Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:19:50 -0700
Reply-To: Thomas Jefferson Kitts <thomas@THOMASKITTS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Thomas Jefferson Kitts <thomas@THOMASKITTS.COM>
Subject: Re: Dometic won't light troubleshooting
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90807150816u5049a8a6r340ab18e7564b5cd@mail.gmail.com>
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Neil, I am on the list, although this having to hit "reply all" to
actually post to the group seems a tad antiquated for a listserv these
days Also seem to duplicate the messages being sent and received. But
hey, I digress and should stay focussed on the low-tech of fridges,
not the high-tech of "the internets". . .
Last night's beer offering to the Dometic Gods failed to produce any
chilling effect on 110V power so I picked up the fridge and gently
shook it side to side. There was a reasonable sloshing sound produced
so I assume by that means there is ammonia in the piping. I'll plug it
back in and wait two hours to see if any heat is produced.
The PO told me it worked on propane although it was a PITA to light. I
don't have any reason to doubt him but then I haven't been able to
fire it up myself. Maybe the Dometic was on the edge when I bought it.
I'll try flipping the fridge over for 24 hours as you suggest and re-
plug it in, but I think I am rapidly approaching the ritualistic and
ceremonial state of trouble-shooting. You know, when you start
chanting and waving herbs and dancing around the thing to appease the
unknown. If the flipping doesn't work I'll search out a service
facility and have them look at it. It's $100 bucks just to have them
take a peak and if I learn it is unfixable, or would more expensive to
do so than it's worth, I'd move on to another solution. I'm not a
Westy purist.
Michael is recommending the Vitrifrigo, although he doesn't specify a
specific model for the Westy. I was hoping for a electrical+propane
solution if there is one available. And a unit which would go into the
same space the Dometic occupied. I'd prefer not to have heavy things
taking up extra floor space capable of flying around.
Anyone?
Bueller . . . ?
regards,
Thomas
On Jul 15, 2008, at 8:16 AM, neil N wrote:
> There is a process termed as "burping" the Dometic. Basically with the
> fridge on the bench, you turn it upside down for 24 hours or so, then
> (of course) turn it right side up. I'm not clear on the chemical
> aspect of absorption fridges, but I gather that the ammonia etc. may
> need a "kick start" to start moving and/or combining again.
>
> There's more in the archives, but if one has their fridge removed, it
> can't hurt to burp it.
>
> Thomas I don't know if you're on this list, but let us know if hooking
> it up to the AC in your garage worked. This is the most reliable test
> of the chemicals in the Dometic. If it works, then I would suggest a
> few things to check or recheck.
>
> 12V wiring, fuses, and "fridge relay" (on early models it's on the
> fridge itself and later models it's in the aux battery area under
> driver seat)
>
> Something else to bear in mind, the cost of repairing a Dometic might
> be high. A good 12V/110AC fridge might make sense at that point. AND,
> you never know what the PO may have done to "fix" the Dometic. (with
> good intentions I'm sure ---;^) In that case you're double checking
> his work too.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Neil.
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