Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 10:59:29 -0600
Reply-To: Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@POWERSURFR.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@POWERSURFR.COM>
Subject: Re: HELP - Need Fridge help ASAP
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Ron,
I found an excerpt in my Vanagon files that may help you pinpoint the
problem:
Dometic 'Frig in 84 Westy works on electric. Within 2 hours of connecting to
electric the temp was down to 35 degrees (temp outside was in the 60s);
So this means the fridge cooling mechanism works when heat is applied to the
boiler... so the problem is something specific to the propane function.
Fired up the propane (I always need to try two different times to get it
going - maybe a magic wand would help!) - after 2, 4, 6 hours the
temperature remained the same: 65 degrees. Apparently the propane is on
because 1) the LED panel green light is lite and 2) the observation tube in
'frig shows a blue flame.
My guess: it could be the thermostat. I believe I remember that the
thermostat does not function on 110 volts. If the thermostat were out that
could explain why the fride cools on 110 and does not on propane. Eventhough
you get the pilot to light it the thermostat does not kick the flame up to
creat enough heat the boiler enough to creat cooling effect.... my guess.
Does it also work on 12 volt? (I believe the thermostat functions on 12
volt. If that is so you should not get any better cooling on 12 volt).
You will have to run the engine to get the 12 volt to work... take an hour
drive and see if the cooling fins are cold.
Good Luck,
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Salmon" <tech@BUSDEPOT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2001 7:48 AM
Subject: HELP - Need Fridge help ASAP
> Any Dometic experts out there?
>
> We're getting ready to leave on a camping trip in our Westy and the fridge
> isn't getting cold. It was left on all night using propane, and the burner
> was working (blue flame in lower corner of unit all night long), but this
> morning it is not cold at all.
>
> It DOES get cold on 110v power, but not on propane or, it appears, 12v.
> Nothing obviously appears to be wrong when taking it out and inspecting
it..
>
> Does anyone have any ideas what it could be? If we can't get it figured
out
> in the next few hours, we'll have to do without the fridge for our camping
> trip.
>
> - Ron Salmon
> The Bus Depot, Inc.
> www.busdepot.com
> (215) 234-VWVW
>
