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El Camote
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Propane fridge repair 101?
The Dometic RM2807 in the moho ain't workin' so good in the propane mode. Works fine on AC and the electronics which switch it back and forth between
the two modes seem to be doing their job. But on propane, it's not keeping the fridge or freezer cold enough.
I tried poking around in the innards and tapping on the flue vent which released a lot of gunk. The freezer seemed to get colder but it didn't affect
the fridge.
Anyone have any experience trouble shooting propane fridges with this type of problem?
gracias
[Edited on 6-7-2007 by El Camote]
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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rhintransit
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if it's just recent and it's heating up wherever you are it's probably not a mechanical problem. the propane just can't keep things cool in the heat.
if it's working fine on ac mode, you've just got to wait for cooler weather. and give up ice cream for the season.
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comitan
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Take the jet out and clean it, and take a brush to the burner.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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rhintransit
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am still saying it's the heat...propane cooling only able to take temp down a certain number of degrees over ambient temp. can't remember how many.
most of the folks here in the village of El Juncalito have the same arguement every year...propane vs enough solar panels to run an electric. the
year rounders all prefer ac. and ice cream.
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Skipjack Joe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by El Camote
I tried poking around in the innards and tapping on the flue vent which released a lot of gunk. The freezer seemed to get colder but it didn't affect
the fridge.
[Edited on 6-7-2007 by El Camote] |
The weaker the flame, the less it's cooling. That gunk you released probably fell on top of that pipe that releases the gas that is the source of the
flame.
I'm not an expert on this sort of thing but when I had the same problem and took to an RV place I had a weak flame and he cleaned out the debris
(mostly grit and rusted metal) out to get the flame back up.
Check out this possibility.
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Pescador
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Besides cleaning out the flue, take out the gas orfice and soak it in alcohol (not the potable type:biggrin and then blow it out with compressed air. Do not try to poke a wire or anything else through it or you will destroy
the orfice. Rhintransit is right about how far below ambient temperature you are able to go, but if the electricity is taking it 40 degrees below
ambient, then you should expect pretty close to the same with gas. Another problem that is very common is the regulator in your MHO may be getting
old and stuck with the oil used in Mexico. Check your flame when you have several burners on with the stove to see if you start getting orange or
less flame than normal. Some of those regulators are, in fact, adjustable, and can be reset to get closer to 11 inches of water column. I have a
homemade watercolumn meter but if you can not find one of those, then you can have it checked at home.
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bajalou
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rhintransit
am still saying it's the heat...propane cooling only able to take temp down a certain number of degrees over ambient temp. can't remember how many.
most of the folks here in the village of El Juncalito have the same arguement every year...propane vs enough solar panels to run an electric. the
year rounders all prefer ac. and ice cream. |
These multi powered friges use the AC to heat a element that heats the ammonia, just like the propane burner does. It does not have a electric
compressor like a home electric one. Should be very little difference in cooling ability between the two modes.
No Bad Days
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Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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El Camote
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Wow. great advice. I never thought of checking the pressure regulator. For sure it's not an ambient air temperature problem because the last time I
used it over a month ago was in Coastal California at 65 degree max. temp. Of course the irony is the propane fridge in the trailer in Baja worked
like a charm last week at 25 degrees warmer and it's 17 years older. 
I'm a little confused about components. What is the difference between the "burner", the "jet" and the "gas orifice"? Are they not all the same
part?
I'm going to take it apart this weekend and let you know what happens. Can't thank everybody enough for the valuable advice! 
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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comitan
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On the back of the refer there is a metal square box on the right side, that is held on with a screw take that off and you will see the burner smaller
but like an oven burner, just to the left you with see the Jet,(orifice) you will need metric open end (2) #12 I think just take it out and clean as
per Pescador. I always use acetone.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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roundtuit
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First ck the tube from the jet to the burner for spider webs. Spiders love the smell of propane and build there webs and lay there eggs sacks in this
tube
This the hard one, but you may also try what they call burping it. This is where they turn the unit upside down for 24 hrs, then right it and 24 hrs
later fire it back up. Something to do with the oils in the ammonia.
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Bob and Susan
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Is your propane gas refrigerator level?
Is anything blocking your propane gas refrigerator vents?
Are the gasket rubbers around the door damaged or misaligned?
Is there an ammonia smell coming from inside your propane gas refrigerator?
Is there is a yellowish powder or stain on or near the refrigerator cooling unit? ***refrigerant is leaking from the cooling unit and chances are it
will need replacing
run the unit on gas and 120 volts to make sure it is not the controls.
If it runs well on one and not the other there is a good chance the controls are the problem.
check that the flame stays on when on gas.
If it is not the thermostat could be switching off too early.
sell the MH and buy a trailer
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rhintransit
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interesting thread, and thanks for the opportunity to educate myself. with everyone's input and some on line research, I stand corrected, the propane
should work as well as the ac...but both are affected by ambient temperature (if possible use a fan in hot months to increase air circulation).
my rv frig is not cooling as well these hotter days but its chuggling along fine. I've a second unit, a small Dometic three way portable that I am
now using as a storage box since it died after less than a year of service. the suggestions of burping, burner cleaning, regulator change, etc did
not work. the propane line was full of oily residue. barely lights and certainly doesn't cool. having no way to get it back for service, warantee
or otherwise, I'm stuck with an expensive pantry addition unless anyone in the Loreto area wants to try to fix it...going for a real good trade maybe.
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ncampion
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Try this site, they have some good technical advice sections. Most of the advice that has already been offered is right on. If AC works, then the
basic cooling system is OK and it comes down to the flame. Jet, burner or pressure. The pressure is critical.
http://www.rvmobile.com/welcome.htm
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El Camote
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Tried an initial test of the regulator, perhaps. Fired up all three burners on the stove top. Flames were all solid blue at the base with just some
erratic yellow at the tips. Hope that clears the pressure regulator? Going to dig into the flame components tomorrow morning.
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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Neal Johns
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Grover and the other "cleaners" have the hot tips (many times you can blow the crud out with compressed air without disassembly), but it still will
not get your Mountain Dew really cold in 100 degree ambient temperature. I gave up and got an electric only marine compressor type unit that fit
right in. Not too good a deal if you camp in one place for several days but I am always on the go, so the batteries get charged.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Al G
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IT worked
This thread got me off my well used arse and ripped my water heater apart...now the sputtering is gone and I have a nice blue flame with no soot. It
now goes from zero to hot in 25 minutes... 50% improvement more or less.
Thanks Nomads
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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Skipjack Joe
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glad to help. 
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El Camote
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OK. I removed the burner ass'y and shook out a load of soot, gunk, crud, whatever is the correct term. Then cleaned out the burner tube thoroughly
with alcohol (not the sipping type). I noticed there's a 2nd sensor above the flame besides the thermocoupler. What is this for, temp. sensing?
Could this be the culprit.
Anywho, I fired it up about 45 minutes ago, put a cup of water in the freezer and two cans of Tecate in the fridge. If it freezes the water and
chills the Tecate by the end of the day, I'll celebrate by imbibing the test subjects 
...if not it's back to the drawing board. 
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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comitan
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Camote
You better get that Tecate out or it will be frozen.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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El Camote
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Grover, duh, you're right about the igniter. How else would it light itself?
I've given it 24+ hrs. to stabilize and the water in the cup is frozen solid. The ambient temp. is ranging from about 52 - 75 F. It's now 18 degrees
F. in the freezer. Is that normal to be that far below freezing?
The fridge is another matter. 54 degrees. Shouldn't it be more like 45 degrees? Although the Tecate seems cold enough to drink. 
I've turned down the temp. control some more and will give it to the end of the day and test again. Then I"m going to switch it over to 110 v. and
compare the temps. tomorrow.
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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