Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Refrigerator cooling fins frosting over

June 23, 2014, 10:37:19 am

Yahoo Message Number: 147080

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On my 1995 TK the refrigerator cooling fins are building frost on them. We have been on the road for nearly 2 months so it's been running that long. I assume this is normal? I have the defrost switch set to the on position. The freezer has very little frost.

Re: Refrigerator cooling fins frosting over

Reply #2 – June 23, 2014, 07:14:08 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 147095

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There are several possibilities.
 Each time you open the door, humid air goes in and moisture condenses and freezes on the fins.  That is normal.  I periodically remove everything and cover items with a comforter, turn off the refrig and defrost it and the freezer to keep the fins mostly clear.  I do this a few times per summer and once per winter.
 If the gasket is not sealing completely this can greatly increase frost buildup.  To test the seal, clean the gasket and mating surfaces thoroughly, then dry them.  Take a fairly new dollar bill.  Holding one end, close it in the door and pull it out.  It should be able to slide out, but with significant resistance.  Repeat all around the doors - all 4 sides for each.  If you find any spots where the bill slides out with very little resistance, you may have a poor seal there, and you may need a new gasket (or you may need to clean that spot again).

A cooling fan can help.
 It is a good idea to minimize air in the refrig by keeping it fairly full.  If you are in a very humid area like Florida, as you empty chilled goods, you can replace them with ziploc bags inflated to take up space.  Keeping the inside full reduces the amount of moisture that can enter each time you open the door.

Plan so that you open the door as seldom as possible.
 I know some of this sounds a little off the wall, but it can reduce frost formation.

Ken F in OR

Re: Refrigerator cooling fins frosting over

Reply #4 – June 23, 2014, 08:10:52 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 147099

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Thank you for the great info Ken! I will check the seal.

Re: Refrigerator cooling fins frosting over

Reply #6 – June 24, 2014, 12:27:51 am

Yahoo Message Number: 147102

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As usual thanks Andy for the reminder!

Re: Refrigerator cooling fins frosting over

Reply #8 – June 24, 2014, 11:57:56 am

Yahoo Message Number: 147107

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I have used a very small computer cooling fan in the refrigerator to provide air circulation for a decade or more.
Wire  the fan's two wires across the contacts of refrigerator's light switch.  This method uses the light bulb as a dropping resistor, lowering the  speed of the fan, saving power and still providing the wanted air  circulation.
The power usage is minimal.
When the door is open, the fan shuts off and the bulb lights.
Small fans are inexpensive and can be found for free in all sorts of discarded electronics.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157602104742183/show http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102824#tabsetBasic

Larry

Re: batteries

Reply #10 – June 27, 2014, 11:40:06 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 147148

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"I still can't figure out how to get on even though I am a member."

Well, you just posted a message, so you are "on." :-)

"I have two six volt batters(AGC). When the voltage says 11.8 volts---does that mean the batteries are 30 per cent left or totally depleted."

As this Eureka article explains, voltage alone is not a reliable way to assess the state of your batteries. If your batteries are fully charged but you have a heavy load on them (e.g., an inverter powering a microwave oven), they could read below 12 volts while the appliance is on, but will recover once it's off. On the other hand, your batteries could be all but dead, yet show 14 volts if you solar panels are in bright sun. In neither case is the voltage reading meaningful.

That said, if your batteries read 11.8 volts when there have been no drains and no charging going on for at least half an hour (e.g., 3:00 a.m. with no lights on), then they are seriously drained. If you see 11.8 volts in that situation, you are damaging your batteries.

But as the Eureka article points out, you're never really going to know where you stand until you install an intelligent battery monitor such as a LinkLite. Until you have that, it's all guesswork. If you are pushing your batteries to the limit--and it sounds as if you are--I recommend getting a battery monitor as soon as possible.

Andy Baird

Travels with Andy