quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
Norcold

It was part of the lawsuit….it has boiler tubes so yes it can catch fire…if you keep it I highly recommend FRIGDEFEND….

?

RV fridges use the old Ammonia technology...They can run on AC, LPG and some also on 12v DC

That system Requires a flame to operate....

That's where the fires start, the flame, from what I know. Somethings overheats and a fire gets going.


Regular std fridge works on AC only, no flame....same as your home fridge

Generator or inverter has to power fridge....can't use LPG or 12v DC

One racer friend had a pretty new LQ trailer with a SS Camaro inside. Fire started at night while parked at Etown outside waiting to get in.

They were asleep inside......luckily they got out and got the race car out, trailer was burnt up

Took a long while to get satisfaction on that one from insurance.

My Dometic uses the Ammonia system.....AC-LPG

From the pictures I've always seen the heat gets to a sidewall or some insulation or some wiring......Fridge is stuffed in there without much clearance.....

Kenny Anderson told me when I bought my trailer to leave the trailer plugged in to AC and the fridge running all the time. I have done that and the fridge still works to this day. Trailer is a 2007.

quote:

Originally posted by Cashflow:
Kenny Anderson told me when I bought my trailer to leave the trailer plugged in to AC and the fridge running all the time. I have done that and the fridge still works to this day. Trailer is a 2007.

I have owned a number of MH's and have never left the frig running all winter and have never had an issue. I shut mine down some time in Nov. and turn it back on in April.

What's the reason to leave it on?

I leave mine on all the time. Winter summer doesn't matter.

Supposed to keep the ammonia circulating. I’ve seen videos where the fridge quit working and they take it out and roll it around to shake it up and it starts working again.

quote:

Originally posted by DRB Motorsports:
keep that norcold running or that stuff will gel up in there ! learned that the hard way in our motor home.

KINDA WHAT I SAID .

I would replace it with a residential unit. Im sure it has a good sized inverter on it for the rare time you dont have the generator running. When it is at home just plug it in.

I dont think it is quite the same as the golf cart trailer fires, but if you have the means to mitigate the risk then I certainly would.

Added benefit - your ice cream will always be good and frozen.

I did some reading about how those systems work
They can overheat and crack a boiler tube or somewhere else and lose some ammonia
Normal operating temp can be 350 degrees so it’s plenty hot in some parts
A Flash fire occurs from the gas.
Fridge typically installed very tightly with little or no heat shielding

I leave my fridge plugged in from spring to fall
Shut it off in late fall after winterizing the MH

It’s worked every year and is a 2010
Not a full size fridge but has worked fine for me since 2014

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SCDIV1,

Those RV type refrigerators are in literally millions of camping trailers and at least on the brand I have, Grand Design, I’ve never heard of one burning down a coach. Are the ones in race car equipment different?

No difference.
The occurrences of fires is low but when it happens it is bad.

There were some recalled units.

I have a racer friend, his refrigerator in his Toter caught fire while sitting inside his automotive repair shop, destroyed the MH and did severe damage to 2 race cars and heavy smoke and fire damage to his shop forcing him to relocate while repairs were being made.

Don't know any details of what kind of fridge it was other than it was where the fire started.

I had a refrigerator start leaking ammonia that almost knocked me out when I opened the side door. Had to air out the coach for a few days before I could even go in to inspect. I now make sure to shut it down completely (electricity AND propane).

quote:

Originally posted by adv ET 266:
Those RV type refrigerators are in literally millions of camping trailers and at least on the brand I have, Grand Design, I’ve never heard of one burning down a coach. Are the ones in race car equipment different?

Paul

In a lot (maybe most) camping trailers they make sense. They don’t come equipped with generators or a sufficient power supply and inverter to run anything different. In a motor home used for motor sports it just doesn’t make sense. There is usually sufficient battery power and inverter capacity available that there is no need to run on LP or DC power. Typically the generator will run from the time the coach leaves home until it returns. When you add that to the fact that their is a flame going inside of them, they need to be kept level, and they generally do no stay super cold in hot environments it just doesn’t make sense to keep them around.

The residential fridge just makes much more sense in this application. If Ed were boondocking then it would be a different discussion.

My previous 5th wheel had a huge LG residential unit. No generator. The inverter would run it while in transit. It operated flawlessly.

All just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by adv ET 266:
Those RV type refrigerators are in literally millions of camping trailers and at least on the brand I have, Grand Design, I’ve never heard of one burning down a coach. Are the ones in race car equipment different?

You don’t get out much then…hundreds have burned down…let alone burnt peoples houses…shops…pets…down with it

quote:

Originally posted by WHOMPWHOMP:

quote:

Originally posted by adv ET 266:
Those RV type refrigerators are in literally millions of camping trailers and at least on the brand I have, Grand Design, I’ve never heard of one burning down a coach. Are the ones in race car equipment different?

You don’t get out much then…hundreds have burned down…let alone burnt peoples houses…shops…pets…down with it

^^ This^^

I put a Residential fridge in my MH 5 years ago and it's the best thing I've done for it. Our dog always travels with us and leaving him in the MH alone feels much safer now. It cost me $3500 to have the Residential fridge installed, it looks like it came from the factory and I would have paid twice that for peace of mind.

Also think about where these fridges are in relation to the bedrooms, no matter whether its a Class A or a Toter. They are in between the bedroom and the exit and these fires happen quickly blocking your exit.

who makes a residential fridge that will fit in my opening?

That's the fridge arrangement I have in my pusher. Mine has the furnace under the fridge. I sure don't understand why that's a popular arrangement. Makes sizing a residential fridge difficult, and frankly that size fridge for three people for three days is simply not enough room. These rigs were all boatloads of money new. Why put such a small fridge in them?
Plus, when the furnace is under them, they aren't much fun to work on. A few years back I had a dirt dobbler nest in the fan of mine, and it was some sort of contortionist act to disassemble.