Date: Wed, 25 May 2005 11:34:40 -0700
Reply-To: Vanagon <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vanagon <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: Fridge....should it stay on...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Seems like there are many westy owners who do run the propane fridge while
underway and have not had any problems.
Also seems obvious to the most casual observer that
a pilot light lit while refueling or at a gas station is a BAD idea even if
it is down inside the fridge with 2 feet of steel tubing and on the opposite
side of the van.
Does not seem to be too difficult to just pull over before going up to the
pump and turn off the fridge.
"de flame! de flame"
----- Original Message -----
From: "jimt" <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 11:13 AM
Subject: Re: Fridge....should it stay on...
> On 5/25/05 11:31 AM, "Dusty Edwards" <dusty.edwards@MAC.COM> wrote:
>
> > that would be nice, however, i don't think that it would be very
successful
> > since the fridge usually takes (atleast) a little elbow grease to get
going on
> > LP.
> >
>
> In his case he was talking just the opposite.. To have it switch to elect
> automatically if the engine was started.
>
> I have found that almost all westy that the fridge would not stay on
usually
> had had the vent stacks worked on or had the fridge out and worked on.
> Those vents are very critical for pressure equalization of the little
> chamber the flame is in. that flame is so small that almost any breeze
will
> blow it out. The system is designed to have equal pressure on the in and
> out tubes at the vent.
>
> However I am one that never left the fridge running on propane on any of
my
> systems while traveling. I have seen way to many disasters. And most of
> them at the local gas station. I was about a half mile down the road from
> one I had just left and saw the station pump area go up behind me. Turned
> around to go back and got there in only about 3 minutes to get back and
that
> was all it took to turn a small/medium camper to ashes. Nobody was inside
> at the time. Saw it on the news that evening and a pic showed the
inspector
> pointing at the blast marks of the flame start in the fridge pilot area.
> And then at a sign telling everyone to make sure all pilot light and flame
> devices were extinguished before fueling.
> Jimt
