Retrofit or conversion to compressor

[themexicandoctor]

The Fridge is 25.0°F.

[eric1514]

I noticed that the freezer temp in my Novakool was never really, really cold. I could maintain 35-37 in the fridge but the freezer was always in the teens. I put some pipe insulation along the back of the freezer box and along the front door to try and keep the cold air from spilling out into the refrigerator section, but I could never get 0 or sub 0 temps. The 2 door 3-way Dometic in my class C is reading 35 in the refrigerator section and -10 in the freezer.

[peteco]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

My fridge by comparison is 26.5.

It is presently on 4, I just turned it to 3.75 (if it was digital), on a range of 1-7 with 7 being the coldest.

I have been reluctant to tamper with it but the fridge is doing great, oscillating between 22 & 33°F while the inside temperature of the front of the cab has been as high as 116 & the rear 102.

Will share more data tomorrow.

Seems like the thermostat is not working properly. The large fridge temperature range would be freezing, then thawing food. If turned warmer to prevent freezing, and you had the same 11-degree range, say from 33 to 44, then that would put food in unsafe range for a while. I suggest you discuss with your fridge guy and novakool.

[eric1514]

Originally Posted by peteco

Seems like the thermostat is not working properly. The large fridge temperature range would be freezing, then thawing food. If turned warmer to prevent freezing, and you had the same 11-degree range, say from 33 to 44, then that would put food in unsafe range for a while. I suggest you discuss with your fridge guy and novakool.

That thermostat does seem inaccurate. The digital thermostat I installed on my NovaKool and set at 35.5 would turn on the compressor at 36.5. Before the cooling started it would cruise up to around 37 plus. Then it would drop and turn off at 35.5 but the fridge would continue to drop to about 34.5. A swing of about 3 degrees. It would do this about 3-4 times an hour during a warm day and less at night. An 11 degree swing is huge and like you say, potentially unsafe.

[themexicandoctor]

Will talk to Novakool Monday and yet;

Is there a magic freezer temp?

Did you mistake the average numbers side by side with a good temp/avg humidity?

1. It does NOT thaw the food out in the freezer

2. The swing in the temperature is nowhere near 39° or higher, you might have seen a higher number when the Fridge was turned off for a couple of hours in 115° heat.

3. The Fridge, NOT the Freezer, is oscillating between 21.1 in the coldest part of the night & 33° on the hottest part of the day, up to 116° in the front cab of the rig, 7 feet away from the Fridge.

4. I turned the thermostat to warmer yesterday, if I turned it colder one turn to 4.75, I am sure the Freezer would follow suit. But then the fridge would be around 15-8°.

5. I am keeping it around the 3.75 mark for another day just to track its consistency.

6. Unfortunately when it was at 4 which is exactly halfway, I didn't have the Sensorpush Bluetooth in the freezer because everything, felt hard & cold.

Its hot here, very hot with not much breeze.

[themexicandoctor]

Here is the Fridge right now, in 2 screens;

[themexicandoctor]

Here is the Freezer now at 16°F;

[themexicandoctor]

And I remember reading somewhere there is a work around to keep the freezer fridge temps more separate by using cardboard or something similar below the Novakool tray.

As it is, Water is Ice very quickly

[Want a B]

Originally Posted by Rlum

Hi: I see lots of people not satisfied with the performance of their three way refrigerators. I have a Dometic 3 way. Actually after replacing regulator and installing lots of fans inside and out. It works decent for now. The coldness is not as even as I would like it but food is not spoiling.

My question is: Has anyone retrofitted theirs from J C Refrigeration in Indiana?...

I have an appointment with J C Refrigeration for the Tuesday after Labor Day. My Dometic is a 2-way (120 AC/LP). When J C is done it will be a 12 VDC compressor. LP is fine if I remembered to turn it on 2 days BEFORE I plan on using the refrigerator, turn off the gas when refueling the chassis, remember to turn back on after refueling and keep the coach level.

I plan on posting when they have finished the conversion and I've have taken the time to test.

[peteco]

Originally Posted by Want a B

I have an appointment with J C Refrigeration for the Tuesday after Labor Day. My Dometic is a 2-way (120 AC/LP). When J C is done it will be a 12 VDC compressor. LP is fine if I remembered to turn it on 2 days BEFORE I plan on using the refrigerator, turn off the gas when refueling the chassis, remember to turn back on after refueling and keep the coach level.

I plan on posting when they have finished the conversion and I've have taken the time to test.

What size is your fridge? I thought JC only does compressor mod on larger fridges.

[Rlum]

Originally Posted by Want a B

I have an appointment with J C Refrigeration for the Tuesday after Labor Day. My Dometic is a 2-way (120 AC/LP). When J C is done it will be a 12 VDC compressor. LP is fine if I remembered to turn it on 2 days BEFORE I plan on using the refrigerator, turn off the gas when refueling the chassis, remember to turn back on after refueling and keep the coach level.

I plan on posting when they have finished the conversion and I've have taken the time to test.

Do you know what brand and size of compressor JC uses? Thanks

[Want a B]

Originally Posted by peteco

What size is your fridge? I thought JC only does compressor mod on larger fridges.

Dometic RM3762 LP/120vac

[Want a B]

Originally Posted by Rlum

Do you know what brand and size of compressor JC uses? Thanks

I'd suggest contacting them direct.

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by peteco

What size is your fridge? I thought JC only does compressor mod on larger fridges.

I do know that when I contacted them recently, I posted that they do NOT retrofit the smaller units.

[themexicandoctor]

Here is the latest, its 112% in the front of my cab, 6 feet away or less its 24.4°F in my FRIDGE & has stayed with 0.2 of a degree for two hours

And its 11.0° in my FREEZER & has stayed within 0.2 of a degree for two hours.

Note; the freezer is listed as DRIVERS SEAT

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by peteco

Seems like the thermostat is not working properly. The large fridge temperature range would be freezing, then thawing food. If turned warmer to prevent freezing, and you had the same 11-degree range, say from 33 to 44, then that would put food in unsafe range for a while. I suggest you discuss with your fridge guy and novakool.

Fridge is working correctly or am I missing something?

The Fridge is averaging 27° over a 22 hour period since i made the adjustment with a high of 31°.

If anything its too cold for my desired average of 39° or below.

I am making the increment changes slowly.

I believe 11°F is actually -11.67°C

[SteveJ]

Originally Posted by themexicandoctor

Fridge is working correctly or am I missing something?

The Fridge is averaging 27° over a 22 hour period since i made the adjustment with a high of 31°.

If anything its too cold for my desired average of 39° or below.

I am making the increment changes slowly.

I believe 11°F is actually -11.67°C

Generally speaking, mid 30's is the ideal temp for a fridge. The freezer should be at 0 with say 10 above OK if stuff doesn't stay in their very long.

One concern is the 11-12* swing of fridge temp, as was mentioned earlier. Setting the fridge at 33* and having an eleven degree swing would let it go up to 44* Was that eleven degree swing an aberration or normal?

[themexicandoctor]

Originally Posted by SteveJ

Generally speaking, mid 30's is the ideal temp for a fridge. The freezer should be at 0 with say 10 above OK if stuff doesn't stay in their very long.

It appears it's performing well then.

When you mention the 0-10above I assume you are talking about Fahrenheit?

[RedPanEd]

MexDoc, Been almost a year since your Nova Kool install. My original Dometic rm2310 in my 1999 RT 190 Popular (Dodge) is failing and I'm considering the NK R3800 as a replacement. I've read all your posts about start up issues and my question is after almost a year, how do you like it now?