RV refrigerator problem

[dan brooks]

Having a problem with the fridge in my camper (Dometec model RM2193). It works fine on 110V, but doesn't cool on propane. There is a flame visible through the inspection "window," and it stayed lit all weekend, but the fridge remained around 55*. This is the first problem I've had with it cooling on gas - normally it freezes everything solid.



Any ideas? I'm heading out mid-September for a week long trip, and have to get this straightened out before then.....



Thanks

 

[JWhitcomb]

Look just inside the door at the top. If there are two rocker switches, make sure 0 is depressed on both.

 

[GSykes]

Check this site www.rvmobile.com best site I have found for information regarding ammonia systems in RV's.

 

[Slough]

Yes

replace or clean [replacement better] the orfice. clean the burner, and make sure there is no spider web or anything in the burner tube.

 

[dan brooks]

Okay, after searching the net for the past couple hours, I'm wondering if I screwed up my cooling unit.



After I noticed the fridge wasn't cooling properly, I checked and found that the DC switch had been turned on while it was running on propane - guess I must've hit it when I was lighting it or turning the AC off. It probably ran on 12V and propane for a day and a half..... What are the odds that "overheating" the cooling unit did permanent damage?

 

[Hunter1]

Not sure how old it is, but it should go from AC to gas when switched and not run on both.



I would check the orfice for spider webs. It is unbelievable how small a little we can be and screw up the gas flow

 

[Casey Balvert]

I agree with Hunter1. Since it operates fine on 110 volts, it is your burner. Remove and clean your burner and burner orifice. I really doubt that operating on 12 volts and propane would have hurt the cooling unit although most refrigerators only allow you to use one power source at a time. FWIW



Casey

 

[Bill Stockard]

Also while checking out the LP system, be sure to check the LP gas pressure while the fridge is running on LP. A little variance in the pressure will make a big difference in the cooling. If the LP regulator isn't regulating the pressure properly, it will affect the burner flame which affects the cooling on LP.



Bill

 

[dan brooks]

Thanks for all the info.



I fired it up on gas last night, and this morning it was down to about 40* - haven't tried it on AC since the problem developed. The camper sat for a few months without being used, so I'm hoping it was just a piece of dirt or something in the orfice and it's worked itself out. I'll take a look tonight and see how hard it'll be to get everything apart to clean it.



The fridge is probably ten years old or so, and it is all manual, so I don't know if it will automatically switch between heat sources. It worked on gas without any power hooked up, so I'm thinking that it's probably not that sophisticated.....

 

[Slough]

Glad to hear you have it up and running, you refrig is manual operation only. It will no look for other power when the one your running quits. Looked up in the operation manual and they have a large prints that says "not to run more than one power source at a time". YOU MUST CONTROL THE POWER.

 

[dan brooks]

Well, just got home from work and checked the fridge - still lit, but now back up to around 55*. I shut the gas off and plugged it in to AC to see if it makes a difference.



The burner tube/box/whatever you call it was very hot to the touch, so it seems like it's getting plenty of heat when running on propane. I really hope I didn't fry the cooling unit... ... :{

 

[Slough]

I've seen what looked like a prefect flame and hat it not cool right. found a small piece of dirt that i had trouble seeing in the orifice. there must be at lest 11'' WC with 50% of flow, turn on all stove bruners when checking gas pressure. if it works on 120v ac then the cooling unit OK.

 

[dan brooks]

Well, it's doing the same thing on AC - cooled down to about 40* last night, but is now up to over 50*. I called a place that specializes in RV refrigerators and rebuilds cooling units. After describing what is going on they said having both heat sources on created too much heat and caused a blockage in the cooling unit.



The bad news is that it will cost more to have my cooling unit rebuilt than I can buy a new fridge for - Camping World has the same unit in stock for $489, so I guess that's what I'll be doing this weekend.



Guess the mods on the truck and Jeep will have to wait even longer..... :{



Oh - and I think I'll figure out a way to "block" the switches to keep from accidentally tripping one again.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Your better off with a new fridge. The rebuilt units never seem to work as well.

 

[Mtngoat]

Cherokee RV salvage north of Denver has A LOT of RV stuff, nearly new fridges. Doesnt hurt to ask.



RObin

 

[dan brooks]

Okay, now I'm getting really angry... .



Went down yesterday and bought a new fridge (Dometic RM2193, same as what was in there) from Camping World... $482 out the door. Got home, swapped it out, and IT doesn't cool below the mid 50* range during the day, and drops to maybe mid 40's at night. I've tried AC and gas with the same result.



Prior to this past trip, the old fridge worked great on AC or gas, and would actually freeze items in the fridge solid, and I had one can of Diet Coke explode due to freezing. I pulled the vent this morning to make sure nothing had fallen down to block the airflow and everything was fine.



Am I overlooking something here, or did I just "luck out" and get a new fridge that also has a bad cooling unit?

 

[dblake]

I am having the exact same problem with mine. I haven't had the time to clean out orifice and burner yet but I did remove my top vent and took off the top cover to my chimney?,removed the little rod that helps pull the flame up the tube, and cleaned it out with a pipe cleaner. I don't see how it could be a blockage when it works great on 110. It sounds more to me like a gas pressure problem. I think I'll try the orifice and burner cleaning then take it by the RV place to get my gas regulator checked. Come to think of it my heater crapped out about the same time so I'm hoping I can blame it all on my regulator.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I was at the parts counter of a local RV dealer awhile back, overheard two guys in the shop discussing the repair of a fridge in a new trailer. One guy says to the other "we had to install three different cooling units before we got one that worked rite!"



It's theirs now - make em fix it under warranty.

 

[bombero]

You will think I am crazy but before throwing alot of money at your problen y not "burp" it. These LPG refer are like vudu. 40 + years ago I was stations at a remote fire station that had a LPG refer. Every year when we opened the place we had to tip the the refer on itd top for a hour. Try it . If it wooks you owe me a beer!

 

[dan brooks]

Thanks for the replies. I have both running on AC now (new one installed in the camper, the old one on the bench) and will see how they look when I get home. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at least ONE of them will start working right... ... if not, the new one goes back to Camping World.