How To Determine If Your RV Refrigerator Cooling Unit Has Failed -PLUS- RV Fridge Component Overview
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- Опубликовано: 16 май 2019
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Certified Mobile RV Technician, Darren Koepp, takes you on an RV absorption refrigerator journey. Watch as he describes the ways to tell if your fridge's cooling unit has failed as well as many other helpful cooling performance tidbits about your RV refrigerator.
If you are in need of RV Repairs in the Olympic Peninsula area of Washington state, submit a service request on our website at myrvworks.com today!
thanks for these videos. My uncle hired me on and began to train me to service and repair rvs. He died of a heart attack last May. I was a year in and had one season of hot and cold. the plan was I was going to cover all the service calls and he was gonna stay at the shop do rebuilds and run his business. Im going into my first year by myself. Your videos make more sense now than a year ago. Anyways you have helped this rookie tech a great deal by making these instructional videos and i want to say thank you very much. Give a man a fish feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish feed him for the rest of his life.
Hey! I know this is an older video and you may not be checking comments, but just wanted to say thank you- you helped us trouble shoot and fix our refrigerator!! We accidentally left the fridge running while on a steep slope, and it stopped cooling. After watching several of your videos, we figured out that the coolant was not flowing, had to be a blockage due to the slope. So we removed the fridge, turned it upside down, left side, right side, and then the next day installed it. AND IT WORKED!!! Thank you so much for saving us a LOT of money! ;-)
In our eyes this gentleman is an absolute authority for RV systems repairs. Concise information and to top the climax, given at no cost to us owners who strive to keep our home on wheels running efficiently. In this day and age of so many people shooting from the hip and making nothing more than noise , here is a wealth of information only a click away.
My husband and I feel blessed to have found this channel, thank you so much for you time and dedication.
Wow, thank you for the great compliment! I enjoy taking folks along on my discovery walk-abouts'. Helping others save on their RV maintenance and understanding how they work 'sparks joy' for me so I hope to be making many more video's. Happy Camping and I appreciate you!
@@MyRVWorks I got a question, my heating element is getting hot there is no discoloration sign of a leak the pipe gets warm up to the bubbler but no where else and my fan kicks on and off still and nothing is cooling please help if you can thank you
@@MyRVWorksPLEASE HELP ME IM A SINGLE MOM LIVING IN A 04 OUTBACK CAMPER I try to plug in to shore power and no electricity until battery is charged and now my refrigerator started to barely getting cold destroyed all my food there's no open spaces and I kept hearing a click noise and a something under the seat at the table kept running finally i just stopped using the fridge but my issue is the power why can I not get shore power yes I have a plug adapter that I use but get nothing until the battery is charged and it is not even charging now the converter fan doesn't kick on anymore also when i go to turn on a light the propane alarm goes off and i have to unplug battery to stop it i think its a switch or fuse but ive got no clue on where to start or do without getting hurt ive got no extra money to get someone to help and this heat is getting unbearable for my toddler please sir help me
The best RV refrigerator troubleshooting tutorial on RUclips! From theory of how it works, to how to fix… this covers it all! Performed visual inspection, and accomplished a much needed component wipe down and cleaning of the cooling airflow path using a handheld leaf blower. Freezer compartment was 34F… it’s now 21F and dropping! Thank you!
Had my refrigerator problem figured out a little over 6 minutes in, thank you Darren! Subscribed and looking to see if you did the awning R and R video yet. Wow, what a great resource to have. We're going on a extended trip for a couple years with a older RV, this channel is a gold mine for me.
You saved me a huge amount of time by explaining how these multi source RV frig systems work. Thanks a million. I can fix almost anything if I know what I'm looking at and your videos nailed it.
I love how you went into so much Depth here it is/was easy to understand ,concise/precise giving all of Us a way to break it down and to do our own diagnostics saving us so much money on service calls as then we can figure out whats what before making that dreaded call if we cant handle it ourselves. Please Keep up the great work and sharing of this wealth of knowledge !!
Very well done, indeed. So nice to watch a video with clear instructions by someone who knows what he's talking about. Thank you!
Thank you!!!! Saved my weekend. All I had to do was level my trailer (side to side). I knew it was off level but didn’t realize it would keep my fridge from working. I like your systematic approach to solving the problem.
i am a very adept diyer(and a residential renovator!), but the rv fridge has always baffled me. thanks to you, i now understand it. i added the suggested baffles and closed off other areas around our fridge and the improvement in cooling has improved dramatically. now i can store fresh veggies without them freezing and keep icecream in the freezer. thanks so much!
Thank you SO much! Our fridge has not been working on AC for some time and this week stopped working on propane too - with a fridge full of food! Your video enabled my husband to find a bad fuse and now that it is replaced, and the propane pipes were banged and blown out, BOTH are working again. I am beyond thrilled!
Watched your video, opened the vent, saw the yellow residue, sighed.
Now looking for a nice shiny new fridge...
I’d watched loads of RUclips videos and yours was the only one to mention the residue, you’ve saved me so much time trying to fix the unfixable, thank you!
I've watched a bunch of your videos and just visited your website. Every shop could use a quicklink to your website resources. Wow. Thank you for giving us such an amazing resource. Also, I've had multiple people that had issues with the fridge not working in high temps and even the most experienced techs never mentioned anything about baffling. They just talked about adding more fans. I'm going to turn into the fridge wizard at my shop. Thank you sir. Btw, I subscribed to your Patreon. Worth every penny.
Tons of accurate easy to follow instruction to help an RV owner keep their units appliances up and running, plus Tech specs and manuals available to download for free. What a guy. Thank you
hands-down, this is the best rv fridge video i have ever seen. extremwly well done!
Yay, thank you!
Great information. Thank you for posting. I had just returned from a camping trip and placed my camper in my driveway. I started having battery problems on this last trip. The next day, My fridge was warm. I thought it was related to battery output even though it was plugged in. After watching the trouble shooting video, I realized it was something as simple as the camper was not level in my driveway. Once I leveled it it started to cool off.
Wow, you're an awesome instructor. Thanks much for all this valuable info and for being very concise. Your vids are going to help me fix and maintain my little popup.
I just want to say that you sir are the best instructor. We have a new RV and I have watched many of your videos just in case I need to work on it. Keep up the great videos!!!
I am truly so thankful to Darren & MY RV WORKS it's my go to for information on my RV I know I can count & rely on their information they are always so helpful thank you.
You are the best. I'll be working on my 1993 coachmen class b rv with domestic refrigerator (I just bought the RV and I realized refrigerator doesn't work). Thanks again man!
You answered my question, everything on my DometicRM3800 works 120/12v and my pilot and propane work, when it first went out I heard gurgling and thought my Thermostatic Switch inside the refrigerator was bad and by the way I can’t find a new one anywhere. The cooling unit was replaced by the previous owner so I fought the fact that it was bad. So I’ve seen to replace the whole unit with a New one is way out of my budget so I’ll replace the cooling unit.
Thanks for the great videos you post, they’re priceless
Wow! This was the most helpful video for theory and fixing it. My outside refrigerator panel was replace by the previous owner with a solid door so my freezer was getting g super cold but not the fridge. All because of no air flow at all! Thanks!!!
Thanks for the great work Daren. Have fun!
I believe I finally found a website that I have been looking for a long long time. Thank you sir for being so informative in delivering your knowledge and professionalism and making everything (in this case concerning Dometic refrigerators) so easy to understand. I have subscribed and liked this particular video and look forward to seeing more RVWorks messages in the future!
Awesome Video Darren. I have been in the RV business for close to 25 years and I learned a lot about the workings of a cooling unit from this video. I have just always thought it was magic that made an absorption refrigerator work. Thanks to you, now I know the truth.
When I started down this career path, a few years ago, these refrigerators were one of the biggest mysteries to me as well. I spent the better part of the Year learning as much as I could about them and even went to the Dometic Factory watching them being made and talked to the plant manager LOL. I'm happy to share my knowledge with others so that they can learn how to be happy campers as well.
If I could give more than 1:thumbs I would. Thank you for all the valuable info on r.v. refrigerators! I’m not the most technical of people , but found your video easy to understand and “wow”! Everything was exactly how you said it would be. Im heading over to your site right now to check out your manuals! I think my thermosistor may be the problem. Again, many thumbs up to you for the valuable info, the great video, and your time and knowledge on the subject!
This is gold. Thanks for taking the time to make this.
Darren I have the Dometic RM 1350 4 door and I think from watching your videos that the cooling unit is clogged because the boiler gets hot but the coil on the bottom never gets hot. I only go to your videos now when I need help you are a wizard when it comes to RV repairs. Thanks again and keep up the great work.
Amazing video Darren. I have been sharing your info with other RVers who report fridge and other issues as you give an excellent "bottom to top" explanation of how it works to help troubleshoot, plus all your other videos on troubleshooting and repair hands on.
Thank you thank you thank you for downloading some of that noggin knowledge to the world.
Keep up the great work and I hope you get 10s of thousands more subscribers as more people find your gems of information.
PS... I LOVE the occasional bonus footage at the end of your local area field trips! Those Batteries to protect the waterways were astounding! At first I didn't comprehend the scale of the old artillery guns but when you showed the photo board.... holy cow! It's on our destination list for sure now to a place we never heard of before.
Thank you again, and I can't wait for the next one.
Thanks for such a great comment! I am enjoying building the content for my channel and lots more ideas are popping into my funnel all the time - including more bonus features!!!
Happy Camping and thanks for watching and being a part of this channel.
Cheers,
Darren
This was an absolutely brilliant video! You did more in 40 minutes to explain how an ammonia loop refrigerator works than anything I’ve ever experienced. Excellent job, excellent execution. Thank you so much! You should teach college classes at a technical school for this stuff.
That was THE BEST video I have seen on RV refrigerators. I was taking notes through the entire video. Thank you so much for making this!! I honestly think I can fix my refrigerator now. I will be checking out your other videos as well. You should have your own TV show, lol...
I don't even have an RV anymore but I'm captivated by your videos. You're my new favorite YT channel.
Wow, thanks for the nice comment!
Lots more video's on the way too. Thanks for watching.
You do good job showing things and how they work and how to check them but by far, hands down, the best feature of all is hardly any nauseating music ( like almost none )
Good job , I may have to watch it again
Iwatching your videos I started my new career as A RV technician. I work in Gainesville Florida and am the Highest efficientTechnician at the shop thanks to your videos keep up the good work
Your video was great in diagnosing our non-cooling fridge. We had the yellow residue at the bottom, indicating that we needed to go no further. We're trashing our 10 year old Norcold unit and placing with a compressor unit. Thanks for the easy diagnosis.
Very simply explained! Thank you!
Thank you 🙏🏼 I will be checking mine today.
Saved my butt again!! Thank you so much for taking the time to do these videos. I would be lost without them. PLEASE keep up the great work!!!
I'm a residential appliance tech by trade (+15 yrs). I have been to mfg held training classes that paled in comparison to how useful/informative this video was! Appreciate you sharing your expertise very much. Great video! Sub'd!
WOW, had no idea it needed to be so close and the fan to be where you said. THANKS FOR SHARING!
Thanks for the help, but it took hitting the valve to the thermocouple to break away a chunk of carbon that fell from the chimney somewhere . You gave me the confidence to open up the hatch and take a look and see what was going on thanks again for the help Lenny
I found your yt channel by a website page in google saying this video can help with my frig and so far it’s very helpful thank you
Great video - thank you! I hadn't paid attention to all the yellow debris at the bottom of the cooling unit. Expensive repair - wow!
I found the missing manuals for my AC, furnace and fridge on your site..thanks so much!
Learning "how things work" is so valuable to diagnosing problems. You are a very talented teacher.
aww shucks! Thanks.
Well great, Mine has the Yellow magic dust leak! All those rolling blackout from the Febuary Texas Ice Storm had to have taken it out, because it was keeping my stash of Soft Drinks and Ice Cream cold that I had hid from the wife.
Neighbor had one that had the same issue and he ordered a replacement cooling unit. We had a heck of a time replacing it, but managed. Just what I need, another project. Thanks for the video and just to let you know I was able to check out all my systems and they are all working fine.
Many, many thanks. Obviously, you have a wealth of knowledge. I now know more about absorber refrigerators than my previous 30 years of head scratching.
Look forward to every video you post - very interesting and informative- I’m new to RVs and want to learn what I can - Thanks Darren
Excellent video! Well done! It seems from your description that RV refrigerators should have no trouble even in hot weather. I live in Casa Grande Arizona and I have trouble with my refrigerator every summer can't wait to get home and make sure that clearances and baffling are correct. Thanks buddy keep up the good work.
I Myself, and I'm sure anyone else who comes across your channel is 8/10 first time HAPPY CAMPERS, We can't thank you enough for the time you take to help everyone! I just made my first RV Travel trailer purchase, 1994 22V Terry by Fleetwood and got a major deal. Granted it had normal damage for 25 years old and had sat with both the front corner seams cracking more and more over time, we aired up the 4 tires and brought it home 30 miles away and tired are still holding air today almost a month later. But only having general knowledge and not much to any experience, you are such a great person for these videos. I am doing a front half gut and full remodel. I'm starting to look at systems now. Thank you so much and please keep putting out great support to the HAPPY CAMPER Community 👍
Glad our videos were able to help you! If you would like to support us please consider becoming an "RV Community Supporter" on our Patreon site: www.patreon.com/myrvworks
Wow. What a great learning experience. Thanks once again.
Ok I’m going to go have a siesta you have overloaded my mother board. Thank you Darren
Fantastic instruction, you sir, are a natural born TEACHER.... my greatest thanks to You!
Wow, thanks for the compliment. I do my best.
Wow! Great explanations on the role each piece of the puzzle plays to complete the picture! I learned a lot that I simply didn’t know about why some of the simplest things are so significant. Makes a lot more sense now. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
By far the most informative refrigeration-air conditioning repair video that I have seen on U tube EVER!!!!
I agree. Working with mine right now and it's hard to find different information to work with. Still have a problem with mine though and hoping to make one for the most common problem. The do's, don't and what ifs of why it wont cool properly all of a sudden.
What is ther mister
Ppppppppppppppppppppp opportunity
@@inventorcreator7267 have
@@inventorcreator7267 have
I've been RVing for about 6 years. I've been able to do all my repairs myself. I'm moving from a 40' toy hauler to a 18' towable. The 18' had very bad floor rot, and had to replace it. To do the job I felt the need to pull the fridge. Upon trying to reinstall the fridge, it would not cool at all. Thinking that the insulation around the unit was more draft protection, than a vital part of the drafting process which occurs in the back. Also, the nose of the trailer was way high. Didn't think that could hamper performance either. After watching your video, went out leveled the trailer, and reinstalled the insulation. Almost instantly the freezer started to cool. Thanks for the very informative video, learned a ton. I was just about to give up on the unit, and replace it with a regular mini fridge. Thanks again.
thank you Darren for a great teaching video
This was the best explanation of how my refrigerator works. Let me try this! Thank you so much.
Hi Frank,
We are so glad to hear that our videos were able to help you! If you would like to support us please consider becoming an "RV Community Supporter" on our Patreon site: www.patreon.com/myrvworks
Happy Camping,
My RV Works Media Team
Took a 4 day workshop by RVIA tech instructors and I'm pretty sure I get more from your videos. Very informative Darren! Thanks for taking the time.
I really appreciate your comments Daniel!
I have many more in the pipeline - up next is an awning R&R, bathroom vent R&R, KwiKee step diagnosis, Gas valve on a furnace diagnose/repair and a few others. Putting together a RV tool bag video concept now too. All my fans are requesting more stuff!! LOL!
Cheers,
Darren
@@MyRVWorks Hey, add me to the list! Really terrific stuff Darren. I mean it! Oh and if you're taking suggestions.... Troubleshooting A/C's would be top of my list of calls and we aren't even a month into the season. A/C runs but blows hot air, that sort of thing. Will be looking forward to your posts. RUclips may have a zillion videos but you'd be surprised at how little substantive content that actually distills down to.
@@MyRVWorks Awning!? Perfect! :)
Just posted an awning video, got another in the pipeline too. Enjoy!
Just recorded an A/C video. Should be uploaded in a week or so.
This it is soo very informative video and gold content . You basically teach how everything works so clearly and easy to understand . Thank you soo much for this valuable content !
I already liked it the first time I watched it years ago, so I'm commenting that I liked it again just now..
My neighbors her a at the Mt. Baker RV Park like that I like your videos too.
They're very helpful. Thank you.
Thank you for making this video! Helped me get my fridge working again!
Thank you so much ! Ivesed your videos many times and have saved hundreds of dollars because of you sharing your knowledge . God Bless ❤❤❤❤
Thank you for this very good video I learned a lot .
Lots of very good information. This was very helpful. Thanks
Great videos look forward to watching more as I always do my own repairs thanks
Super informative. Really appreciate it
Very informative, thank you.
Outstanding video well done
Darren I loved this video! I have a cooling issue job today and I feel confident on what to test now. Thank you so much!
Glad it helped!
best video ever and you are very pleasant to watch and explain thoroughly
Thanks, You're on my list of helpers. I'm a new RV'r
I just wanted to thank you for your accurate troubleshooting process for poor working RV refrigerators. After watching one video I added 4" of insulation to one side of the refrigerator and 1" of insulation to the other side. This provided improved inconsistent results. I felt I was on the right track. I watched a second video of yours which mentioned having less than 1" of air space on the backside of the refrigerator. I found I had zero insulation on the backside. I then added 6" of insulation to the backside (across the whole back, from bottom to top). This provided superior results which caused me to turn my refrigerator down from 5 to 3 to keep my food from freezing. thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I am disappointed in the RV manufacturer for using the insulation as a cost savings on a brand new RV. The personal satisfaction outweigh the disappointment.
Thank you for the great video. A lot of useful information
Thank you for the videos. The manuals have information but it is always better to have instructions from a professional. You have a long term subscriber in me.
Thank You for putting these videos together.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for watching them!
Cheers,
Darren
Awesome video ! especially at 20:00 to the end. Im a first time viewer. i just subscribed & clicked like. im a commercial refrigeration tech. 38 yrs in the trade. i don't do rv. although a customer of mine made me put a rv refrigerator in thier boat. i did not hook up the propane and disabled the propane. He Bought it online or something like that. i was just hired to install it. it had 3 fuel sources. 12 volt , 115 volt or propane. i told him don't ever even think of running it on propane. you will burn the boat down. i set it up for 12 volt and 115 and it worked very well. i put a temperature controlled fan in to keep rear area cool. Good little fridge. i think it was a dometic. only about 3' tall. 2' wide. i installed it a few years back. prob like 5 years now. i guess customer is happy. never a call back with a complaint. it was a fun little job. really took me out of my comfort zone but in a good way. i learned alot on that job how the fridge worked and learned some more here.
Take care & thanks for the very well done video.
Thanks for the comment! I always like hearing from folks in the trades that do this for a living.
I have a whole playlist on these types of refrigerators that you may enjoy watching - as well as lots of manuals on my website. You can add absorption refrigeration to your menu eh’.
Refrigerator Playlist: ruclips.net/channel/UCoKcKA4SuZLCD3flLXZVQvwplaylists
Manuals: myrvworks.com/manuals/
Thanks. ill check it out.
Great Video, thanks, and thank you for sharing all of this information on your website! not sure how anyone could give this a thumbs down....
Thank you so much I was thinking I was going to need a new refrigerator but in fact the previous owner sealed off the chimney on the roof I just cracked it open and I can feel the warm air coming out!!
Hoping to buy a certain little camper tomorrow. Owner says frig won't work on electric and he "never tried" propane. The ace up my sleeve is my teenage son is an electrical genius, lol, and I'm fairly handy myself. I love your videos and watched a couple of them regarding refrigerators in anticipation of getting this one working. After all, it's just a machine. Machines can be fixed. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Im at 8900 feet above sea level with cooling issues i checked all your recommendations any ideas, ..GREAT VID! I learned allot
Thanks!
Darren is an awesome teacher/instructor! This video is so informative and easy to understand. Fun, too. It's refreshing to find a video without the, uhhhhh and ummmmms!!! Darren takes a direct and fun approach to teach us what we need to know about refrigerator repairs in our RV's giving us the knowledge to make a repair ourselves, or at least to understand what the repairman is doing. Thanks to Darren, we have a choice to save money and repair an RV fridge ourselves if we choose to. My hat goes off to Darren. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and valuable time, Darren.
Wow, thanks for the glowing compliment! I am home-schooling my kids so I will have to make sure they read this so they can appreciate their teacher eh'. LOL... Happy Camping and I do appreciate you!
Out standiing - Thank you very much!
Bloody awesome tutorials - if looking for improvement, please ALWAYS show the multimeter readings when you are checking components (e.g. ohms resistance). I take some photos of your videos with me when I go and troubleshoot my RV. By the way, I got my electric HWS working by replacing the 240v thermostat because of your help. THANK YOU.
I’m a trailer tech and need Your exhaustive/comprehensive tutorials. Outstanding. ❤️✝️🇺🇸
So far you are the best teacher for making it easy to understand. I have the gurgling sound but nothing else. Coils heat as should. Maybe it IS the fact that mine don't have good baffles. Course mine is a 84 kit capanion
Hi Reese,
We are so glad to hear that our videos were able to help you! If you would like to support us please consider becoming an "RV Community Supporter" on our Patreon site: www.patreon.com/myrvworks
Happy Camping,
My RV Works Media Team
This is an awesome video! BTW, the drawings are VERY informative. I am a visual learning, and I was able to follow along on my phone out at the RV. Thanks again for sharing!
Glad I found your site! Great visual work along with instruction.
Very informative. Thanks.
My god late to the back pat line.
Thank you so much, I just had a repair tech come out and literally word for word state, "ya looks like the board, compressor and everything are fried due to a failure in your breaker box".
Which I was thinking ya alright we shall see about that.
So right after found your video and preceded to forward your video to the owner of a shop/highway rape service that shall remain unnamed.
And all my buddies that have trailers.
Thank you so very much.
Great lessons! I understand the important points. Now, grab my meter & go. Thanks.
Mate! This was the best insight on troubleshooting video I’ve seen so far. Thank you Sir.
Glad it helped!
Excellent detailed explanation. Thank you! 😀
Oh thank you. Watching this video made me realize that thermistor was not in proper potion or place in fridge. Saved me about $2,000 . Thank you so much.
Great video and explanations! Thank you!
I just purchased a 1985 26.5' Class C motorhome that has been garaged most of it's 37 years, and only has 7400 miles. Still looks brand new. Of course the refrigerator doesn't work. When I opened the doors to it I was almost knocked down from the smell of ammonia, so I knew that was that. I have found a company that sells the cooling unit and plan on replacing that. Its a Norco 663. It has no insulation or baffles. Glad I found this video before replacing the cooling unit so I can build the baffles and insulate while the fridge is out for repair. I doubt it ever worked that great because it looks like it was never used. The ice trays are still wrapped in plastic and the inside looks new. I have been considering replacing the cooling unit with a conventional 12 v DC/ 120 v AC with a compressor. I plan on living in the RV for an extended period, hopefully off grid. I know this is an old thread but I would like to hear from anyone who has changed over to the compressor upgrade to help me make more of an informed decision. It seems to me losing the capability to run it off LP gas might be a downgrade. I don't know.............
Excellent !
Awesome video. Thanks. You’re worth your weight in gold. Good work.
Thank you for your video & I bought new board but I think it's my ventilation that you describe cause I saw the yellow..
Eye snot melting is something I shudder to think about.
Thank you for saving me the horror.
This video was helpful and your drawing definitely did explain what I was seeing in the flue area. I need to baffle the fins at the top of the flue. G'Day mate.