Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:10:42 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: refrigerator failure, '91 VW Vanagon GL Campmobile
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk3wMaLAPD6JgLsFizfYdDmu4V3GdheODQBvncGHeQFVSg@mail.gmail.com>
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---- Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> It sounds as if you have a leak between the shutoff valve at the tank and
> the appliances. Sitting for a while, the heating and cooling of gas in the
> lines draws in air to the point that you need more gas for combustion. I
> have to do purge the system by running the burners if I take it apart for
> any reason.
>
Thanks Jim. So, that means I need to pull the refrigerator and find the leak. All joints suspect, I assume. I have never smelled propane except when the stove burner was inadvertently left on once. Big no no there! But I will check for leaks, for sure. mcneely
> Jim
>
> On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 11:36 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > Well, just to update on this trivial situation (seen as trivial now): I
> > had totally forgotten that when I leave both the refrigerator and the stove
> > off for more than a week or so in cold to cool weather, there is an
> > important trick to getting the refrigerator lit -- light the stove first,
> > and let it burn for a minute or so. I think I got this tip from Brent
> > Christensen's post maybe three years ago, and have found it handy a handful
> > of times. Anyway, I did that this morning, and the refrigerator worked
> > properly. I think that what happens is that the propane is not flowing
> > enough to get fuel to the refrigerator igniter, but that the tiny amount
> > that reaches the stove burner will ignite and once burning initiates more
> > flow. This hypothesis is reinforced by the fact that the initial stove
> > flame is very low, then grows to full size. Then I can light the
> > refrigerator. Initially, the orange lamp indicating propane flow and
> > current was steady, as before. After a minute with the stove burner
> > burning, the lamp began to flash.
> >
> > I'll recheck this afternoon and see how the ignition process goes, but I
> > think I don't have anything wrong, just cold propane. Last night I had
> > concluded that my trip this weekend would be without a refrigerator. That
> > is not a critical concern this time of year, for sure, but we are having
> > exceptionally warm weather. Yesterday's high reached 67 F. We have had
> > above freezing temperatures most mornings this entire year, with the lowest
> > in January being just under 20 F. Our total snowfall this winter has been
> > one inch. Given the forecast for the weekend (lows mid to upper thirties)
> > where I am going in Arkansas, I went ahead and filled the water tank in the
> > camper. If it looks to get colder, I can always drain it. There is spring
> > water at the campground. I can use that for cooking and washing (usually
> > do, even if I have water with me -- prefer the native water for coffee
> > anyway, just a quirk I have).
> >
> > Thanks for your help, David
> >
> > mcneely
> >
> > ---- David Vickery <david_vickery@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > You are going to have to pull it out. I remembered I posted this on
> > samba about another guy an electronic ignition problem, that you may
> > find helpful. I think the spark may be grounding.
> > >
> > > From http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/Mandiag.pdf which is a great
> > resource.
> > >
> > > The igniter reigniter, used on certain Dometic
> > > model refrigerators, operates on 12 volt current.
> > > On gas operation the igniter senses the resistance
> > > through the flame between the electrode
> > > and burner. When there is no flame at the
> > > burner, the resistance is high and the igniter
> > > begins sparking to light the burner. As soon as
> > > the flame is lit, the resistance between the
> > > electrode and burner drops and the igniter
> > > stops sparking. The resistance is monitored by
> > > the igniter, and, if for any reason the flame
> > > goes out, the igniter begins sparking until the
> > > burner is lit. This insures that the flame will
> > > always be lit when desired. Each time the
> > > igniter reigniter system sparks, a light will
> > > illuminate on the lower left front corner of the
> > > refrigerator.
> > > If the electrode does not spark first, make sure
> > > the igniter is receiving 12 volts. If the igniter is
> > > receiving 12 volts and produces no spark, it
> > > must be checked for operation.
> > > (61)
> > > Turn the refrigerator off and remove the wire
> > > between the electrode and igniter. Now turn the
> > > refrigerator to the gas mode. If no internal
> > > clicking sound is heard the igniter is defective.
> > > It is important to remove the high voltage wire
> > > that goes to the electrode from the igniter when
> > > you are checking the igniter for operation. The
> > > high voltage wire and the electrode can be
> > > shorted to ground causing the igniter reigniter
> > > to think that the flame is lit, resulting in no
> > > spark on gas operation.
> > > (62)
> > > The distance between the tip of the electrode
> > > and the burner, known as the spark gap,
> > > should be 3/16 of an inch. A greater distance
> > > will create a slow spark causing the light to
> > > blink. A lesser distance will create a fast spark
> > > that may not light the burner.
> > >
> > > --- On Thu, 2/2/12, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
> > > Subject: refrigerator failure, '91 VW Vanagon GL Campmobile
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Date: Thursday, February 2, 2012, 8:16 PM
> > >
> > >
> > > I have been smug all this time about my dometic refrigerator operating
> > well, cooling effectively, and being easy to light. Well, it won't light,
> > now.
> > >
> > > When I push the switch for propane (the propane one of the three push
> > switches at the right of the refrigerator control panel) and go through all
> > the proper machinations, it does not light. Another symptom is that the
> > orange lamp that should flash to indicate that the propane switch is
> > working does not flash. When I push the switch, the lamp just comes on and
> > glows with a steady orange light.
> > >
> > > I am following the lighting protocol correctly. this is the first time
> > I've ever had trouble with lighting the thing, and it has me exasperated.
> > Usually, I run the refrigerator on A.C. for a few hours. When the box is
> > good and cold, I know that the heater box is good and warm. Then I just
> > open the propane valve at the tank, open the refrigerator, pump the pump a
> > few times, push the propane switch, the lamp begins flashing, I make sure
> > the propane valve on the control panel is turned to on, turn the thermostat
> > to maximum, hold the safety button down, and pump a few times. The
> > refrigerator fires up. So, if the lamp glows steadily rather than
> > flashing, what does that indicate?
> > >
> > > When I first got the beast, I pulled the refrigerator and cleaned
> > thoroughly. It really wasn't that dirty. That was three years ago. The
> > refrigerator has worked great ever since, until now. It has probably sat
> > for longer without being operated in a couple of recent spells (about two
> > months two different times) than any time in the three years I've had it.
> > Are there things that go bad in that time?
> > >
> > > Any help appreciated.
> > >
> > > mcneely
> >
> > --
> > David McNeely
> >
--
David McNeely
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