Ask Dave: Update on RV slide room refrigerator vent – Teaching an old dog new tricks!

This is a follow-up to the Norcold 1200 refrigerator question that had the upper vent covered with a baffle. Here is the original post.

From all the training and research I have done with absorption refrigerators, everything and everyone told me to leave as much of the vent opening as unobstructed as possible. Until now!

I felt the baffle should not be there, but…

After posting that I felt the baffle should not be there, Rob sent this follow-up:

Hi Dave,
I found the service manual from the Norcold 1200 series. See attached page 22 of the manual. Ours did not ever cool the fridge properly and failed completely 2 years ago. I have converted ours to JC Refrigeration’s 12-volt dual compressor, like a residential fridge. No baffle required. It has been working great.

I do enjoy reading your articles. Just trying to make sure that folks with ammonia-based fridges in the slide don’t remove the baffle. It is needed. Both the top one and the vent block. —Rob

My response

Personally, I think it’s a poor kind of install.

Here is a close-up of the recommended baffle:

All I can say is … Woof!

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Read Dave’s answer.

Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

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