Have a Zero brand 12v/110v/propane chest freezer that burns bright with a big flame and the thermo couple is nice and red. after 24 hours of running
it does not get cold. Not even cool.
Anyone have any hints or clues to get it working? dizzyspots - 6-9-2015 at 06:35 AM
gonna sound crazy...turn it upside down x 24 hrs..then right side up and relight it...the ammonia based refrigerant settles or gets an air pocket??larryC - 6-9-2015 at 06:41 AM
Is the flame mostly blue with some yellow on the tips of the flame? That is what you want to see, if the flame is mostly yellow then the burner
probably needs cleaning. If there was ever an ammonia smell then the refer is toast. Good luck with it.Pompano - 6-9-2015 at 09:43 AM
For lots of tech problems concerning solar homes and rvs over the years, i've used RV.Net forum to ask and find answers. There's a world of
experienced advice to be had here...
I've done the 'burp' and also chemical recharging with success, sometimes not. Good luck.woody with a view - 6-9-2015 at 03:30 PM
the 110v was the other freezer running on the genny.Udo - 6-9-2015 at 04:12 PM
I used to run into similar problems, and found out that it needs to be pretty close to level, Woody.
After buying another one, and that one going bad also, I ended up upgrading to the ARB freezer/fridge.
Yes, the thing was close to $700.00 but well worth the investment. I've owned it for 4 years now.
BTW...when freezing, it stays REALLY frozen, no matter how much fish I put into it.woody with a view - 6-9-2015 at 06:49 PM
found this after some digging:
How to Burb Propane Freezer
1-Shut off the electricity and gas running to the Freezer. Unscrew the connections to the gas and disconnect any wires.
2-Remove the screws holding the Freezer in place. Remove the refrigerator from its compartment.
3-Place the Freezer outside on level ground. Enroll the help of another person to avoid back injury.
4-Turn the Freezer on its side and leave it for two hours. Listen to the Freezer for the chemicals mixing together. Turn the freezer upside-down.
Leave the Freezer in this position for 24 hours. larryC - 6-10-2015 at 06:22 AM
If you are talking about a normal rv refer, like a dometic, that runs on 110v and propane, there is no compressor. The 110v side is just a heating
element that takes the place of the flame. If it works on 110v then your problem is the burner and flame most likely. Make sure the flame is mostly
blue and that the refer is level. If the flame is mostly yellow then the burner needs cleaning or replacing.woody with a view - 6-10-2015 at 07:15 AM
That is the the info. needed. No compressor, no refrigerant. ammonia absorption reefer. Does it work on electric, but not gas? Try burping.... then
oh well. If the ammonia leaked, it's dead.woody with a view - 6-10-2015 at 09:31 AM
I didn't try to run it on electric for some smart reason, I'm sure! I tried to let it cool overnight, then all that day and when it didn't cool I
turned it off so I wouldn't screw it up worse.
hopefully the burping and/or cleaning the burner will do it. it sits pretty damn level as is so I doubt burping will do anything. the floor is pretty
dirty from blow sand so I can imagine the burner may have grains of sand as well as needing a good scrub.
since it was functioning with 110VAC (per private message) the compressor must be working still.
Ammonia fridges have no "compressor". The flow of coolant is powered by a heater - either burner in propane mode, or an electric heater in 110V mode.
Usually people avoid running it in 110V mode because electric heater draws horrible amount of energy.
Ditto re: Rv.net forum, section Technical Issues. A lot of of brains out there.
[Edited on 6-13-2015 by Alm]woody with a view - 6-12-2015 at 10:24 PM
Yeah I've watched a handful of videos on how to RandR the burner, clean the flu, and generally put my size 12 flip flop all up in that freezer.larryC - 6-13-2015 at 06:24 AM
Years ago I had a zero freezer. It was brand new and was working when I loaded it into my truck for its first Baja trip. I hooked it up to 12v for the
drive and at our first stop to spend the night I noticed it was not cooling. It never worked again, I figure that the name "zero" is what it is worth.woody with a view - 6-13-2015 at 02:58 PM
Larry, that may be the end result here as well!!! I'll know more in Aug when I get back.
