Last day of a recent outing and the Bride smelled amonia and I noticed the refer temp was 48deg/25deg. Good thing I was on electric or there may have been a fire. No sign of trouble on readout of refer control and the gas flame would light if called for. I turned on the icemaker compressor to maintain the freezer temp until we got home.
After discussing with MOT I chose Custom RV Services of Deforest,WI to replace the cooling unit. They immediately ordered a replacement from Dometic but they can't get started until Sep 14. Oh well our Labor day weekend trip will be inhouse freezer and a large cooler for food preservation.
I will likely have an ARP control with one fan installed and I am considering having the heater replaced while things are so conveniently available .
Any other suggestions at this point?
If you are going to keep the absorption refrigerator, it's a good opportunity while it's out for refitting, to consider getting the fridge recess lined with fire retardant material and/or installing a fire suppression system. Search these subjects on the Forum for examples, advice and photos.
I had a new Dometic installed in our 36ft 295
Dometic would not even honor its warranty when the fridge failed to work.
Of course, I would never again buy anything from Dometic.
best, paul
I have read about the new cooling units filled with Helium so no fire danger. Might be worth looking into since you are going to replace your cooling unit anyway.
I had the cooling unit replaced by the Amish in Shipshewana Indiana http://rvcoolingunit.com/Dometic-Cooling-Units-remanufactured-C4380.aspx?sid=298 almost two years ago and have been well pleased. They will either ship you a replacement cooling unit to install yourself, or they will install it at their facility. In our case there was relatively little difference in cost between shipping and having them install it and we took advantage of the trip to Amish country to enjoy great shopping and food.
David,
Who did the install and what did it cost?
Keith
http://rvcoolingunit.com/Dometic-Cooling-Units-remanufactured-C4380.aspx?sid=298 did it. I believe the total cost was around $1,350.
my cost is approaching $2000 depending on the shipping figure. New replacement with similar features was $4500. I am hoping with my attention to leveling at every stop and the ARP control will help this new unit last long beyond my use
Residential refrig (French door with icemaker) $1,400 on sale at HHGregg, delivered directly to Parliament in ST. Pete FL. Install at Patliament one day $800 less 10% motorcade discount. No fire worries, running stock inverter my coach came with.
I looked at fixing my Dometic, $$$ was close, for our use residential much preferred
Roger & Susan did a beautiful install of a Samsung, and claimed total cost less than $1000 (not counting the cost of materials on hand or the considerable value of Roger's near-PRO labor)
Another Samsung installed (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=22462.msg171437#msg171437)
That's right, Chuck. My Samsung was $987 as I recall. Sold the Dometic for $250 to the first Craig's List responder. Probably could have gotten $400 for all the responses I got. Maybe another $25 for a new switch and outlet and a latch for the freezer and about $45 to rent a lift. So with stuff on hand and my labor, just over $825.
One of the best things we have done.
Especially gaining the narrow, tall cabinet to the side. The space under the old Dometic was under utilized and we have easily adapted other space. Three huge drawers under the J dinette. And 3 30" deep kitchen drawers as well as an intermediate shelf in almost all of the overheads. Foretravel did a great job of providing space. A little work and it is much more useful. Plus LED lighting in every space.
Roger
I got a chance to inspect the boiler section of the not so soon to be replaced cooling unit. The failure was low in the boiler section with evidence of the telltale yellow stains/moisture. The double heaters are corroded in place. I was wondering about replacing them and now I Know. Does anyone know if the unlabled approx. 4in by 3in black box with multiple wires of which one goes to an obvious temperature sensing switch attached to the return lines is an add on safety device or is it a standard feature. I shall have to figure out how to get the pix I have from my cell phone to this site to better communicate this question.
FWIW,
I have a Dometic and so far it has worked pretty well. I believe the previous owner virtually did not use it. It still had tape on some of the shelving. In saying that, so far it has been a good one. However, with the risk of a fire, problems with leveling, not as good cooling, and added expense. I would just get rid of that one and move on over to the electrical/compressor type unit. That is what I plan to do if I ever smell amonia. Just my 2 cents. Best of travels.
Is this what you see
http://rvcoolingunit.com/ARP-20-Refrigerator-Failure-prevention-device-P3736905.aspx
Gary B
Gary
No the mysterious black box had a small white label but it has long ago whited out. I will hopefully learn how to load pix from my cell phone to this site soon
pix of the little black box and temp switch
Ill bet that that box is the update device issued by the mfg. Check with a dealer and see if it is not the same or similar. There was more than one FIX for these reefers.
Gary B
Yes, Roger got a Samsung I think #197, for less than $1,000. The unit is a 24" x 33" wide, by about 72" tall.
When my 33" wide Dometic failed, and I was looking at the Samsungs, the model number had changed, and the prices were over $1,300 everywhere that had one to deliver within 10 days. Do note that the height is not just the front of the cabinet frame, but there is also a top mounted control and computer at the rear top of the box. Reviews talk about the "surprise" when the extra inches are needed to do the install.
I was lucky that Roger had already done his install, and offered his thread, photos and help. On my mid door 36, 295 floorplan I have a narrow hall area with pantry doors and drawers facing the refer. We had only less than 1/8" of room to spare to fit the unit down the hall and cocked into the refer cabinet opening. But it fit, first time in, and I was lucky to have built the base supports the correct height, that allow one door to swing open, under the pocket door top trim.
Also note, the new Samsung gets some of it's 17.9 cu ft. space by making the doors stick out past the 24" wall cabinet. In addition, the door handles also stick out, to a final almost 30.5". The Dometic doors might have stuck out to 25". The net is I have to be careful and twist slightly sideways to get myself down the hall. I have hooked my fishing shirt rear side vents on the pantry door hardware more than once!
Gary B
I viewed the new cooling unit yesterday. In that visit the tech and I both agreed that the little black box and temp cutout was part of a recall.
The new cooling unit has an installed manual reset temp sensor/switch in the lower boiler section that takes the place of the Older black box unit. I am still going to install the ARPrv control unit with one fan. I ordered this from RV Cooling Unit Warehouse as they have a coupon that knocked off $45 from price listed on ARP site. I will order the fan from ARP soon.