Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:31:23 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Dometic Fridge: Bah Humbug! <grin>
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=KxFmT7GkD4C_g_ZxE4qt2OAH4oUVBUM5ejUe3@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
On our recent trip from Oklahoma to Washington, Idaho, Montana and points between here and there we camped all but the four days we were in Spokane, and while parked there we ran the refrigerator on propane. We ran the refrigerator on propane when camped, as long as five days nonstop, and cooked our meals in the camper. the only time the refrigerator was not on propane was when we were driving. We used a total of 2.3 gallons of propane for the 3.5 weeks. Our food stayed cold. I think the little refrigerator is pretty good. DMc
---- neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> <shrugs> :)
>
> Yah maybe fins get hot enough even if fridge off.
>
> To all:
>
> Despite the subject wording I chose, I wasn't directly ragging on the
> Dometic fridge. Was just venting.
>
> I still think it is a really useful appliance. Especially given how
> long it can run on a tank of LP.
>
> Assuming all is in good operating condition. ;)
>
> Neil.
>
> On 8/11/10, mcneely4@cox.net <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> > Neil, the refrigerator has not been on for two weeks, since we returned from
> > our trip out West. Hence my question. Seems that the van is quite hot
> > inside, and the refrigerator fan has kicked on. But I did not know it would
> > do that (and do not remember it doing it before) unless the refrigerator was
> > operating.
> >
> > DMc
> >
> > ---- neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Hi David.
> >>
> >> Saw your response to Alistair. My manual is for an '81. Seems they
> >> made some changes over the years.
> >>
> >> I've taken mine apart several times. Cleaned etc. Both on a 182A and
> >> 182B. Dirt, whether it be blockages or in the form of corrosion, etc
> >> do affect operation for sure.
> >>
> >> btw, not that you asked me directly but.... ;)
> >>
> >> the stock rear fan is controlled by a thermal switch at a cooling fin.
> >> If it gets too hot inside the van, fridge works harder creating more
> >> heat. Cooling fin too hot, switch closes, fan on. It is not switched
> >> otherwise. I measured current used on two spare fan motors: ~ 0.27
> >> amps each. Not much to worry about IMO. The fan should turn off once
> >> fridge is off for a while. Not sure if high ambient temps would heat
> >> up fin enough to trigger it though....
> >>
> >> pic (thermal switch is little blue thing) http://tinyurl.com/2engpvb
> >>
> >> Likely this is the same or very similar on later model Dometics
> >>
> >> Neil.
> >>
> >> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:18 PM, <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> >> > Neil, please see my response to Alistair re propane operation while
> >> > driving.
> >> >
> >> > And, in further answer to Alistair (sorry, Alistair, dropped this one),
> >> > the only thing I do to maintain the refrigerator is to keep it clean,
> >> > including pulling it and cleaning the back and underneath it (I've done
> >> > that one time in a year). Also check for leaks in the propane system,
> >> > but that doesn't relate to the 12V operation. I have been told that a
> >> > major reason the refrigerator doesn't cool adequately for some is that
> >> > it is dirty, including the fan being dirty. Also, flue dirty.
> >> >
> >> > Now, when it is 100 F +, the 12V system will only keep the refrigerator
> >> > cool, not cold, that is true. But, it does keep cool.
> >> >
> >> > DMc
> >> >
> >> > ---- neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >> On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 1:50 PM, <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> >> >> > ---- neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> >> It still won't stay lit while driving!
> >> >> >
> >> >> > The refrigerator is NOT SUPPOSED to stay lit while driving.
> >> >> > Instructions on the propane system specify that the vehicle is not
> >> >> > supposed to be driven with the propane valve open. The reason the
> >> >> > refrigerator has a 12 V mode is for driving. If the refrigerator is
> >> >> > reasonably well maintained, the 12 V mode works, too. Mine does.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I know that some people claim to keep the refrigerator on propane
> >> >> > mode while driving. Guess what -- the instruction to turn the
> >> >> > propane off while driving, in the camper owner's manual, and on the
> >> >> > label on the propane port, is per DOT. Why not use the refrigerator
> >> >> > as it is supposed to be used?
> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> I've read numerous comments in the archives regarding driving with it
> >> >> lit or not. Not sure which instructions you refer to, but I just read
> >> >> my Dometic glove box manual and door on 182B. No where did I see
> >> >> anything saying do not drive with fridge running on LP. I may have
> >> >> missed it. However. They do make mention, in upper case, of 'never
> >> >> putting hot food in the fridge'. <grin>
> >> >>
> >> >> On the last trip, I drove with it on 12V. My 12V system works fine too.
> >> >>
> >> >> What I'd like, is to have it stay lit even if it gets windy in camp.
> >> >> On last few trips before doing this recent work, it would blow out on
> >> >> the highway, and in camp. Even if it was only mildly windy.
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
> >>
> >> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> >>
> >> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
> >
> > --
> > David McNeely
> >
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
--
David McNeely
|