Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:11:30 -0700
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Dometic Fridge: Bah Humbug! <grin>
In-Reply-To: <20100811181807.JRCDR.1300201.imail@eastrmwml29>
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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
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