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Topic: refrigerator woes (Read 3096 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #75 –
Wow, not a great start! Good luck, keep us informed
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #76 –
Wow that is a long time.  I hear that all the time from folks but it has not been my experience in most places.  I usually use the same shops and they can get you in the queue pretty quickly but they start when you get there.  I wonder if you are being pushed back by not being with the unit.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #77 –
Tom, can't understand why it will take that long to get a wind sensor when there is a distributor for Girard in San Juan Capistrano.

 Richard B
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #78 –
My service writer says Girard told her there was only one left in stock. By the time she got around to ordering, it was gone.

They snooze, I lose.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #79 –
Quote from: John S –
Wow that is a long time.  I hear that all the time from folks but it has not been my experience in most places.  I usually use the same shops and they can get you in the queue pretty quickly but they start when you get there.  I wonder if you are being pushed back by not being with the unit.


Obviously, this place is not my first choice as an RV service provider, but the consensus is that they are my only choice for the slide problem short of a drive to NAC.

Staying with or even being in the coach is not allowed. The storage area is secured and customers are not permitted in the work area.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #80 –
Prospects are looking up.

My overworked service writer gave two tasks to someone else, working with my insurance carrier and Sea Freeze on my refrigerator, and directing my front TV mod. It turns out this fella is a real go-getter. Oh, he also happens to be the owner.

Things are moving along now.


Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #81 –
things are moving along now

The insurance company is deciding how little to pay.  Looks like they want to pay for the damage done by the fire, excluding the cost of the cause of the fire, the cooling unit.  Time for me to find a new insurance company.

David at Sea Freeze is in the loop.  Looks like it will be a two door (top freezer) refrigerator every bit as big as the Dometic.  This means too big for a DC powered Dan Foss compressor.  The good news is that the AC Tecumseh compressor is more efficient, drawing only 1.6A when running.  A couple of fans will be added, but this should still make it less than 2A.  I'll need to either use the existing inverter or add a dedicated inverter.  David says to go with 3KW to handle motor starts, but I think that would be way overkill.  He also says these work with modified sine wave, but I believe it will be more efficient with a true sine inverter.

What remains to be seen is just how many Amp Hours of DC are used in a day.  If it uses 2A for say six hours a day at 120VAC, this would be 120AH of 12VDC.  My solar is on the fringe of handling this at the moment, peaking at 15A, but will improve when I add more panels.  My goal is to be able to park the RV unused in the sun with the refrigerator running and come back a few days later with everything still cold and the batteries still charged.  Camping, in the winter, running the LP furnaces, watching TV, using lights, ... I expect to run the generator on occasion.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #82 –
The auto start will take care of it if you get too low.  I still wonder if a residential would not be a better answer though. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #83 –
Quote from: John S –
The auto start will take care of it if you get too low.  I still wonder if a residential would not be a better answer though. 

True about the autostart, although my solar power might prevent the autostart from triggering when the sun is shining.

I haven't committed one way or the other on the refrigerator.  If this AC powered custom marine refrigerator ends up costing me too much, an off the shelf smaller marine refrigerator that runs off DC or a true residential model, either full size (counter depth) or apartment size could end up being our choice.

If insurance picks up most of the tab, we like the custom unit for keeping the cabinetry intact. 
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #84 –
I might have an angle to play with the insurance company.

They want to say the cause of the fire was the cooling unit failing, so they will deduct the cost of the cooling unit from the award.  I wonder if they deduct the cost of brakes if the brakes failing cause you to total your car?

I plan to explain the refrigerator was working fine with either propane or AC when, while of AC and connected to a 20A circuit through a long extension cord, something happened, probably a power surge.  I thought the only casualty was the shore power contractor in the automatic transfer switch.  I ran the refrigerator on propane for a week waiting for the contractor. After I had the transfer switch was repaired and the refrigerator connected to AC again, that very night, the failure of the cooling unit occurred, resulting in fire.  My argument will be that the power surge damaged the electrical heating element (which is now clearly melted) or it's control circuitry, in turn causing an overheating of the cooling unit, releasing combustable gas.

We'll see how that flies.  Knowing how Automobile Club of Southern California insurance works, I'll need a lot of luck. They tend to make an uneducated guess in their favor, and tell you that's the way it is.

After this is over, I need to find a better insurance carrier, unless they all do business this way.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #85 –
By the way, Sea Freeze is now leaning on two DC compressors rather than on AC compressor.  With separate compressors for the refrigerator and freezer, it will be much esker to set the temperatures where I want them.  And I will be able to turn the inverter off most of the time.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer
 

Re: refrigerator woes

Reply #86 –
Tom, In General this is how insurance works...
The Insurance carrier is only obligated to return you to the same condition you were in before the incident.
If another incident occurs that leads to a loss the insurance company Normally pays the loss ( returns you to prior condition ) and then SUBROGATES against the thing that instigated the loss.

In other words carrier should repair or replace whatever it takes to return you to prior condition,  THEN with your permission they will make demand on the manufacturer or installer of the refrigerator for their portion of the loss.  If successful the other party will then reimburse the carrier for what ever expense they had in paying your loss.  You should not be involved at all except to preserve evidence and authorize the carrier acting on your behalf.

If you make modifications or changes that are not the same as what you had before the loss you will probably be obligated to pay the difference.  In a loss the size of yours a reasonable adjuster will ignore minor stuff.

Clear  ?  Probably not.

I would insist that insurance carrier pay total amount required to make repairs, than its their problem.

Keep in mind that I have been out of the business for several years and that there are new provisions that require mediation etc. that I did not have to deal with.

Gary B