QuestionDometic My frig. works fine when on shore power and the MH air conditioner is off. It also works fine at night with MH air conditioner is on. But during the day when it is HOT outside and the MH air conditioner is working harder the frig. reads low AC and converts over to propane. It wouldn't cool on propane but I think my propane was getting too low in the tank. So I hooked up my extend-a-stay and it still did not work well on propane. So then when I start to head home and use the generator the frig reads HIGH AC. Any ideas? I can get the model number if you need me to, but I thought this sounds like something other than the frig. By the way the "brain board" in the frig. was replaced about amonth ago.Also the generater was recently repaired by a reputable knowledgable Cumming shop. When running the MH air conditioner with gen. on the breker on the gen. itself will trip. The gen keeps running but the breker trips.
Thanks for your time and any thoughts.
AnswerHi Jim:
The first thing you should do is to check the power coming into your RV, and at your refrigerator, with a reliable voltage test meter. It should have a voltage reading between 110 to 125 volts. You are correct, the air conditioner has to work the hardest and pulls more current, during the heat of the day. I have a few questions that need to be answered. What type of power receptable were you plugged into. Were you using is the origional cord that was supplied with the rv? Were you using any extension cords? If so what type, size wire, length, etc
Jim, here is what I have experienced in the past, along with many other RV'ers. Many parks are not up to date with the electrical code requirements, for the main electrical services, and the incoming power wiring often is entirely too small to handle the high electrical demands of todays RV'S. As a result, when RVers are running their A/C units, refrigerators, water heaters, lighting, washers, dryers, etc. the voltage drops, and the amperage goes up. At night, the a/c units are not working as hard, and electrical demand have declined, the voltage comes up again. Most likely Jim, that is why the refrigerator worked better at night, also the temperature is cooler at night, therefore the refrigerator naturally performs better.
You also said even after you attached an additional propane tank, the refrigerator still did not cool much better than on electric. Did you happen to look at the burner flame to be sure it was a nice blue color, that was crisp looking? What were the average high temperature readings during the days spent camping?
The newer refrigerators have the same cooling capacity wether operating on LP gas, or using the electrical heating element. These heat sources cause the boiler/generator to boil off the ammonia, thereby starting the cooling process.
Now about high voltage error code when running the generator. Again, you need to check the voltage to be sure it is not outputting a voltage that is too high. You stated you recently had it repaired. What was wrong with the generator, causing a need for the repair?
The next item you need help with is the generator circuit breaker keeps tripping out when a/c is turned on.
It it starting to sound as if you are having some problems with your generator, Jim. To properly diagnose the breaker problem, you would need a "electrical amperage test meter". With this meter, you could put the clamp around the power wires leaving the generator, and find out just how many amps are being drawn acoss this breaker when it trips out. You could have a defective breaker, or even a major problem with the air conditioner itself, causing it to pull what is called "locked Rotor amperage", which is many times the normal operating amperage. Since you are experiencing problems with high and low voltage; breaker tripping; and the recent repair that was made to the generator itself, I suggest you take it back to the dealer which performed the work, and tell them all the same things you told me, then let them do the trouble shooting for you.
Its ok if you want to print this message, and take along with you. It may give the techs. some ideas about where to begin their troubleshooting.
Jim, if you would check out these things mentioned above, and get back with me, I would appreciate knowing what your answers are. If I can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards, Larry
