Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Rpod 178 refrig

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Rpod 178 refrig

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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=14601
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 7:40pm
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Topic: Rpod 178 refrig

Posted By: albikes50
Subject: Rpod 178 refrig
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2021 at 8:17am

Took out our 2017 Rpod early this week. Here in central Iowa, the temperatures Mon. and Tue. got to the low 80's. The refrig. seemed to keep below 40 (about 35-36 ) during the night, but as the day went on, the temp continued to rise to about 47 by late afternoon and didn't get below 40 until sometime in the night. I was on electric most of the time. Tried propane for several hours, but the temp. continued to rise there also. The vents were on the south side, but we were mostly in the shade. The trees aren't totally leafed out yet, so some sun got through. The second day, I took off both vents off on the outside and the temp dropped a degree initially, but started to rise within an hour. I checked to see if my fan was working dozens of times and never saw it "not" blowing. I have the metal clip near the cooling tube as several have suggested. Is it normal for that tube the clip is on to be too hot to touch? I even took a little 6" fan and put it in the lower cavity and that didn't lower the temp at all; just continued to rise. Any suggestions besides take it to a dealer and get it checked out. Thanks. Al

37.9 10:30 am

38.3 12 noon

41.1 2 pm

41.7 3 pm 84 degrees outside

42.6 4 pm 85 degrees outside

45.7 7.30 pm 77 degrees outside

47.5 8.45 pm 73 degrees outside

39.2 8 am 62 degrees outside

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Al M.

Replies:

Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2021 at 8:51am

Was this with the freezer/fridge insulated divider in, or out?

You mention 'lower cavity' so I assume the divider is in place.

These small absorbtion units give up some cooling ability in the 'fridge' section when the divider is in place. They use more energy trying to keep the lower section cool...with limited results.

If you don't actually HAVE to have the little freezer section, it might help to remove the divider and use the entire box as a 'fridge' only. This helped improve the performance of mine by a fair amount, plus I have added an extra thermostatically controlled smartfan in the rear vent above the condenser fins.

Seems to work pretty well now.

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r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2021 at 9:27am

A fan inside the refrigerator helps also. Look for one with two or three small fans that clips to the fins. That is what I use.

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

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Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS