Hutch]

Do they just pull off easily? Or are tools/technique involved?
Mel

They just pull away, the insect screens are quite flexible, normally 4 or 6 small little bumps that the screens fit under.