Date:         Fri, 10 Aug 2007 23:24:25 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Dometic woes
In-Reply-To:  <000b01c7dbbc$e145a180$a3d0e480$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Here's the low down functionality on the Dometic fridge.

The thermocouple is activated by heat. Normally, this heat is the
propane flame. If one of the other elements (AC or DC...usually DC)
is touching, the light may turn on. Most of the time, you'll know,
and hence this is not a problem. When propane is running the flame
can vary, and this will cause the LED to change in intensity.

Now about that pump. The basic idea of the pump is to get oxygen to
the combustion chamber when the fridge isn't self drawing. You don't
need to pump vigorously. I almost don't ever pump. But my fridge
draws extremely well.

How to you get your fridge drawing air from outside properly? When
first starting up the fridge, there is a button you hold down. This
adds extra propane to the combustion chamber. The basic idea here is.
Heat up the flue. As the flue heats up with burnt propane, it will
draw in air from outside via the intake. When things are working
correctly, this won't take very long. 2 minutes at tops, unless you
are in a very hot climate (but then your fridge might have troubles
anyway above 95F.)

If your fridge isn't working correctly. It is time to service it.
This is not a complicated process. The biggest issue is pulling the
fridge. Once you have done so, the "service" is going to be on
cleaning the nozzle in the combustion chamber and cleaning out the
ash that has accumulated there.

Some folks have used acid to clean the nozzle. I don't care for that
myself. I used a fine copper wire.

On Aug 10, 2007, at 10:11 PM, Paul Chubbuck wrote:

> My indicator light turns bright green right away when the flame
> lights.  Is
> that an indication that the thermocouple is, in fact, working and
> properly
> aligned, or is it more complicated than that?
>
> Paul
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: alfred bagdan [mailto:abagdan@shaw.ca]
> Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 7:28 PM
> To: paul@takingflight.net
> Subject: Re: Dometic woes
>
> If you have a voltmeter, you could check the millivolts the
> thermocouple
> produces.  When they get old they produce less.  People who service
> furnaces
>
> replace them a lot.
> I'm not sure what the specs are, perhaps that can be looked up.
>
> Alfred