worthless refrigerator on propane - R-pod Owners Forum

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StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6285

Topic: worthless refrigerator on propane
Posted: 15 Jul 2018 at 10:18pm

Thanks.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

cgarb

Groupie

Joined: 27 Mar 2011
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 95

Posted: 23 Jul 2018 at 5:48am

We had a new refrig put in our 2011 177 about a year ago. It worked really well for a couple of trips then has been sitting for months. We used it as an extra refrig on holidays and it was fine. Now it won't work when plugged into the house. The temp only got down into the 50's yesterday after being plugged in for 24 hrs. And of course we have it up for sale. What timing! Just got the water system working well! Any suggestions?

Carol
177 HRE rpod
2014 Honda Pilot

StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6285

Posted: 23 Jul 2018 at 8:04am

Did you move it and not level it? It needs to be at least close to level to work properly. You might also try tapping on the plumbing behind the refrigerator to see if something settled out and might be blocking the flow partially. Tapping on it might get things flowing well again. While you are at it, take a compressor and blow any dust out of the fins.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

cgarb

Groupie

Joined: 27 Mar 2011
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 95

Posted: 27 Jul 2018 at 7:54pm

Now we are having trouble keeping our refrig in the safe temp range when plugged in. Should it get up to 50 degrees when it is on full power and empty? It got up to the mid 90s outside, but is down a bit and the pod is in the shade. My husband checked and the vents are all clean and the pod is level.

Carol
177 HRE rpod
2014 Honda Pilot

StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6285

Posted: 10 Aug 2018 at 10:34pm

Sorry to take so long to reply. An empty refrigerator will heat up easier since there is only air in there which does not transfer heat very well. If you have enough contents in there to buffer the temperature swings and it is getting up to 50 on shore power, then it might be a problem.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Ghosthawk

Senior Member

Joined: 01 Apr 2018
Location: Fargo ND
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 128

Posted: 11 Aug 2018 at 7:51am

I have seen several things posted on youtube about propane fridges.

The one that made the most sense had a couple of good points IMO.

A Anything which can be frozen ahead of time should be frozen.

B find a plastic bowl, tray which will hold a bag of ice. When you start the fridge, open the ice and put it on the lowest shelf.

C buy one of those small fans that runs on batterys. I think ours is a camco, Blue. Essentially a computer fan and a battery case with a switch. Circulates air.

D Empty fridge or freezer always takes the longest to come to temp. Heck buy a case of cold beer and fill that puppy up! I bet within 6 hours she is stable and at proper temp.

E Close the door and leave it closed. Give it at least 6 hours to do its thing.

Its not a house fridge, it does not have endless power available.

Put it to work and leave it be to work in peace.

cgarb

Groupie

Joined: 27 Mar 2011
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 95

Posted: 13 Aug 2018 at 1:14pm

Thanks, everyone. We just sold the Rpod and the refrig is working well again. I have appreciated everyone's advice over the years!

Carol
177 HRE rpod
2014 Honda Pilot

mcarter

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419

Posted: 13 Aug 2018 at 3:30pm

I use reusable freezer bags and place them in fridge day before camp starts, helps the fridge cool down.

Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

jato

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3216

Posted: 13 Aug 2018 at 9:30pm

Carol, congrats on selling your pod. I have noticed over the years that a lot of muffin fans are not working properly due to the incorrect placement of the bi-metal switch on the back of the fridge. I have seen quite a number located too low to do any good; hence they rarely come on, that was our case as well. By moving the switch to near the top of the coils, near the exhaust stack, the fans come on much sooner and stay on longer resulting in a colder fridge temps. inside.

God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

seafans

Senior Member

Joined: 24 Nov 2017
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 154

Posted: 14 Aug 2018 at 8:25pm

Looks like about 60 deg. temperature drop on a 100 deg day is about typical for these small refers. Even on shore power they do no better. I have seen small battery operated fans for the inside of the refer that move the air over the coils. there is a small, looks like a computer case fan install below the coils when new. I do not know when this fans come on? During the summer no meats are put in the refer, we take along an ice chest for the and the wife has ice for her drinks.

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StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6285	Topic: worthless refrigerator on propane Posted: 15 Jul 2018 at 10:18pm
	Thanks.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

cgarb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Location: California Online Status: Offline Posts: 95	Posted: 23 Jul 2018 at 5:48am
	We had a new refrig put in our 2011 177 about a year ago. It worked really well for a couple of trips then has been sitting for months. We used it as an extra refrig on holidays and it was fine. Now it won't work when plugged into the house. The temp only got down into the 50's yesterday after being plugged in for 24 hrs. And of course we have it up for sale. What timing! Just got the water system working well! Any suggestions?
	Carol 177 HRE rpod 2014 Honda Pilot

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6285	Posted: 23 Jul 2018 at 8:04am
	Did you move it and not level it? It needs to be at least close to level to work properly. You might also try tapping on the plumbing behind the refrigerator to see if something settled out and might be blocking the flow partially. Tapping on it might get things flowing well again. While you are at it, take a compressor and blow any dust out of the fins.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

cgarb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Location: California Online Status: Offline Posts: 95	Posted: 27 Jul 2018 at 7:54pm
	Now we are having trouble keeping our refrig in the safe temp range when plugged in. Should it get up to 50 degrees when it is on full power and empty? It got up to the mid 90s outside, but is down a bit and the pod is in the shade. My husband checked and the vents are all clean and the pod is level.
	Carol 177 HRE rpod 2014 Honda Pilot

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6285	Posted: 10 Aug 2018 at 10:34pm
	Sorry to take so long to reply. An empty refrigerator will heat up easier since there is only air in there which does not transfer heat very well. If you have enough contents in there to buffer the temperature swings and it is getting up to 50 on shore power, then it might be a problem.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Ghosthawk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 01 Apr 2018 Location: Fargo ND Online Status: Offline Posts: 128	Posted: 11 Aug 2018 at 7:51am
	I have seen several things posted on youtube about propane fridges. The one that made the most sense had a couple of good points IMO. A Anything which can be frozen ahead of time should be frozen. B find a plastic bowl, tray which will hold a bag of ice. When you start the fridge, open the ice and put it on the lowest shelf. C buy one of those small fans that runs on batterys. I think ours is a camco, Blue. Essentially a computer fan and a battery case with a switch. Circulates air. D Empty fridge or freezer always takes the longest to come to temp. Heck buy a case of cold beer and fill that puppy up! I bet within 6 hours she is stable and at proper temp. E Close the door and leave it closed. Give it at least 6 hours to do its thing. Its not a house fridge, it does not have endless power available. Put it to work and leave it be to work in peace.

cgarb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Location: California Online Status: Offline Posts: 95	Posted: 13 Aug 2018 at 1:14pm
	Thanks, everyone. We just sold the Rpod and the refrig is working well again. I have appreciated everyone's advice over the years!
	Carol 177 HRE rpod 2014 Honda Pilot

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 13 Aug 2018 at 3:30pm
	I use reusable freezer bags and place them in fridge day before camp starts, helps the fridge cool down.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3216	Posted: 13 Aug 2018 at 9:30pm
	Carol, congrats on selling your pod. I have noticed over the years that a lot of muffin fans are not working properly due to the incorrect placement of the bi-metal switch on the back of the fridge. I have seen quite a number located too low to do any good; hence they rarely come on, that was our case as well. By moving the switch to near the top of the coils, near the exhaust stack, the fans come on much sooner and stay on longer resulting in a colder fridge temps. inside.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

seafans Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 154	Posted: 14 Aug 2018 at 8:25pm
	Looks like about 60 deg. temperature drop on a 100 deg day is about typical for these small refers. Even on shore power they do no better. I have seen small battery operated fans for the inside of the refer that move the air over the coils. there is a small, looks like a computer case fan install below the coils when new. I do not know when this fans come on? During the summer no meats are put in the refer, we take along an ice chest for the and the wife has ice for her drinks.