How long does it take a Dometic to fire up and get cold

wacnstac · 03-29-2006, 09:40 PM

Just wondering what is typical when they are run on 110 and propane as far as cool down time.

bimi · 03-29-2006, 09:49 PM

Mine is 35 years old, so I don't know if this is normal or not. But, it normally takes mine about 1 whole day to really get good and cold on either the propane or the electric. I always get it going the day before I leave so that I can put my food in there when we go and it will stay cold while we are traveling.

Again, though, mine is really old. I am planning on putting one of those little fans in there, though. That is supposed to help it cool down quicker.

lewster · 03-29-2006, 09:59 PM

8-12 hours is average.

overlander63 · 03-30-2006, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewster

8-12 hours is average.

Mine is nearlv brand-new, so it works a little faster. You can feel the freezer getting cold after an hour or so, it gets cold enough to put food in after about 6 hours, and reaches its set tempurature after about 8 hours. Most folks will light off the fridge on LP, since it generally cools faster on LP, and when it gets cold, change over to electric.

Chaplain Kent · 03-30-2006, 06:46 AM

I have a 25 year old three way and it takes about 10 hours to cool completely on electric, a little shorter on propane. I plan to keep this wonderful fridge until my children inherit Chummy.
Does anyone use those little fans that are supposed to cool down the fridge quicker? I do but I doubt it works.

DocBear · 03-30-2006, 08:42 AM

I'd say about 75% of what I've been reading about the fans say they don't work. A friend with a Roadtrek and a fan in his unit says he wasted his money, but YMMV.

Mike Lewis · 03-30-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBear

I'd say about 75% of what I've been reading about the fans say they don't work. A friend with a Roadtrek and a fan in his unit says he wasted his money, but YMMV.

Docbear---I put a fan in an 05 classic we owned and had good results. The purpose however was not to reduce the time needed for cool down but to help the unit get colder in hot weather. We used our when we were in 90 plus temps ,particularly when the sun was beating on the fridge side of the trailer. The cooler you can keep the area behind the fridge the more effecient it will operate. The smallest of fans that will help move air through that area are beneficial. I used a manual switch to turn ours on as needed but a temperature controled one could be used.----Pieman

DocBear · 03-30-2006, 01:26 PM

Good to know, Mike. Thanks.

It's a simple thing to add, so I can't see where it would be a "bad" thing to try out.

norbert · 03-30-2006, 05:35 PM

there is a thread on this mod....high heat high humdidity conditions warrant it....
norby

lewster · 03-30-2006, 09:12 PM

My 19CCD came from the factory with a cooling fan on the fridge coils. Plus, I have found them (double fans in fact) on every large Norcold unit that I have worked on. The purpose is to keep cooler air moving across the condenser coils so the refrigerant can transfer the heat out of the freezer more efficiently.