Tips for keeping your fridge cold

[Brains]

If you have aircon does that improve the fridge performance or is it the heat at the back of the fridge that causes the trouble?

Probably makes little difference as the air intake/out take are the vents on the side of your van.
Try to ensure the vents remain in the shade.

This is the reason why most fridges are on the same side as the habitation door and the awning.

 

[DBK]

If you have aircon does that improve the fridge performance or is it the heat at the back of the fridge that causes the trouble?

It's the ambient temperature outside which reduces the ability of the fridge to shed heat. The finned pipe at the back is the condenser where the refrigerant returns to liquid and loses the heat drawn from the interior of the fridge.

Air conditioning will give the fridge less work to do of course so will assist to a certain extent.

 

[Jake Royd]

Just as a related point.
I use a cheap infrared temperature gun to keep an eye on mine.
I open each door and shoot.
Usually freezer is -18/-15 and the fridge at about +6

 

[Burgo]

Place 2 blue freezer packs in freezer and alternate moving to fridge whilst away to keep temp. down

We buy a big bag of ice from the garage on the way to the motorhome, and put it in the freezer to help cool it down. Then we use the ice in cocktails, G&Ts, Tinto Veranos etc over the next few days.
Also find that running it on gas for 4 or 5hrs cools it quicker than using 240v hookup or 12v hab power, so run it on gas until it gets cold then switch over to automatic for the rest of the trip.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Yes think gas is better for the fridge which seems strange because the burner must make more heat .

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[Podney]

Never had a problem with our Dometic fridge/freezer.

Dont over fill it,and put setting on half way.

 

[Toady]

Just as a related point.
I use a cheap infrared temperature gun to keep an eye on mine.
I open each door and shoot.
Usually freezer is -18/-15 and the fridge at about +6

Ahhh…..every time you open the door you warm the fridge up! Sensors in fridge with external digital measurement then you don’t have to open fridge

 

[Toady]

We buy a big bag of ice from the garage on the way to the motorhome, and put it in the freezer to help cool it down. Then we use the ice in cocktails, G&Ts, Tinto Veranos etc over the next few days.
Also find that running it on gas for 4 or 5hrs cools it quicker than using 240v hookup or 12v hab power, so run it on gas until it gets cold then switch over to automatic for the rest of the trip.

We headed off today and are presently at Bosherston in Pembs.
Tracey had the biggest bag of ice for fridge. I am really worried as that means too many G&Ts.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Drill a 1" hole on the door so you can check if the light goes off

Pro-Tip.

If you have an older fridge freezer . Especially Older Samsung American Style. Replace the 3 or 4 bulbs with LED's.

Will save a lot of money on electricity consumption.

 

[Tony V]

A bit big at 35 litres capacity , ours is 190 litres and just about big enough.

that's bigger than my fridge at home!

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[Jev88]

Laboratory freezers have individual doors on each "shelf" to reduce temperature changes when main door opened. Surprised no camper fridges have something similar?

 

[ManTheVan]

Our 3-way Dometic absorption fridge works brilliantly. We put it to maximum for a few hours for setting off and then keep it set to 3/5 most of the time once away. It seems to use hardly any gas and everything is beautifully cold, including excellent ice for the sundowners. We’ve had a compressor fridge before on one of the previous boats and it was great, but boy, did it sap power reserves!

The Dometic is silent and completely chilled.

 

[Shrimp]

Take the external vent covers off-the louvred ones.
If Hab door, when open, is over vents rig something to stand door further away!
Yes, stop opening the door and when you do open it be quick about getting what you need out!