Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 23:02:34 -0400
Reply-To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: Let me introduce myself- finally!
In-Reply-To: <17700134.1117765064425.JavaMail.root@wamui-little.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
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I'm sorry to hear of your addiction. :p
Cooling the fridge on AC (I just do it overnight), will 1) demonstrate
that your fridge is working, and 2) save you some time down the road.
Some folks never use the battery, but it is wise to run the fridge on
battery when travelling down the road (especially when stopping for
refueling.
At least on mine, the instructions for lighting the fridge are right
there on the door panel. However, different switches are on different
years, so it helps to know what year you have. Doh! There it is at the
end of your message. 1987.
Okay, that's a late model. Easy enough then.
Open the door on the fridge. At the top you'll see a bunch of things.
Working from left to right.
Round thing. This is the handle for the air pump. Just used to put air
into the burner when initially lighting the fridge. It just pulls out
and pushes in.
Small round button. This is a button used to help get extra fuel into
the burner when first lighting the fridge. You'll push it in, when
instructed. Most times you'll leave it alone.
Round Dial. This is the thermostat to control temperature inside the
fridge. Most folks turn it all the way clockwise. All the way
counter-clockwise will turn it off. This thermostat is only useful if
running on propane or AC (not used when running on the auxillary
battery).
Another Round Dial. This is the inside on/off switch for the propane
feed to the fridge. All the way (1/4 turn) to the counterclockwise,
will turn it on. Anything else will be off.
Square red plastic (sort of reflector like). This has a light behind
it. It will flash when the piezo electric igniter is trying to light
the fridge. If it is on solid, you need maintenance on your fridge.
Most of the times it is off.
3 square buttons. Only one can be in at a time. Left most is depressed
when you want to run on AC. Middle is depressed when you want to run on
Battery. Right most is when you want to run on Propane.
Instructions for lighting the fridge.
First get propane in the tank. They should know how to fill it. They
might not like to, but that's neither here or there. You can't get this
done at your local Home Depot. Go to a real propane supply place.
You'll be able to run a couple of weeks on a full tank of propane.
You'll only get about 2.5 gallons (max) of propane in the tank.
Refilling shouldn't cost you more than $10 (and probably less).
On the external propane tank is a valve to supply propane to the
devices inside. This is a standard valve. Turn it counterclockwise to
open. Turn it clockwise to close (righty tighty, lefty loosey).
Now, inside. I like to light one of the burner to verify I've open the
valve properly. Then I shut it off. Otherwise...
Turn on the propane switch on the fridge. Turn on the thermostat
(manual says to minimum, I never listen). Pump the air pump a few
times. Push the far right (propane) button. The RED light should start
flashing. Push and hold the small round button. The light should go
out. Hold that button down for 30 seconds. You might pump the air pump
a few more times, but it usually isn't needed. Release the small round
button. The square red light should remain out.
Above (outside the fridge), you should have a little display with a
switch on it and a collection of LEDs. Turn the switch on. Several LEDs
should light up (showing the battery power, level of water in the water
tank and, finally, the bottom most LED on the left, indicated with a
little snowflake, should light up when the propane on the fridge is
lit. This may be hard to see in bright sunlight (some of us have
replaced that green LED with a brighter blue one.)
On Jun 2, 2005, at 10:17 PM, Lisa Bliss wrote:
>
> If I understand correctly, I should first cool the fridge for 24
> hours on electric power and then switch to auxillary battery? Only
> power it with propane if going to be settled in one spot for the whole
> time?
>
