Date:         Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:35:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Dometic Fridge Mod Update
Comments: To: Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Good point, Roger.

I did clean the orifice. The pressure is unknown at this time, but I
did crank up the regulator on both the BBQ tank and westy tank. The
flame seems robust enough.

The one thing I did not check was the heating element contact. That may
be the problem because the temps get very cold with the AC mode. That
tells me the chemicals are doing their job. Also, there seems to be a
lot of waste heat from the element unit when using the LP mode. It was
so hot that I could not touch it. Makes me think I should go back and
O'haul that thing to see what's going on in there. Maybe there is a gap
and the heat is not getting to the right place.

Keith O


On Jun 29, 2007, at 7:51 AM, Roger Sisler wrote:

> Did you clean the orifice?  Set the gas regulator on the tank( type in
> manometer on yahoo,and make one for $2)?
>
> It would be interesting to compare the ac mode results with LP.
>
> Did you remove and clean the heating element, for good contact against
> the
> wall of the  tube,that it goes into.Heat transfers by the contact area,
> mostly( conduction). Any rust or such will insulate this transfer into
> the
> heating chamber. Heat will have to enter the solution heating chamber
> by
> radiation. Much less efficient.Also, make sure the heating element is
> contacting the wall,the entire length of the element( about 4 inches).
> Maybe a sheet metal wedge on the opposite end of the set screw to press
> that end against the tube wall, directly towards the heating area.
>
> Basically, I think some hydrogen has leaked from the ammonia solution,
> in
> most Dometics, by now.There is not enough left to combine with the
> ammonia,
> in large enough amounts.Liquid ammonia can be heard when burping the
> Dometic,so it is still present.Did you burp it? Clogging of small
> passages
> by operating a little too much off level is not as geat a concern as
> it is
> usually heard.
>