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Old 07-25-2012, 09:35 PM   #1
terry and jo
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Retired Okie now in Colorado
Posts: 531
The Saga of a Residential Refrigerator

Some of you already know of the on-going story of our refrigerator problems and our search for a solution. It started with the idea of either repairing the Dometic that was malfunctioning or replacing it all together with a new Dometic. In that regards, we have a 7 year extended warranty on our Mobile Suites that would have covered that repair or replacement.

After careful consideration, plus seeing the posts of others that had replaced their RV refrigerator with a residential, we decided that we would replace ours with a residential as well. Our decision was made with the consideration that we didn’t want to have to go through all the hassle of troubleshooting the next RV refrigerator, especially since they don’t seem to last all that long.

I had seen a forum comment on SOITC by Allen Crutchfield (Big Al) where he told of their replacing with a residential. In the series of comments to his post, I noticed that Ron Gordon (RGordon) was planning on the same modification because his Norcold had quit. That original thread is here:

http://www.suitesowners.com/forums/s...w-Refrigerator

So, when considering all the aspects to make a decision, I went out and posted a forum thread of my own and also sent private messages to Allen and Ron. That forum thread is here:

http://www.suitesowners.com/forums/s...king-for-BigAl

Within that forum thread, Richard Miller (with that as his username) left a comment that he had made the same conversion. Then, my private messages to Allen and Ron were answered and they provided me with some information and pictures. Richard and I talked later via phone and he described their conversion. Then he sent me some pictures that were very valuable because they showed more detail to their conversion. They certainly cleared up a question or two that I had from this oral description.

Along the time we were researching and deciding, I was posting blog entries that were related to our problem, and then later I posted blog entries related to the modifications and actual installation. So, for the benefit of anyone who is considering the same kind of conversion, I will post links to all of those blog entries. Those are located below and are in chronological order as to their posting.

If anyone is considering a similar conversion, I hope this research that I did is helpful to you. My sincere thanks go to Allen Crutchfield, Ron Gordon, and Richard Miller, as well as to all the folks who helped with our actual process. Those would be Alicia and Slade Tennery of Rolling Retreats, our sons, Kevin and Eric, and of course, my lovely wife, Jo.

If you do this, be sure and check out the blog posting entitled “Residential Refrigerator Install Finished – Lessons Learned.” You can learn from a couple of my mistakes. The links below each have their date imbedded in the link, so if you've read previous blog entries of mine, you might be able to skip those. Some of the links are to posts about Allen's, Ron's, and Richard's installations, so you will have the benefit of all that I found out from others, plus the work we did on our own. Some blog entries also have links to my Photobucket account where you can see about all the pictures I took of the process.

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...ible-solution/

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...out-a-prequel/

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...ges-of-others/

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...e-change-over/

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...ential-fridge/

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...ion-stage-one/

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...ion-stage-two/

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...ssons-learned/

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.wordpr...on-of-samsung/
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Old 07-26-2012, 01:16 AM   #2
Joezilla
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Terry,

I've read all your blogs and notes. You guys did a fabulous job! The way you were such a pioneer for the rest of us is commendable.

I just have one question......how tall is your new fridge in inches? We are not having any cooling problems at the present time, just have to listen to those incessant fans running all day! I foresee doing what you and Jo did some time in the future.

Joe
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Old 07-26-2012, 08:21 AM   #3
terry and jo
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Joe,

Samsung lists the refrigerator as 69 3/4" Our interior space from the floor to the ceiling is right around 70". (I'd be more detailed but they don't like for me to read a tape measure.")

Even with only 1/4" to 1/2" of clearance above the refrigerator, we added insulation at the top as well as the sides. I imagine that the insulation is likely VERY compressed up there. Enough so, that it likely helps stabilize the refrigerator, although not enough to prevent side to side movement.

Terry
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Old 07-29-2012, 08:54 AM   #4
Gemstone
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Thanks so much for putting together such a detailed post...it will become my reference guide when I do ours.

Much obliged

Gemstone
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