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Date:         Mon, 26 Apr 2004 21:25:33 -0700
Reply-To:     "Mike D." <md03@XOCHI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Mike D." <md03@XOCHI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Another fridge question
In-Reply-To:  <20040426152633.682795B82F@smaug.dreamhost.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

>Subject: Re: Another fridge question

This is a "must-do" mod for anyone with a fridge: -mike

I had an 85 with a Dometic that would barely get cold. Turns out they have a common problem: The radiator fin assembly inside is press fit onto a tube, with a layer of thermal paste between the two. The paste dries up and stops working (and I suspect there have also been improvements in thermal conductive paste technology in the past 20 years).

Procedure is as follows (for an 85, YMMV):

1. But two 1/4 ounce tubes of thermal conductive paste (aka "heat sink paste" or "heat sink compound") from RadioShack. 2. Pull off the radiator fins. It is press fit, can be tight, but should pull off with a little muscle. 3. You should see some old, dried up looking paste on the fins and the cold tube. Clean this off. I used hot water, my fingernails and a washcloth. 4. Liberally apply the thermal paste. I used two full 1/4 ounce tubes and that seemed about the right amount. Try to make sure the paste is spread evenly without bubbles. 5. Press the fins back on, taking care to put the thermocouple back in the groove in the fins.

Total time : about 20 minutes Total cost : about $6

After this mod, the fins now get nice & frosty, and it has no trouble keeping a reasonable temperature.

I also added a 12v matchbook-size fan to circulate air inside the fridge, but rarely use it. The biggest improvement came with replacing the heat sink paste.

-mike


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