Keeping food and beverages fresh is an important part of any trip, especially when you’re camping. A dometic cooling units can help ensure that your foods and drinks remain at the proper temperature no matter where you go or how long you’re gone. But like any other electronic device, it can experience problems from time to time and require troubleshooting.
Understanding How an RV Refrigerator Works
Most dometic refrigerators work by using a gas absorption cooling unit. This is similar to how a residential refrigerator works, though it’s much more efficient and requires less maintenance.
The process begins by boiling an ammonia and water mixture, which rises to the absorber coils. Then, the ammonia vapor condenses to a liquid and travels down to an evaporator. The liquid ammonia is cooled in the condenser by a hydrogen bypass, which lowers pressure and disperses heat.
Dometic refrigerators come in a wide range of sizes and can be powered by a variety of power sources. For instance, they can run on LP gas or 12 volts from the shore power connection in your trailer.
There are also compressor-powered models that run off propane, which make them an excellent choice for those planning to live off the grid. However, these fridges are more susceptible to outside temperature conditions than DC compressor models. They typically only run for a few hours before draining the propane tank and should not be left running for extended periods of time.
If you’re going to be using your RV fridge for more than a few days, it’s essential to stock up on spare parts and tools so that you can fix the problem yourself if needed. It’s especially important to have a spare thermocouple on hand in case you need to test your fridge to see if it’s operating correctly.
Other useful parts include a screwdriver for tightening bolts or opening up access panels, and a multimeter for testing the voltage of your refrigerator. A multimeter can be used to verify whether there’s power being supplied to the fridge or not, and it can also help identify any malfunctioning parts that need replacement.
Using a multimeter is a great way to troubleshoot your fridge and save yourself from calling in a professional or spending a lot of money on an expensive repair. It’s also important to keep safety in mind when doing any type of electrical work, so be sure to follow safety guidelines and wear gloves and rubber shoes while you perform repairs.
Some common issues that can affect your RV fridge include faulty control boards and overheating. These are easy to check by yourself and can often be fixed with a few simple measures.
The next step is to determine what’s causing the issue. Some things you can do include turning off the battery, removing the refrigerator and replacing it with a different model, or switching the fridge to propane. If none of these solutions work, it’s likely a problem with your RV’s electrical system or the fridge itself. If you’re not sure what to do, call your dealer or a qualified technician for advice.