Dometic cooling units are a popular addition to campervans and vans. They offer energy efficiency, convenience, and durability while keeping food and drinks cold without consuming excessive power. They also come in a range of sizes and designs, making it easy to find a fridge that matches the design and functionality of your vehicle. However, like any piece of electrical equipment, dometic refrigerators are subject to issues that can affect their performance and cause them to stop working altogether.
When these problems arise, it is essential to have some spare parts on hand so that you can get back on the road quickly. For this reason, it is important to understand how your Dometic fridge works and how to troubleshoot it so that you can make repairs or replace the necessary components.
A common problem that RVers experience with their Dometic refrigerator is that it stops cooling. This usually occurs because the thermocouple has gone bad. A thermocouple is a sensor that detects the temperature of the fridge and transmits this information to the refrigerator’s circuit board. A faulty thermocouple can prevent the fridge from working correctly, so it is important to keep a spare on hand in case you ever need to replace one.
Fortunately, repairing or replacing the thermistor is a fairly simple task that can be completed at home using common tools and a multimeter. First, shut off and disconnect 120VAC at the refrigerator’s outlet or disconnect the 12VDC supply line from the battery bank. Then, remove the evaporator cover and locate the thermistor. The thermistor clips onto the refrigerator fins and communicates the temperature of the fridge to the circuit board by changing its resistance. You can test it by disconnecting the thermistor from its clip and placing it into a glass of water. The thermistor should read between 7,000 and 10,000 ohms. If it is reading higher or lower, the thermistor is bad.
Once you have replaced the thermistor, it is a good idea to perform a “dry run” before installing it into the cabinet. This will give you and your helper the chance to see how the evaporator foam pack fits into the refrigerator pocket for a tight fit. It is a good idea to trim any excess foam from the evaporator pocket so that it will seat properly.
The Fridge Defend is a patented and automatic temperature monitoring device that helps to protect your Dometic and Norcold fridge from overheating. It monitors the cooling unit boiler temperatures and alerts you when it reaches an unsafe temperature. This helps to prevent damage to your fridge that can lead to premature cooling failure or worse, a possible refrigerator fire.
By monitoring the cooling unit temperature, the Fridge Defend can also alert you to any odors that may indicate an ammonia leak. If your fridge starts smelling of ammonia, it is likely time to repair or replace the cooling unit. The best choice is a remanufactured Nordic cooling unit. They are significantly less expensive than new Dometic refrigerators and can be repaired or replaced easily by a skilled do-it-yourselfer.