Dometic, Norcold, or..?

[Pete Masterson]

As you've noted, all the ammonia-type refrigerators are universally disliked. Some of the temperature control problems are inherent in the physics of the ammonia-cycle -- but temperature control is also a problem (but not as much) with a regular refrigerator. I keep a thermometer (made for refrigerators) in my home-style refrigerator because as we move from one location to another, the changes in external temperatures can cause the internal temperature to run too warm or too cold (too cold freezes the lettuce and vegetables causing considerable annoyance to my spouse). While changes to the weather can affect a refrigerator in a home, the RV has a much wider variation from day to day and location to location since the coach is not as insulated as a home -- and there's no attic to help stabilize internal temperatures.

Indeed, no refrigerator has a true _temperature_ based thermostat. All of them use a "choose a number" system that doesn't relate to any particular internal temperature with any consistency. I assume that using a furnace/AC type thermostat (that measures actual temperature) is not practical for these devices at the price point they're offered at.

In the models designed for RV use, the addition of external temperature sensors and some automatic controls would be a nice addition -- but at what cost? Would you be wiling to pay $50 more? How about $100 -- or $500? As with most appliances, we often look for the cheapest solution (once basic needs are met) and the majority of RVers tend to use their vehicles infrequently and/or during only one part of the year. Folks are usually more willing to pay for (say) and ice maker or other convenience option before they might be willing to pay for an operational convenience -- that might not apply to the typical user.

Keep us posted on what you get, how the installation goes, and your level of satisfaction ...

Good luck.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Dec 24, 2008, at 12:27 PM, Ryan Wright wrote:

Well, bummer on the fridge, but life happens. I never really liked

this old fridge, anyway. Huge thanks to everyone for your help with

this process.

Now, I need your advice on what to buy. I intend to buy a taller

fridge than the one I've got and remove one or both of the small

cabinets above and below my existing fridge. There's never enough

space in these little things, so bigger is better, yes? :-) I'm going

to stick with the ammonia type, as we love to boondock and going all

electric would require more batteries and better inverters than what

I've got, vastly increasing the scope of this project when all I

really want is cold food. :-) Since I do have LP gas on board, might

as well use it. Next coach, however, I want a full size house fridge

so one of you LXI owners better be prepared to sell in 5 - 10 years.

;-)

So, which brand is generally more reliable? Reading online forums they

all seem universally hated. ;-) Does anyone here really love their

fridge, and if so, what do you have?

The biggest gripe I have with these things is the lack of accurate

temperature control. As the temperature outside changes, so does the

temperature inside the fridge. When it's hot outside I have to turn

the fridge setting up, when it gets cold I have to turn it down. Does

anyone make a nice, modern version of these that can actually hold a

temperature like a "real" fridge? I just want to set the darn thing at

x degrees and have it stay there... Don't see why they can't add

temperature sensors and automatically adjust the amount of boiling in

the ammonia stack to roughly maintain a target temp. Seems like such a

basic thing to me.

-Ryan

'86 PT-40 8V92