Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:02:28 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Dometic failure on propane, one time
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-ds78DDC00A839CE50051E28A0B60@phx.gbl>
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Thanks, Dennis. Overfill could possibly be the problem.
I settled on the 15 minute rule with no carefully collected data of course. Careful measurements under a series of ambient conditions would be required to determine what the best flipping point would be. This would be a pretty involved experiment with a large number of treatments and a complicated ANOVA. The results would then be problematic to apply to the real world.
What down time would you suggest is reasonable for switching? When I follow the fifteen minute rule, the fridge seems still cold when I switch back to battery. If I leave it on battery for stops longer than fifteen minutes, it doesn't seem to stay as cold over the course of the day -- but that is strictly empirical, not experimental.
mcneely
---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> If you have the proper two stage regulator an overfilled tank will cause it cut back if liquid is getting into it. That may be one cause of your problem. Also, if the fridge is colder than the t-stat setting (12 volt operation is not controlled) lighting will be difficult as you can only get the pilot flame. Switching the fridge from battery to propane for short stops is possibly a futile effort. Having the door open for that changeover will probably need an hour to recover what got lost. And then you do it again to go back to battery!
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
> Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 3:41 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Dometic failure on propane, one time
>
> My Dometic refrigerator failed to ignite on propane one time, and that was recent. In preparation for the long trip we made this summer, I filled up with propane from a vendor I have never used before. Since I had recently checked the system, including the refrigerator, I considered all ok, and left for the trip the next day.
>
> When we made the first stop, for lunch, the refrigerator would not fire up on propane. If we stop for longer than 15 minutes when traveling, I usually switch the refrigerator to propane to keep everything cool. I checked it periodically that day, and it still would not start when we stopped for the night -- consequently we paid for an A.C. hookup at Clayton State Park, NM. The next day, and unfailingly for the next three weeks, the refrigerator fired up quickly every time.
>
> The first time we used the stove on the trip, one burner seemed to be starved, as the flame would only burn at a low level when on high. The next time, it fired right up properly and never gave a bit of trouble again.
>
> Thoughts on this from the list? I intend to clean the burners on the stove and the refrigerator, but honestly can't imagine that they are dirty. I cleaned the refrigerator up when I got the camper three years ago. 'Twasn't really very dirty, and fired up fine before I cleaned it, as well as after.
>
> mcneely
>
--
David McNeely
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