At 01:55 PM 6/19/2002, Russell F. Maginnis wrote: >First question: >I have an 84 Westy with a Dometic 182 refrigerator. It will not operate on >gas at above about 4,000 feet. I usually camp above 8,000 ft. I understand >there is a fitting that is intended to permit operation at high altitudes >but have heard that (1) it is not available and (2) once installed, the >refrigerator fails to operate on gas at any altitude! Suggestions or >sources, anyone? For high altitude problems, you can install a smaller jet (prolly not available) or adjust your regulator to lower pressure. From 11" WC, knock it back to maybe around 8 and see what happens. You want it as high as will work... >Second question: >I have an auxiliary or "house" battery, starting variety, under the >driver's seat. It operates the refrigerator even when the ignition is off. >Great for stop and go driving. At altitude, I inadvertently left the >refrigerator on DC all night (more than 8 hours) at an exterior temperature >below freezing. It operated the refrigerator all night (freezing a quart of >milk). Yet, on this list I read that the refrigerator operates continuously >irrespective of the temperature it obtains. If so, within a few hours it >should have drained that battery, at 7 amps per hour, but it did not. >Explanation, anyone? Black magic? Possibly someone rewired the thermostat to work with 12v as well as 110v? Prolly not, you'd probably have an extra switch on the panel to shift the thermostat. 7 amps x 8 hours is of course about 55 amp-hours, which would probably bring a starting battery down pretty good. I vote for black magic. david
-- David Beierl - Providence, RI http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/ '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage" '85 GL "Poor Relation" |
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