Date:         Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:09:59 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Dometic refrigerator fail
Comments: To: mcneely4@COX.NET
In-Reply-To:  <20121019163022.JWLCA.2724572.root@eastrmwml105>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Wouldn't it be nice if there was an indicator light to confirm that either of the heaters actually energized? Even on my motorhome, all the fridge controls are DC and there is no confirmation that the AC heater is actually getting power. There is a "check" light if the flame fails and you can usually here it when lighted but when you go to AC the first sign of a problem is warm food.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 4:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Dometic refrigerator fail

Help.  My Dometic refrigerator seems to be in partial failure mode.  The propane mode works fine, cools well.  I usually precool the refrigerator at home on A.C. before putting food in and switching to battery to drive to wherever I am camping, where I switch to propane.  This week, it would not cool on A.C., but worked fine on propane.  I also usually check to make sure it is cooling after a couple of hours, then let it run overnight at home.  This time, for some reason, I plugged it in and pushed the A.C. button, but never checked it again until I was almost ready to leave.  That's when I realized it was not cooling, and I did something I have never done before.  I fired up the propane and drove to my secret creekside spot in eastern Oklahoma with it running that way.   I figured the D.C. mode would not cool from ambient adequately during the warmish day.  Cooled fine on propane, even though the daytime temperatures exceed 75 F, forming frost on the cooling fins.

When I got home, I tried it again on A.C., without success.  I tried two different extension cords, just in case, but to no avail.

So, any ideas before I dig into the thing?  Thanks, mcneely