Dometic Thermofuse, Thermal Fuse, Thermal Switch, Part Number 3850870019

It has been reported by many of our customers over the years that Dometic claims that their "containment system" and "thermofuse (or thermal fuse)" switch does the same thing as the Fridge Defend, that is, protect your fridge from failure and in turn help prevent fire. This page is a fact finding test, the Fridge Defend is protected by patent. Dometic has not licensed our innovation, thus they cannot make this claim.

Brown font - quotes from Dometic:

In August of 2020 one of our customers called Dometic regarding the Fridge Defend. When the customer stated "I'm thinking of getting one of those Fridge Defend devices", Dometic employee stated "We have a, what is called a thermofuse on the back, so if the refrigerator does get too hot...it is the same thing that this device [Fridge Defend] would do." We will video test the Dometic thermofuse, and then you can decide if the Dometic thermofuse "is the same thing" as the Fridge Defend?

The plot/curve above is the results from the test seen in the video. The horizontal axis is read from sensor (D) seen in the picture below. The vertical axis is the senor (B) on the boiler tube which reflects the temperature that the Fridge Defend will use to control the fridge.

A) We opened a small gap in the electric heater access door to show the electric heater turning red hot.
B) A precision temperature sensor was attached to the boiler tube.
C) The boiler tube temperature sensor is data logged by the meter on the left.
D) A precision temperature sensor is placed between the boiler housing and the Dometic thermal switch.
E) The Dometic part number 3850870019 recall⁴ thermal switch set-point temperature is data logged by the meter on the right.
F) A blue LED simulates the refrigerator power through the thermal switch, when the blue LED turns off, the Dometic fridge turns off.

This test was conducted with an absorption refrigerator boiler that did not have any fluids nor pressure in it. We attempted to test the Dometic boiler housing thermal switch on a working fridge, but we reached temperatures that were unsafe to continue testing. Thus, we had to use a boiler that was not pressurized for our own safety.

Dometic NHTSA Recall Campaign 06E-076 — 936,866 Refrigerators

The NHTSA recall campaign caused a lot of folks to be upset due to unnecessary fridge failures. The below fridge were recalled for the years 1997 to 2007, this recall was standard equipment 2007 and on. This recall in a nut shell was a shield to contain the fire, and a thermal fuse combined with the boiler housing thermal fuse (thermofuse) seen in the video above, click here to read about the recall.

Dometic 6 Cubic Foot RV Fridge

RM2652	RM2662	RM2663
DM2652	DM2662	DM2663
DM2672	DM2682	RM2607
RM2607	RM2611	RM2612
RM2620	RM3604	RM3607
RM3662	RM3663

Dometic 7 Cubic Foot RV Fridge

RM3762	RM3762RB	RM3762RBIMF
RM3762LSS	DMR702	DMR702LB
DMR702RB	DMC702	DMR702LB

Dometic 8 & 10 Cubic Foot RV Fridge

RM2811	RM2812	RM2820
RM2811	RM2812	RM2820
RM2852	DM2852	DM2862
RM3862	RM3962	RM3972
NDR1062	NDM1062	NMH1072
RM 10.5	RMD 10.5T	RMD 10.5XT

Dometic 12 & 14 Cubic Foot RV Fridge

RM1350	RM1350M	RM1350IM
RM1350WIM	RME1350	NDA1402
NDA1402	NDR1402	NDA1402