Fridge fire

[Yvonnemarc]

Still under investigation but this happened last night at a place we stayed last weekend. Shortly after pulling in fire started in the fridge. Owner tried to put it out with fire extinguisher. Didn’t think to shut off the gas. Luckily no one was hurt.

[ducksface]

Here's the $25 prescript.
It didn't have to happen.
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/sh...&postcount=251

[Bob Denman]

That's a dang shame...
Glad to hear that nobody was hurt: it could have been MUCH worse!

I wonder if this product could have helped?
https://www.arprv.com/products.php

[Pete'sMH]

Yikes! FWIW I put the fridge defender on my new Newmar’s Norcold. Pretty straightforward installation that doesn’t require any alterations to the fridge. It’s certainly possible that this thing is a scam but the theory seems sound to me. No fires yet!!

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

Yikes! FWIW I put the fridge defender on my new Newmar’s Norcold. Pretty straightforward installation that doesn’t require any alterations to the fridge. It’s certainly possible that this thing is a scam but the theory seems sound to me. No fires yet!!

Did you get the fans as well or just the monitor?

[Lt Keefer]

Same thing happened to my brand new 1999 SOB class c. Dometic had a recall that supposedly fixed the fridges. In my case, GEICO paid the claim and I bought a new unit.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by The_Breeze

Did you get the fans as well or just the monitor?

I did. Two very small ones to circulate air in the fridge and one larger one blowing upwards across the coolant coils on the back. I didn’t much like the recommended attachment to the outside fridge cover so I fabricated a very simple bracket to hold it in place behind the cover. Everything works great. I rather like being able to check the temp of the boiler.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

cut...

I rather like being able to check the temp of the boiler.

It got my attention too. Thx.

[brucev]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

That's a dang shame...
Glad to hear that nobody was hurt: it could have been MUCH worse!

I wonder if this product could have helped?
https://www.arprv.com/products.php

Bob, it very well could have. Installed the Fridge Depend a couple months back specifically because of the fire potential if they get over heated. I bought the one with added fans because mine is in the slide and it gets really hot in the top of the cabinet.

[TurnerFam]

that looked like a fairly new FLEETWOOD Class A gas unit - I really wonder if he actually had a RV fridge, or whether it comes with a residential fridge, like many do now.... also, I wonder if the Main Panel/Converter is right below the fridge - could 'that' have been the source, and not the 'fridge'..... hm......mmm....

[OKnative]

I bought my 2014 Hurricane 27K used in Jan 2016 from a dealer. I can hear a fan running from the frige every so often. The frige is in the slide and has two outside vents. Do they always come with a fan? I am wondering if the previous owners could have installed the Frige Defend?

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by OKnative

I bought my 2014 Hurricane 27K used in Jan 2016 from a dealer. I can hear a fan running from the frige every so often. The frige is in the slide and has two outside vents. Do they always come with a fan? I am wondering if the previous owners could have installed the Frige Defend?

It came with a fan to assist the natural circulation cooling since it is in a slide and does not have a roof vent.

[JAE Darbo]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

That's a dang shame...
Glad to hear that nobody was hurt: it could have been MUCH worse!

I wonder if this product could have helped?
https://www.arprv.com/products.php

Yes, the ARPRV helps prevent these frig-fires. Fridge Defend by ARP® controls the high temperatures that can lead to fridge failure and safety issues, our fan controller improves efficiency and repairs fan problems without removal of the fridge in most cases for Dometic, Norcold & Amish RV Refrigerators. Fridge Defend by ARP® controls the high temperatures that can lead to fridge failure and safety issues, our fan controller improves efficiency and repairs fan problems without removal of the fridge in most cases for Dometic, Norcold & Amish RV Refrigerators.

[Saltypines]

I didn’t know fridge fires were a thing.., is it when they are on propane mode that it becomes a hazard? Or can they overheat when plugged in to electric?

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the forum!
I guess any time that you have electricity, propane, and overheating conditions present: almost anything is possible!

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Saltypines

I didn’t know fridge fires were a thing.., is it when they are on propane mode that it becomes a hazard? Or can they overheat when plugged in to electric?

You may have heard that RV (absorption) fridges need to be pretty much level to operate properly. This is because of their very simple design - pretty much no moving parts. They work by heating an ammonia based coolant by either gas or electric heater into a gaseous state. As it expands it extracts heat from the inside of the cabinet. The coolant cools as it flows just by gravity down the zig zag tubes on the back of the unit. That’s why there needs to be a lower and upper vent so there is good airflow for cooling. So if you are out of level the gravity driven flow of coolant fails and the heater, either gas or electric, can suffer a runaway temperature. Like a pot boiling dry on the stove. And just like on your stove that’s what can start a fire. The ARP device simply measures the temperature of the heater and temporarily turns the fridge off if the temp gets higher than normal. What’s interesting, according to the ARP website, is that camping out of level is not the only thing that can interrupt the proper coolant flow. Driving on a long grade, stopping for lunch on a hill or even certain wind patterns while driving can do it albeit intermittently. They then claim that intermittent short periods of overheating might not cause an immediate fire but can eventually make the copper coolant lines brittle enough to crack or leak resulting in loss of the gaseous coolant which then causes the runaway temperatures. Seems to me a somewhat remote possibility, but the installation of the ARP control was an interesting and straightforward project and I like being able to monitor the status of the coolant - it shows the gaseous temp (about 195 degrees) and the temperature of the returning liquid coolant (about 125 degrees). It also can tell you if or how many times it has temporarily interrupted the cooling process due to overheating. There are several options to the basic control unit including fans to improve the air flow behind the fridge and inside to make the cabinet temps more even.

I know residential fridges are all the rage these days but we specifically didn’t want one. We prefer the simplicity of the absorption models over the need for massive battery banks and charging capacity. But I’m good with reducing fire risk!

[Bob Denman]

You explained that so well, that even I understood it.
Thanks!

[Saltypines]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

You may have heard that RV (absorption) fridges need to be pretty much level to operate properly. This is because of their very simple design - pretty much no moving parts. They work by heating an ammonia based coolant by either gas or electric heater into a gaseous state. As it expands it extracts heat from the inside of the cabinet. The coolant cools as it flows just by gravity down the zig zag tubes on the back of the unit. That’s why there needs to be a lower and upper vent so there is good airflow for cooling. So if you are out of level the gravity driven flow of coolant fails and the heater, either gas or electric, can suffer a runaway temperature. Like a pot boiling dry on the stove. And just like on your stove that’s what can start a fire. The ARP device simply measures the temperature of the heater and temporarily turns the fridge off if the temp gets higher than normal. What’s interesting, according to the ARP website, is that camping out of level is not the only thing that can interrupt the proper coolant flow. Driving on a long grade, stopping for lunch on a hill or even certain wind patterns while driving can do it albeit intermittently. They then claim that intermittent short periods of overheating might not cause an immediate fire but can eventually make the copper coolant lines brittle enough to crack or leak resulting in loss of the gaseous coolant which then causes the runaway temperatures. Seems to me a somewhat remote possibility, but the installation of the ARP control was an interesting and straightforward project and I like being able to monitor the status of the coolant - it shows the gaseous temp (about 195 degrees) and the temperature of the returning liquid coolant (about 125 degrees). It also can tell you if or how many times it has temporarily interrupted the cooling process due to overheating. There are several options to the basic control unit including fans to improve the air flow behind the fridge and inside to make the cabinet temps more even.

I know residential fridges are all the rage these days but we specifically didn’t want one. We prefer the simplicity of the absorption models over the need for massive battery banks and charging capacity. But I’m good with reducing fire risk!

Wow that was just about the best answer I’ve gotten from any of the posts I’ve ever made to forums I Thank you for taking the time to share all that information so clearly!

[JAE Darbo]

Pete'sMH gave you a very clear view of the RVFireissue.

May I suggest that you go to this site: https://www.arprv.com/rv-fire-cause-and-prevention.php

It gives a special attention to the frig-fire issue, with excellent graphics as well.

I installed the ARPRV unit in my AXIS, with two fans to help move air over the coils. Starts faster, runs cheaper and does help prevent the effects of non-level operation.

Call me if you like; I have pics.

John Darbo
817.714.2665
johndarbo@aol.com

Roll Tide

[Rysiek]

John,
I just sent you an email asking for more images of your install. I have not realized how dangerous operating rv fridge could be, if something goes wrong. Looking forward seeing your pictures. Thank you.