"Normal" refrigerator temps

[RRTom]

I have a norcold refrigerator. Unable to supply the model number right now.

I had the motor home a/c units set at 75 degrees. Outside temperature was 72 degrees. When I went into the motor home at 7:30 AM, the temperature in the refrigerator was 39 degrees. I am operating it on electric. Is this in the "normal range"?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

imgoin4it wrote:
Instructions on two different brands of refrigerators, , Frigidaire and GE, both say set the temperature of the refer at 37 and the freezer at o. I think they understand the temperatures as well as the appliances they manufacture.

Agreed with enthusiasm

In the tropics shelf life is critical. I "try" to keep things as cold as possible. The refrigerator does not actually damage produce or fruit at 32 degrees. Actual item temp. Sensitive stuff is kept nearer the door. I have a Pabst fan on 24/7

The freezer is kept at - 10F but if outside temps exceed 90°F 24 volt amp hours start climbing too rapidly. I ease the setting to zero.

I use amp hour meters on both the standing 18 CF freezer and refrigerator. They were added late 2017 They manage data like crazy. I had the freezer spray foamed 2 - 3" on sides, bottom and rear.

In the reefer mayo lasts longer at 35 than it does at 40.

Tiny fans aid cooling of both condensers. My son in law drove to an American enclave and bought seven used panels off lady who was bailing out. Quicksilver now has 11 panels making it autonomous. The 7 panels are alongside not mounted on the roof until I get home.

[deltabravo]

MitchF150 wrote:
I still wonder about the temps of those that shut down their fridge while traveling and say they can go for "4-8 hours" when It's *80 outside and everything is still cold??

But, what is the actual temps?? If they are still no more than *40 after 8 hours, I want one of those fridges!! Ha, even my home fridge can't do that! ha, ha.. 🙂

Mitch

DITTO!

I always leave my fridge on when traveling. If I am heading east or south, the fridge side of the rig faces the sun, and the fridge needs to be set to a lower temp setting in order to stay cold. With that in mind, I have a really hard time believing those that say "I turn my fridge off and it stays cold when traveling all day"

Last week I bought this monitor and will move the display unit to the truck the next time I travel, and see what the fridge temps are while in motion.

[imgoin4it]

Instructions on two different brands of refrigerators, , Frigidaire and GE, both say set the temperature of the refer at 37 and the freezer at o. I think they understand the temperatures as well as the appliances they manufacture.

[MitchF150]

I still wonder about the temps of those that shut down their fridge while traveling and say they can go for "4-8 hours" when It's *80 outside and everything is still cold??

But, what is the actual temps?? If they are still no more than *40 after 8 hours, I want one of those fridges!! Ha, even my home fridge can't do that! ha, ha.. 🙂

Mitch

[ernie1]

The recommended temperatures for refrigeration by the FDA or other enforcing agencies will be the maximum temperature and not necessarily the ideal nor sought after temp. Pathogenic bacteria will proliferate at temperatures between >40-<140 deg F so at temperatures above or below these two temps will prevent the growth of these bacteria. Not all bacteria are bad and the important ones, the pathogenic ones live in this range. So I feel that at a temperature as low as you can get without freezing foods is the ideal point to look for. Of course not all foods freeze at the same temperature so keep in mind the more susceptible one to low temperature like vegetables.

[navigator2346]

Sticking a probe in a refer and measuring temps will give false info. Temp probes should be measuring the temperature of something such as a glass of water or a piece of meat.Knowing the temp of what you are trying to keep cold is the important thing.

[Gdetrailer]

imgoin4it wrote:
The recommended temperatures are: 37 degrees for the refrigerator and 0 for the freezer.

While that is below FDAs general recommendation, 37F is YOUR recommendation.

Giving one temp does not tell the whole story.

T stats have something called Hysteresis, basically in a nutshell a "deadzone" or distance between ON and OFF, in fridges this deadzone can be broad.

37 could be an average between the two, but if you set it for 37 as turn off it could go ABOVE 40F before it turns on..

Hence the REASON to make sure the fridge is just above freezing (IE 33F) and then the off should not exceed 40F.

On RV fridges there are a lot of slop in the system so aim low and hope for the best.

[Cummins12V98]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the recommended refrigerator temperature is below 40°F; the ideal freezer temp is below 0°F.
However, the ideal refrigerator temperature is actually lower: Aim to stay between 35° and 38°F (or 1.7 to 3.3°C). This temperature range is as close as you can get to freezing without being so cold your food will freeze. It’s also as close as the refrigerator temperature should get to the 40°F threshold, at which point bacteria begin multiplying rapidly.

[imgoin4it]

The recommended temperatures are: 37 degrees for the refrigerator and 0 for the freezer.

[MrWizard]

For what ever reason ?
My RV fridge works better on propane than electric,
The electric heating elements 'on mine' do not produce the same btu's of heat energy,
I have not checked them, but I suspect that one of them might not be working
Yes this fridge has (2) 115v heating elements
You might switch to propane for testing purposes to see if it cools better using LP, under the same ambient conditions

[TechWriter]

RRTom wrote:
. . . the temperature in the refrigerator was 39 degrees. I am operating it on electric. Is this in the "normal range"?

Yes, but where in the fridge are you measuring the temp? In my residential fridge, the temp in the back may be 10 degrees cooler than on a door shelf.

[wa8yxm]

Some interesting responses in this thread
I posted a link in my last post... Check it out

Before I hit the site I THOUGHT I remembered the advice given there (not the first time I've visited) but that is why I returned to it before posting.

[RRTom]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

RRTom wrote:
I have a norcold refrigerator. Unable to supply the model number right now.

I had the motor home a/c units set at 75 degrees. Outside temperature was 72 degrees. When I went into the motor home at 7:30 AM, the temperature in the refrigerator was 39 degrees. I am operating it on electric. Is this in the "normal range"?

What 'temp setting' are you using? (1-9)
'3' then 39*F is within range
'5' then 39*F and ambient is 72*F---then cooling unit should be able to go lower then 39*F
'9' then you have REAL cooling issues.....thermistor, door seals, heat transfer, obstructed cooling unit tubing etc.

I had it at 5. I've since turned it up to 8 a few minutes ago. Freezer temp this morning was 9.

We are heading out in a few hours, and once we get settled again I will check both again.

39*F under what circumstances????

Lot more involved then JUST if temp is within range!

[Old-Biscuit]

RRTom wrote:
I have a norcold refrigerator. Unable to supply the model number right now.

I had the motor home a/c units set at 75 degrees. Outside temperature was 72 degrees. When I went into the motor home at 7:30 AM, the temperature in the refrigerator was 39 degrees. I am operating it on electric. Is this in the "normal range"?

What 'temp setting' are you using? (1-9)
'3' then 39*F is within range
'5' then 39*F and ambient is 72*F---then cooling unit should be able to go lower then 39*F
'9' then you have REAL cooling issues.....thermistor, door seals, heat transfer, obstructed cooling unit tubing etc.

39*F under what circumstances????

Lot more involved then JUST if temp is within range!