Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Refrigerator leveling

May 07, 2016, 08:27:50 am

Yahoo Message Number: 160340

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This is a re-post on the refrigerator leveling topic; the previous try is floating around somewhere in cyberspace:

"But operating an absorption refrigerator like the one in your Lazy Daze when it's too far off-level can permanently damage it. I've read that even an hour can do irreparable harm, if the fridge is far enough off-level. Older fridges are notoriously prone to this kind of damage, but newer ones are not immune." --- Andy beat me to the post! ;-)

An absorption refrigerator has no moving parts, i.e., a compressor; there's nothing to push the coolant through the system, so the cooling process, i.e., the circulation of the coolant (liquid ammonia, water, hydrogen gas and sodium chromate to reduce corrosion inside the system) is accomplished through gravity.

The cooling unit requires two essential elements to perform efficiently: level operating conditions and constant adequate ventilation. If the refrigerator is operated off-level, excess heat is generatedat the rear of the cooling unit (particularly near the boiler); excess heat over a period of time causes the sodium chromate (anti-corrosive) to crystallize and build up (most commonly in the percolator tube), blocking the flow of coolant and leading to failure.

On-the-road motion helps to keep everything stirred up inside the cooling unit; the problems occur when the rig is parked off-level with the refrigerator operating, particularly when the refrigerator is not level front to back. (A look at the zig-zag configuration of the cooling tubes should confirm this.)

I think there may be a perception among some RVers that "modern" absorption refrigerators are not affected by off-level operation. While it's likely true that older refrigerators may more prone to failure from off-level conditions than newer ones, the fundamental design of the absorption refrigerator has changed very little over the years; as Andy stated, newer refrigerators can fail prematurely when consistently operated off-level for even short periods of time. Once the coolant crystallizes and builds up in the system to the point of corroding the tubes and leaking yellow powder and ammonia stink into the compartment, the cooling unit is toast!

Keeping a bubble (or other) level inside the refrigerator or freezer compartment is helpful to determine how level the rig is; if the refrigerator is happy, the occupants probably will be, too.

As ever, YMMV.

Joan

Re: Refrigerator leveling

Reply #2 – May 07, 2016, 10:47:36 am

Yahoo Message Number: 160349

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I level the rig so that *at least* half a bubble shows in the circle; obviously, the more centered the bubble is in the circle, the better for the operation of the refrigerator. If the bubble is wandering around outside the circle, I move or re-level. Yes, it can be a PITA, but shelling out for a new refrigerator (which costs about the same as a new cooling unit) is a bigger one.

As ever, YMMV.

Joan