Date:         Sun, 1 Jul 2007 21:26:07 -0700
Reply-To:     Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Refrigerator help-yes, I've already searched the archieves
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Try bench-testing in the LP mode by hooking up a portable LP tank.
Remove the orifice and VERY GENTLY rotate a needle in the hole by
rolling between your fingers. You just want to smooth out the walls of
the hole without enlarging. Be careful. Test the flame with the burner
box open and you may see an improvement. Run the thermostat up and
down. You should hear a faint click as it goes on/off and see the flame
go small then large at the same time. The flame ignites much easier if
the thermo is at max. I also tried wrapping the burn tube assembly with
aluminum foil to help keep the heat where it's needed. This was done by
removing the metal jacket (just push the sides together on either side
of the seam. Gently peal back the fiberglass and put aside. Gloves and
a mask are a good thing at this time. Wrap several layers of foil
around the heating elements and then reassemble. I also used fiberglass
to insulate the whole flue/burner-box with foil tape over that. Top
that off with a few recycled computer fans on the coils and inside the
fridge and you should get better cooling. Keep in mind that I have not
yet field tested these mods yet, but so far so good. Yesterday the temp
was 35F with ambient at 75F. The fans run nearly constantly and I think
an override switch may be good so that it can be turned off at night.

Now for a few days of camping in 85F+ temps to really see if this was
worth all the trouble...

Keith O

PS I made a nice flue cover out of my old boy scout pot which I trimmed
down a bit and cut off the handle. It's aluminum and the perfect size
for a snug fit. Forgot it was on there today and when I lit the fridge
it blew the cover right off!!
On Jul 1, 2007, at 7:44 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Sun, 1 Jul 2007 12:50:37 -0600
> From:    Paul Chubbuck <paul@TAKINGFLIGHT.NET>
> Subject: Refrigerator help-yes, I've already searched the archieves
>
> So....here's the facts.
>
> Last season, my reefer worked quite successfully on LP.
>
> This season it wouldn't stay lit, so I took it all apart and cleaned
> the
> burner box.  I blew out the chimney tubes with high pressure air.  I
> soaked
> the orifice in alcohol and blew it out.  I checked it for obstructions
> with
> a powerful magnifier and saw nothing at all in the tiny hole.  I
> sealed the
> burner box well with the gasket first, and silicone sealant outside
> that.
> Once I put it back together, the flame stayed lit, but it has not been
> cooling effectively on LP.
>
> Since then, I pulled it out again and burped it for 18 hours and let
> it sit
> for a time right side up before trying again.
>
> It now cools fairly well on 110AC.  Last night the fins were down to 20
> degrees on a warm night (on 110AC), and the interior about 45.  That
> would
> indicate to me that the chemicals are still there and that the system
> is
> intact.  But on gas, the fins only get down to about 60 or higher.  If
> I
> switch it over, the fins immediately start to warm up.
>
> The regulator pressure checks out ok at 11-3/8" of water.
>
> Can anyone see anything I've missed?
>
> Thanks a million!
>
> Paul
> Wanting to go camping!