Date:         Sun, 30 Jun 2019 11:17:24 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Some dometic notes
Comments: To: Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAB2RwfiJu2kbV_-xyuT-xO1RQAozs-o-18gL3CX978Fwx_Y52w@mail.gmail.com>
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Hi Neil,

Yes I agree, and yes about the aluminum tube to the temp adjusting knob gubbins.

Maybe if I have the time and inclination I’ll measure the voltage from the eroded t couple , with a flame under it.

The t couple my be a red herring, it might have been me re cleaning the jet. But you know how it is, one doesn’t do controlled experiments when you’re trying to get the damn thing fixed stat :-)

Alistair


> On Jun 30, 2019, at 10:51 AM, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks for posting those notes Alistair.
> 
> One of my Dometic 182 fridges had a pretty eroded or "fried" looking
> thermocouple. It kept the flame going, and fridge cooled on LP setting
> but when it was quite windy, or when driving in very windy conditions,
> the flame would go out. I suspect my marginal looking thermocouple was
> the cause of that.
> 
> I would have to agree; the thermocouple in the burner box is basically
> an "on off" type device that serves only to keep the shut off valve
> open. But......
> 
> Maybe a lower voltage from the thermocouple would only pull the valve
> part way open?
> 
> I *think* that the "silver" narrow tube going from the thermostat to
> the cooling unit in fridge is, in part, responsible for sensing if
> more cooling is needed hence a larger flame is required. As I'm sure
> you know, there is a small white silicone or rubber bit that keeps
> that tube pushed up against the aluminum cooling unit.
> 
> Neil.
> 
> 
> 
>> On 6/30/19, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> 
>> I don’t know if the thermocouple erosion was the culprit. I woudl have
>> thought that if that probe was kaput then the fridge would not even burn at
>> a pilot setting. I thought the probe signal, low voltage to the shut off
>> valve, was more or less binary in effect.
>> 
>> But maybe not. In any case what I did made the fridge work. Oh and the
>> burner jet did appear clear before I cleaned it. But maybe it was not
>> completely clear and my cleaning just did the trick. Don’t know.
>> 
> 
> -- 
> Neil n
> 
> VE7TBN
> 
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> 
> 1981 Westy 15º ABA swap: https://tinyurl.com/y9n4xob8
> 
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