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Frig fire question

When a 3 way refrigerator RV type, catches fire what starts the fire?  being on propane and having an open flame?    amonia leak?  electrical?  I guess I am asking, are you safer on electric rather than gas?  thanks Larry
Larry and Susan Rogers
  1998 U-270 36'
  Build 5344
  Cummins 8.3

Re: Frig fire question

Reply #1
When the refrigerator recall first went into effect, owners were told to run on electric only until you can get it fixed. After they saw almost as many fires on electric, owners were told to shut it completely off until fixed.

My refrigerator caught fire while running on ac power, and it was not included in the recall because it came from the factory with a piece of sheet metal to deflect the flame up the flue.

Most fires are caused by hydrogen gas leaking from the boiler and finding some source of ignition.

Mine was not cooling properly, which probably resulted in overheating the boiler, resulting in a leak.

My take on this is to completely shut it down if it ever stops cooling.

I am having a compressor driven refrigerator installed with insurance money. No hydrogen.

Had I kept the refrigerator and had it repaired, I would have added an ARPrv controller to shut it town on overheating, probably preventing a fire, along with adding a fire suppression system.

Mac the fire guy told me that he asked at the factory the purpose of the sheet metal being added as part of the recall. He was told itbwas to deflect the fire up the flue WHEN the refrigerator catches fire, not IF. They know very well that they will all fail some day. Mine lasted 11 years. The one in my previous RV lasted 14 years, but no fire (it was off when it leaked).
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: Frig fire question

Reply #2
My absorption refrigerator failed while running on electric. No fire just leaking ammonia, we were lucky, we were on the road and smelled the ammonia and shut everything down.
I had a residential unit put in and sleep a lot better now.
Changing the refrigerator to residential was one of the best modifications I have done yet.
 
Donald & Cheryl
1999 U295 36'
2006 Saturn Vue Toad
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