Reefer Condensation Drain
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13655
Printed Date: 22 Jun 2025 at 8:55pm
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Topic: Reefer Condensation Drain
Posted By: mcarter
Subject: Reefer Condensation Drain
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2020 at 5:47pm
I have been working some RM 8501 issues with my 2015 178. The reefer is included in the slide.
There is a condensation drain at rear of reefer, the drain tube goes into a plastic container at the bottom rear of reefer. My inclination is that retainer cup is designed to evaporate with heat at the rear of the reefer. My retainer is full and the floor of the reefer compartment is damp. Obviously the plan to have that water evaporate is not working. As you travel or use the reefer that cup is filling and when full is overflowing into the bottom of the fridge compartment.
My plan is to extend the drain line outside the lower louver on the reefer bottom vent. I don't want condensation staying inside the reefer compartment. I already have mold forming. Because my reefer is mounted in slide, it can't be routed out bottom.
Other sites have addressed this issue and this one may have also done that. Open to discussion, but don't think this works as designed.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Replies:
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2020 at 7:08pm
Hmmm. That’s an interesting one. Now I’ll have to go look at mine....
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2020 at 8:04pm
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High humidity?
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r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2020 at 8:30pm
On mine, the condensate cup cracked. I glued it back together and so far, it has been holding. If it fails, I'll run the tube out through one of the openings in the grill so it just drips on the ground. It will sacrifice a little bit of efficiency, but I'd rather not have the moisture accumulating and rotting the floor.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 7:06am
Originally posted by StephenH
On mine, the condensate cup cracked. I glued it back together and so far, it has been holding. If it fails, I'll run the tube out through one of the openings in the grill so it just drips on the ground. It will sacrifice a little bit of efficiency, but I'd rather not have the moisture accumulating and rotting the floor.
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Why would it sacrifice efficiency?
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 7:54am
The water in the condensate cup helps with cooling the line as it returns to the boiler before starting the absorption cycle over again. This is supposition, but I am extrapolating from window AC units where the condensate used to drip on the ground but now is held in a reservoir to splash on the condenser coil. It may not be equivalent,
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 8:27am
Water cooling would help if it was splashing on the condenser in an absorption fridge too but its not. I doubt you'd see any performance difference if it just gets routed to drip outside. Seems dumb not to do it that way on rpods, other campers do drip directly out.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 8:50am
I don't see it effecting efficiency. Appears mine got into a cycle where the water collected faster than it could evaporate (humidity may have been involved). The interweb has a lot of chatter on the issue. My condensation cup was full to the brim and sloshing over into the reefer bay.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 9:26am
Yes, I was probably overthinking it. I need to check the cup again anyway. I may just run the hose outside and forget about the cup.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 9:39am
I've never looked mine but I think I'll remove it and reroute too. Thanks for raising the issue mcarter.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 10:10am
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Although my fridge in the 195 is a 6.0 Cf, not 3.9, I think they both work the exact same. I have the drain line routed out the vent cover. It sticks out about 2 inches. My fridge run incredibly cold, so I can say in my case, routing it out does not seem to affect it.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 12:26pm
I think the difference in airflow between the slide-mounted refrigerators and the larger ones where the venting can be through the top makes a big difference. Unfortunately, there is just no way to have the venting through the top of the slide-out. It would limit the use to only while the slide-out is extended.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2020 at 5:05pm
I finished mod today, routed it outside at bottom of cover vent after drilling a 3/8" hole, not thru louver. Doing test, fridge is cooling, no condensation yet. Can send pic if desired by anybody. One of my thoughts was if you want to contain condensation in a cup, why make it plastic, plastic serves as an insulator to evaporation, why not aluminum. Also over thinking. It's more stable by not just routing thru louver.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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