Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:41:34 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Dometic won't light troubleshooting
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
thanks for the good shring Thomas.
I suspect you know by now......
but this paragraph :
Tried using the 12v setting with no measurable cooling effect but
> I didn't leave it on over night. Didn't want to run the batteries
> down if it worked."
This is only true as you wrote if you have two batteries, a main, and an Aux
....which the fridge will run off. Not all Westy's have two batteries btw.
If you only have one battery - the fridge can't get 12 V with the stock
setup unless the engine is running and alternator is charging, or you
tricked the relay under the seat, ( or you have a two battery system )
running it out of the on the floor van is fine.
However...........I beleive it has to have 12 V connected to it also, not
just the 110.
Like the two fuses......they need to have 12 V power on them, to run on 110
AC.
the metal part at the top inside the fridge, where ice cube trays will go,
that'll start getting cool or cold to the touch pretty soon.
Like by 30 minutes, that should be noticeable cool or cold to finger touch.
if it's not, it ain't workin'.
I find it takes even 5 hours to get the air temp inside down to 40 or so.
Thnk i've seen 39 degrees after 8 hours. I measure air temp at the bottom
or right in the middle of the interior space with a digital thermeter. A
beer works well too.
I've got a fancy expensive RV place right across the road from me. I would
be almost afraid to take the Dometic to them for repairs. the old
'Stealership' affect - you pay a lot, but perhaps don't get that much in
return.
and there are all these great new units to choose from too.
the trend is to electric compressor fridges instead of propane.
Augmented by solar panels for days at a time camping. They get cold a lot
faster too.
And....................there is a certain funky charm to the idiosyncrasies
of the Dometic propane unit.
.....................an Innocence and Sincerity of something not made in
China or with a lot of plastic. No electronic chip[s in there by golly ! No
software, no passwords. HOW NICE !!
Makes great campfire stories and conversations, and online chat too -
'fighting' our Dometics to get them to behave !
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Diehr" <md03@XOCHI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:36 AM
Subject: Re: Dometic won't light troubleshooting
> thomas -- you replied only to me, so I'm ccing the vanagon list (hope
> that's ok!)
>
> On Jul 14, 2008, at 10:02 PM, Thomas Jefferson Kitts wrote:
>
>>
>> On Jul 14, 2008, at 9:23 PM, Michael Diehr wrote:
>>
>>> Any tips?
>>
>> Ummm, Did you open the tank valve? (Kidding. Kidding.)
>
> I wish! :)
>
> Re: your fridge: If you've plugged it into 120VAC and switched it to
> AC, you should (after 15-30 minutes) fee heat around the back along
> the insulated pipe (the galvanized steel cylinder with insulation
> inside). After 30 minutes on mine it was too hot too touch, but the
> inside fins didn't cool down for another hour or two. No heat
> would indicate electrical problem. Ditto for 12V use.
>
> If it does heat up, but the fridge doesn't cool inside (give it 2
> hours or so, longer if you've had the fridge upside down or sideways),
> then I'd suspect that your chemicals have leaked out, which probably
> means replacement or service at dometic, as I don't think that's a DIY.
>
> The vitrifrigo replacement discussed on the list sounds like a nice
> alternative if you are sick of the dometic -- all electric, 2x the
> food storage space, and works in all weather.
>
>
>> I have my own Dometic woes to share. Just pulled out the fridge in
>> my 84 Westy because I can't get it to work on any power source, be
>> it propane, 12V, or 120V. Only owned the Westy for a couple of weeks
>> now and have never got it working.
>>
>> Downloaded the Dometic pdf manual and here's what I've confirmed.
>>
>> 1. The propane system is working. Stove lights nicely. I've been
>> able to create the propane bang with the pilot light (before taking
>> the Dometic out!) so I don't think my problem has anything to do
>> with the LP delivery system. Scared the heck out of my wife who was
>> watching the vent from a few feet away as I fussed with the ignitor.
>> Shot some nice flames.
>>
>> 2. The 120 receptacle where the fridge 120 plugs into has power.
>> (tested with a circuit tester) And BTW, the cabinet 120 power is
>> working too as I "pushed the broken pin in to reset it." Still going
>> to replace the circuit breaker though . . . sigh.
>>
>> 3. Tried using the 12v setting with no measurable cooling effect but
>> I didn't leave it on over night. Didn't want to run the batteries
>> down if it worked.
>>
>> 4. All connections and wires seem to be in good order. But I don't
>> have any equipment to really test for shorts or failed circuits.
>>
>>
>> So I think I'm left with some failed aspect of the Dometic system
>> which is common to all three power sources, or the coolant itself
>> has failed. Or a multiplicity of problems I don't yet understand. A
>> vortex, or shamanistic magic words not uttered.
>>
>> Any ideas anyone?
>>
>> After pulling the Dometic out, I plugged the it into 120v in my
>> garage with the fridge door propped shut and the 120 switches set.
>> Put a beer inside as an offering to to Gods of Cold. Going to leave
>> it connected overnight but I'm not expecting to find anything
>> chilling in the morning.
>>
>> Unless I'm missing something obvious (like, you know, a level
>> fridge) I'm out of my depth and want a recommendation of whom I can
>> take it to for servicing in the Portland, Oregon area. I'm probably
>> going to need to find one of those cranky old guys in the back of a
>> dusty shop. A guy who can eat Dometics for breakfast.
>>
>> Then again, that's some pretty nice looking cargo space under the
>> stove right now . . .
>>
>> regards,
>>
>> Thomas
>>
| 
