Water puddling in fridge or is that normal?

Ya I know, first world problems, ha. Anyway, I've had a camp fridge for to 2 years now. The first one was great, no issues, and then I started noticing puddles of water along the bottom after a year. I let it go for a while, much better than a cooler full of melted ice and then I thought, my regular fridge doesn't puddle, so why should this one. So it got replaced. Replaced a couple times after shipping damage and the next couple would puddle right away, so then I talked my way into what I though was an upgrade. It showed up and has been running about 6 weeks now. And it is also puddling.

So my question, for those with camp fridges, is this just normal? Or am I just getting bad fridges? Or maybe I just need a better quality one? All my experience has been with Iceco.

 

I see your in AZ. It's not a problem with condensation is it? Wouldn't the compressor remove any moisture in the air as it's cycling?

I'm not at all an expert on these things, just spit balling.

 

There's condensation as well. Sadly, I haven't camped since March. It's getting used as a secondary fridge at home. But it's inside an air condition dining room all day. So it shouldn't be sweating that bad.

 

So, no air leak on the seal or anythin’ like that?

 

Nothing that I have seen.

 

If it’s got a fan make sure it’s clear. Not sure of the model but if the condenser’s dirty, that’ll do it too. Pet hair is a problem sometimes.

 

The original was the VL35 expandable fridge. The current is the VL45ProS. When in the house, it sits on a table about 3 feet off the floor. So no pet hair to worry about. All the vents are clear though.

I was more wondering if this happens with other brands and I just need to stop worrying about it, ha.

 

I suppose if it’s keepin temp. it’s all good but not liking the water for sure. Pretty solid unit just the same.

 

My ARB doesn't puddle when running/being used for reference.

 

Ya, none have had any problems getting or holding temp. They always sit around 38F.

Good to know. Just curious, which model do you have and how long you been running it?

 

I have the classic ARB 50L. I've had it for 3ish years now and it was owned by another member on here a while before me. Sits in the bed of my truck in the Utah sun most always and doesn't have an issue despite not being "outdoor rated" by ARB.

Could the puddling maybe be from the fridge getting below freezing, getting frost on the inside walls that then melts off as it warms up until the thermostat kicks the compressor on again? Seems like really the only explanation. I have my ARB set at 34* and it seems to cycle between 29* and 36* so seems plausible.